going iceskating as one of them falls and the other one kisses the bruise better
Lucy had scolded him when he had showed up in nothing but his usual short-sleeved vest, but right now nothing made her happier than the fact Natsu's exposed skin was able to heat up her freezing hands. She clutched at his stomach in distress.
"I'm gonna fall!"
"No worries! I caught you last time, I'll catch you again!"
His reassuring grin stilled the wobble in her knees only slightly. And she had thought ice-skating was fun. Turns out all it was was a struggle for balance and knees that would surely be all blue the next morning.
Why was Natsu so good at it? Shr scrunched up her brows until they nearly touched. It was not fair. He was a fire mage, shouldn't he hate the cold? If it had been Gray, she would have understood. But no, he had to be a natural at everything he tried.
His arms felt comforting around her waist as he held her steady. Slowly, she found herself relaxing in spite of the traitorous and slippery surface beneath her.
"Could you not maybe melt it away?"
"Aw Lucy, come on! Have some ambition!"
"Easy for you to say, Mr. Everything-comes-naturally-to-me." she grumbled as her breath left her in little steamy clouds with every word she spoke.
He just laughed and suddenly accelerated the speed, causing her to yelp as she was dragged along behind him.
"Natsu!"
She was just about to tell him off, when suddenly she realized that the ground was not where it was supposed to be. And neither was Natsu.
As she whirled through the air, she senselessly clutched at Natsu's hand - a big mistake, she realized only the fraction of a second later. After all, it was him who had caused the sudden imbalance.
Of course it had been him.
In the split second before hitting the ground, their eyes locked, hers big with panic and his widening in response. She was heading towards the ice face-first.
Pressing her eyes closed, she prepared for the inevitable impact. But it never came. At least not the way she had expected it to.
She made contact with something soft as gravity worked its laws. When she reopened one eye in confusion, her face was pressing into an all too familiar grey fabric. Below her, Natsu stirred.
"Ouch."
He'd gone and done it again. A few times more, and she'd be convinced it was impossible for her to ever fall again without him coming to her rescue first. The thought sent warmth through her veins.
"Sorry Lucy. Must've slipped."
With a little effort, he lifted his head up from the cold surface and shot her an apologetic grin. His nose was only inches from hers. Suddenly she felt not cold at all anymore. The only way for her to regain her senses was to turn her head to the side and avert her gaze.
But that immediately made her preoccupied with another matter: Beneath where his elbow was pressