Hey guys! I'm back! I just wanted to say how sorry I am for letting his story kinda drowned in the recess of my mind. I honestly have good reason for it! I was cast as a lead role for my schools play! I play Alice from Alice in Wonderland! So for these past like what...few months I've been memorizing lines and rehearsing. But I have somewhat god news! The play is coming up soon at the end of November- so after that I'll be able to write much more! I promise! :D Anyways enough with my excuses. I hope you enjoy this chapter. For I loved writing it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. Hiro Mashima does.
Natsu's mind was hurting. The spell casted on him made him see strange things. Made him feel strange things. Things he never really analyzed before and instead pushed them aside. But how could he pushed them aside when he was reminded of them every time he glanced at his favorite partner? He didn't know why but whatever spell that little kid placed on him….it made him see Lucy. She was standing the the hallway with a smile adorning her face. A light pink blush dusted across her cheeks. The twinkling in her eyes shoot looks of longing towards him. The air around her seemed to haze as Natsu's focus was only on her. He couldn't shake of this feeling surrounding him. It was when the Lucy in front of him winked that a blush started raging on the dragon slayer's face. Why was he so nervous? It was just Lucy. The feeling reminded him of the flips his stomach was doing at the Banquet when he saw Lucy. The only difference was that these feelings were stronger. They made him feel fuzzy and warm in his chest.
'Natsu~' she called out his name in a slightly whining voice. Her honey-like voice sent shivers down his spine. Why did his name sound so good from her mouth? Her lips were pulled into a pout. It was as if she was upset with him. Another feeling stirred in the fire dragon's chest. He wanted to touch Lucy. He wanted to share the feelings he was experiencing. He just didn't know how. So he just stood there, as she flicked her blonde hair over her shoulder biting her lip. She was so appealing. Why was she suddenly….what's the word….stunning? Yes. Stunning.
Right as he was about to take action on his emotions his vision of Lucy suddenly blurred and disappeared. His head started to pound with a headache. His body felt drained. He tried to stay upright as his vision came back into focus as he took in the situation. He was in the hallway of the hotel they were staying at. A few feet away from him was Gray, he groaned in pain as well as he asked,
"What happened? I feel like I just got hit." Natsu was about to agree when he locked eyes with Lucy. She had a slightly hurt looking expression on her face. It reminded him of the vision. He stayed silent. Lucy looked away and back towards the girl in front of her. Natsu just now noticed her. Lucy proceeded to explain to them that the girl had charmed them. She continued to question the girl. Natsu just stared at the blonde girl. She was in no way acting like she was in his vision. But why was there still that feeling in his chest? The feeling...that made him want to always be by her side? He started be get lost in his thoughts. Of her. Of him. Of everything. Why was he just now realizing this? What even was this? It wasn't until Gray nudged him that he was brought out of his thoughts. Gray looked at him and gestured his head towards Lucy. Natsu swung his head around only to make eye contact with worried eyes. He felt as if she could see right through him. He wasn't sure if he liked it or not. He grunted and looked down. He really needed to think more on this. He was grateful when Lucy insisted they go back to the room. Once in the room Natsu made a beeline for the bed. He easily collapsed on top of it, the bed bouncing from his sudden impact. He needed to sort out things in his mind. His muddled mind. Full of sweet smiles and caring brown eyes. Ugh. He forced himself to sleep in hopes of having a clear mind when he wakes up to deal with….well whatever was happening to him. Worried thoughts slowly drifted into long tendrils of dream dust.
The sun was sending spirals of rays upon them. The crystal clear sky was vast with a slight breath of wind. Little dandelion puffs floated in the air It was spring, Natsu could tell by the way the air had that fresh renewance about it. A scent of strawberries lured his attention to what was in front of him. She was walking in front of him. Her hips swaying from side to side. Her blond hair shining in the sunlight. She turned her head to the side to glance at him shooting a smile towards him. Her lips framed and enhanced her sparkling smile. A smile that made Natsu show one of his own in return. She grabbed his hand telling him to hurry up. Her soft warm hand was engulfed by his rough calloused hand. She squeezed his hand. Her touch sent sparks between them. Natsu gave a slight squeeze of his own. She dragged him along the sidewalk to an unknown location. Her laughs twinkled throughout the air which seemed to have a golden hue about it.
This is how Natsu wanted it to be between him and Lucy. Just them hanging out and having fun. No tension. No need for stepping on eggshells around each other. Lucy had finally stopped dragging him only to stop in front of a ice cream stand. Next thing Natsu knew, there was a chocolate ice cream cone in his face. He took it from Lucy's hands. She in turn had a two decker ice cream cone. The first layer a delectable strawberry pink flavor with specks of real strawberries, while the second layer was a mouthwatering vanilla. Natsu took a taste of his ice cream, though he wasn't a very big fan. She bought it for him though so he wasn't going to waste it. The sweet smell and taste met his senses as he continued eating it. Lucy took a bite of her own and smiled with her mouth closed. The two continued their stroll to nowhere in particular down the sidewalk. The sun partially melting their ice cream. The sticky residue dripped onto Natsu's fingers. He finished his quickly after noticing, not wanting to make a huge mess.
He looked over at Lucy and almost laughed. Her ice cream was dripping all over her fingers. Seeing as she got a double decker, she had barely finished the strawberry one when the vanilla started to melt. She swiftly lapped up the melting liquid on her fingers with her tongue. Natsu watched with close attention on her movements. He felt very aware of her. When Lucy was all done cleaning her fingers, she went in for a big bite of her ice cream in hopes of finishing it quickly.
The sour look on her face however shortly after revealed her mistake. Consumption of a cold sweet too quickly usually lead to brain freezes. She sucked in a quick breath and shook her head to try and get rid of it. Natsu placed his hand on top of her head to ruffle her hair. She was so silly sometimes. Lucy of course didn't like it when her hair was messed up and after the suffering from the brain freeze was over, proceeded to punch Natsu in the arm. He staggered a bit, unprepared for her hit. A mischievous look adorned on the dragon slayer's face. With top speed he nudged her slightly hard with his elbow whistling right after the deed was done, faking innocence. Lucy threw away her melted ice cream and copied Natsu's action. Of course this started a war between the two.
Just as Lucy was about to hit him Natsu grabbed her wrist and wrapped her into him. Her back was against his chest with one wrist in his hold and the other arm pinned down to her side. She giggled and struggled against his hold not wanting to lose to him. Natsu's hold was strong as he held onto her despite her efforts of escape. When Lucy slacked in his grip, Natsu knew he won. Oddly enough though, he didn't want to let her out of his grip. He continued to hold her to him. When she started to squirm again, he sighed and let her go. Surprisingly she just turned her body around and faced him.
His eyes scanned her face in close proximity. Her brown eyes were enhanced with the sunlight making them look golden. Eyelashes long and dark, framing the vibrant orbs. A petite nose and high cheek bones were next, smooth pale skin stretching over them. Last and certainly not least, light pink lips...and wait. What was that beside them? Icecream? Still? Natsu resisted the urge to laugh, but failed as a low chuckle escaped from his own lips. Lucy's eyes scanned his in hopes of finding out what was making his laugh. Natsu just cradled her face in his hands and with his thumb, wiped off the offending ice cream. His thumb moved in soothing circles. Her lips looked so soft and plump. He started tracing her lips with his thumb. She made no moves other than continuing to look at him with warmth. His face inched closer. He didn't know why he was doing this. Something in him told himself that it was okay. That he needed to do this. He wanted to do this. As his face inched closer he felt Lucy's hands grip his shirt on his chest. Her eyes lidded and hazy. Her breath dusted across his own lips. Slow and unsure, Natsu pressed his lips onto hers. He was right. They were soft against his own, applying pressure. He let one hand leave her face and wrap itself around her waist, the other still cradling her face. Lucy's hands left his chest and found their way into his hair. A unspoken spark resounded between them. Natsu cautiously moved his lips more against Lucy's. She responded by doing the same.
Natsu had never had a kiss like this before. Never had he felt the longing for something to never end. He felt his heart pumping blood rapidly, as they continued the kiss. He no longer felt the heat from the sun but instead the heat between them. Something awoke in Natsu. Something that has been dormant all his life. He felt like he could do this forever. Just her in his arms, their lips trading off sparks and caresses. Lucy's hands tightened their hold on Natsu's pink locks. A hum of approval sounded in Natsu's throat. He angled his head more to the side in order to slightly deepen the kiss. He was running on instinct now. A burning sensation ran through his body. He traced his hand slowly up and down her back. it wasn't until the burning sensation intensified that he realized he needed to breathe. He broke the kiss and breathed in deeply. Lucy's scent infiltrating his nose. The freshly sweet smell prolonged the sense of warmth within Natsu. He settled his forehead against hers and he just held her to him for a moment. The silence between them was broken as he heard Lucy's voice.
"Natsu~" It started off. Her sweet voice whispering in his ear. His arm gripped her tighter. He traced his lips along her jaw. The smooth skin soft against his lips making him not want to stop. "Nattttsuuuu." Her singsong voice was music to his ears as she continued to say his name. "Natsu, wake up." The dragon slayer just continued his antics not actually listening to what she was saying. Her voice started changing into a slightly irritated tone.
"Natsu! Wake up!" He snuggled deeper into the covers trying to continue his blissful feeling. Wait….? Covers? Natsu groaned as he came to realization that someone was yanking the covers off of his body and shaking him to wake up. He felt groggy as he was roughly pulled away from his dreamworld. He set up on the bed, his eyes still closed. He wanted to go back to sleep and continue dreaming, but Natsu had a feeling the person trying to wake him up wouldn't let him. Slowly he cracked open his eyes and was meet with an annoyed face framed with blonde hair. His thoughts went immediately to his dream….it was a dream right? He looked away from her eyes and decided to have a staredown with the floor.
"Hey, sleepyhead. Time to get on with the mission. You slept all day."
"Did I?" Natsu weakly replied with a gruffy voice having just woken up from a really pleasant yet confusing dream.
"Yes. Gray already left to set up a stakeout place." Her straight to the point voice rung in the air. She placed the covers back on the bed at Natsu's feet. He had yet to move from his spot. "Natsu? We have to go met up with Gray." She said in a clear tone eying him. He drawled his eyes up to hers and was met with the same deep brown eyes that were in his dream. His dream didn't help decipher much, if anything it made things more muddy to him. He glanced down at her lips. Pink and currently puckered. Perfect to kiss.
'Wait what?'
"Way ahead of you Lucy." Natsu covered up his momentary shock at his own thoughts with one of his signature grins. He pushed aside his dream and current mood of turmoil and instead focused all on the mission at hand. He jumped out of bed and proceeded to grab Lucy's hand. A wave of warmth shot up his arm going straight to his core, making his heart pumped wildly. He wonder if she felt it too. He continued dragging her to the door heading to the lobby without another thought on the unfamiliar sensation. Lucy followed along, not without complaining about his speed at which he was dragging her. His legs were much longer anyways. They met with Gray who had told them of the hiding spots he had found for them tonight. Or well two of them he found. The one he had for Lucy….well let's just hope she won't Lucy kick him into next week. It was mission time.
They had assumed their places for the stakeout. Natsu was hidden in a leafy tree for easy coverage outside. He effortlessly had climbed up into the position and waited for Gray to get into his. The ice mage had hidden himself in the dark alleyway close to the store. He had a vantage point of being close enough to see the front side view of the place, but far enough not to look suspicious. Standing on the front porch with a rather pissed off expression plaster to her face was Lucy. She was a decoy and an 'on the spot' watcher. Or at least that's what Gray added on when he saw her face go sour at being a luring toy. She couldn't help it that she didn't have super dragon hearing or fast reflexives to move. Of course they dress her up 'appropriately' for the occasion….oh the irony in that sentence.
A skin tight leather corset accented her abundant chest and tiny waist. Her chest had been put on full display. A short red plaid skirt covered, if even that, her bottom half. Her legs had black fishnet tights on, teasing with the slight view of her creamy skin. Red heels adorned her feet accentuating the length of her legs. Although she was used to showing off skin and using her sex appeal, or at least trying, in order to get things, this position she found herself in felt a little embarrassing. And for that she couldn't seem to wipe the sour look off her face. She stayed on the front porch of the place. She was reminded of when they first arrived there, seeing all the girls in the same position she was now. She wondered if any of them got the embarrassed at their own self. Surely they did? Or were they to used to the art of objectifying their bodies to the lowly standards of men? Did they feel anything at all anymore? Lucy found herself glancing at the other girls around her. They were calling to a few street strollers. Some passed by without a second glance, even quicken their steps in whatever direction they were headed. Others, however, fell pray to the sirens song and were lead into the joint with the women of his choosing. Lucy tried her best to blend in, making sure that person wasn't her. She was here to keep her eyes and ears peeled for any suspicious characters not fall victim to someone's old grubby hands. The front door behind her opened and out came the familiar blonde. Cathy's eyes scanned the porch, her eyes lightening up with they found their target, Lucy.
"Lucy! Looking for a little fun yourself? Why didn't you just come to me?" the upbeat girl winked. Lucy blushed a bit at her straightforwardness. Though she brushed it off assuming that it just comes with the job.
"Not necessarily." Lucy added on in a more quiet tone "I'm just on watch duty."
"Watch duty?" Cathy seemed to be oblivious to the fact that Lucy was whispering for a reason and yelled out the question. Lucy quickly brought her hand over the girl's dark red stained lips. In a hushed tone she explained while looking around,
"Yes. Watch duty on the mission. As in incognito, undercover, blending in." Lucy didn't let the girl go until she saw understanding shine in her eyes. Lucy's hand fell from Cathy's face and she moved away from her. A sheepish smile appeared on Cathy's face. She held her arms behind her back and swayed back and forth on her feet.
"If you wanted to touch me, all you had to do was ask."
Lucy rolled her eyes, not taking it seriously. She continued to scope out the area as Cathy chatted away with another girl about her new nail polish. She then started going on about her latest rich regular. The techniques he used on her was enough to-That's when Lucy tried her best to tune out the blonde's voice. She concentrated so hard as to pointedly block out the conversation that she missed the eyes of a darker figure. He approached closer eyeing the curvy blonde up and down. Cathy was the one to call up to him, asking if he wanted to have some fun. He remained silent as he continued to stare at Lucy. She finally caught his gaze and mentally cursed in her head. She unfortunately caught the attention of an old geezer. She broke the eye contact and moved further away. Cathy seemed to notice the man's gaze towards Lucy and decided to try and distract the man. She slid right up to the man sensually.
"Hey, Mister. Why don't you come and play with me?" She pouted grabbing onto his arm, pressing it into her chest. The man barely paid any mind to the attachment on his arm, his eyes still set firmly on Lucy. Trying to distract the man wasn't working and Cathy knew it. He shook Cathy's arm off and started to advance little by little towards Lucy with a hooded look in his eyes.
"Hey, how about you let old daddy here take care of you?" His voice deep grated in Lucy's ears. Thoughts swam a million miles a minute in Lucy's head, trying to come up with a good excuse that wouldn't blow her cover. She sent a pleading look over to Cathy, hoping she would get the S.O.S call. Cathy, brightening up at the action, moved in immediately.
"You have a good eye, sir. But unfortunately this pretty one is still in training." Cathy sent a wink over to Lucy.
The old geezer looked at Cathy with a look of disbelief and then back at Lucy, letting his eyes openly survey her body.
"With a sexy body like that surely she isn't inexperienced," he directed at Cathy, talking to her as if Lucy was some piece of meat on sale. Lucy mentally reprimanded herself at her analogy because in all technicalities she and these girls were basically pieces of meat of sale. She gritted her teeth and with a forced smile she almost choked on her next words.
"I'm afraid I, with my lack of training, wouldn't be able to please you to the utmost quality." Lucy said faking submission.
"Trust me, sir. There are plenty of other ladies here that will be most pleasurable for you." Cathy added with a wink, her words leaving many things unsaid. However the old geezer wasn't having it.
"But what better way to train her than to let her experience some….on hands training." His words sent a shiver down Lucy's spine. Why did she ever agree to this? She just wanted to go home and forget any of this ever happened. The old geezer moved closer to Lucy sliding his hand across her back resting rather on the low side. "What do you say…?" He whispered into her ear. Lucy cringed at the unwanted warmth breath on her ear. Cathy looked at a lost for what to do. In a last attempt at derailing the man's wanted intentions, Cathy stated,
"That sounds certainly fun, but I'm the one who has to train her." The man quickly retorted.
"Who says you can't join in? Wouldn't that make everyone happy?" His hold tightened on Lucy, his hand lowering now gripping her butt. "Are you ready to learn, my little girl?" He said once again whispering into her ear.
'To hell with this mission!' Lucy thought as she was one second away from pushing this man off her. Just as she was readying herself to take action, the lamp on the pouch side combusted and sparks landed on the man, burning his face and clothes.
"Gah! What the hell?!" The sparks caught fire on his clothing and started to burn with an unnatural fuel. His yells and screams were angry as he commanded for help. "Put me out this instant!" He ran about off the porch trying to let the wind put out the fire but it seemed to only burn brighter. Lucy watched in slight amusement as he resembled a chicken running with its head caught off. A few of the others girls got buckets of water and threw it on him, extinguishing the fire. The loud sizzle cut through the air as only his gasps for breaths were heard. When he caught his breath he turned his angry glare at Lucy and pointed his crooked finger.
"You! You did this!" He screeched all shaking with rage. "I want this girl the pay! Bring me the owner!" He yelled at the girls who previously put him out of the fire. They quickly walked off to get Lola, scared at what was about to happen. The man walked right up to Lucy who stared up at him with an angry face herself. His hand raised and with most force he brought it down. A smack echoed off the walls of the joint followed by a cry of pain. Lucy stared in shocked as Crystal rubbed her cheek from the man's hand. She looked at the man dead in his eyes, with a foreboding sense of calmness.
"Violence is not permitted anywhere on this property, despite your personal injury, I'll kindly ask you to leave the premises." Her voice cold and calculated.
"Who do you think you are?!" The man yelled as he grabbed hold of her hand twisting it in his grip. That was the move Crystal was hoping for as she took his hand and flipped the man on his back, slamming him into the ground hard and bring his hand behind his back, restraining him. He yelled in pain. She repeated herself.
"I asked you kindly, now I'm demanding. Leave now."
"Crystal! Get off 'im!" Lola came bargaining through the door.
"Lola. I have this handled. Please go back inside."
"Crystal." Lola said in a dangerously low tone. The curly red head slowly got off the man. He scrambled to get up, staging tog his clothes and rubbing his sore arm. He glared at Crystal, before spitting on her. Lola's eyes narrowed at the action.
"Finally someone with some sense. I take it that you are the owner. Well I demand you punish your whores before I sue everyone of them!" He demanded to Lola with a sense of authority. Her eyes narrowed once more.
"Daniel." Lola snapped her fingers. A ruggedly looking man walked up beside Lola, his bulkiness contrasting greatly with Lola's thin bony body. He grunted in response. " Take this man to the detainment center for harassment and violence towards my girls." Before the man could utter a single phrase, Daniel took him up like a sack of potatoes and headed off. The old geezers yells of outrage grew more distant as he was being carried off.
Lola turned towards Crystal who was whipping off the man's spit from her face, and proceeded to slap her. Lucy gasped at the scene, not expecting the girl to be hit a second time.
"You can't control everything, Crystal. How many times do I have to tell you this? You have have gotten-" she left the sentence suspended in the air. The tension thick. Lola just breathed in a deep breath and let it all go, the tension in her body giving way. " remember what happened last time?" She retorted receiving a furry glare from Crystal.
"Of course I fucking remember what happened! You ca-"
"Then when will you learn you lesson?!" Lola shouted over her with as much raw emotion. With a quick turn of her heel she stalked off back inside the building. The clicks of her heels being the only sound Lucy could hear before a door slammed.
'What…..what just happened?' Lucy thought. She looked at Cathy, who was now attending to Crystal, applying a cold rag to her face. She grabbed another cold rag from the other girl and quickly set to help Crystal, but before she could, the red head slapped her hand away. The rag made a wet flop as it hit the ground being tossed out of her grip.
"I don't need help from a fake fairy." Crystals words grounded out. Lucy just went to pick back up the rag and went again to help her. "What are you deaf? I said I don-"
"I don't care. You took a hit for me so I'm going to help you."
"I don't want your help."
"Stubborn bull aren't you?" Cathy added with a teasing. Crystal only slapped her hand away as well and walked off. The girls proceeded to continue their antics, luring men and acting as if nothing just happens. When Crystal was out of range, Cathy leaned over to Lucy.
"She really isn't that mean. She is just keeping up a facade if you will." Lucy nodded and was stuck by something Lola said. She decided now was a best of a time to ask.
"What happened last time?" Lucy pried. Cathy exhaled a high sigh before saying,
"She was-"
"Lucy!" Natsu all but walked onto the porch. "Gray got him!"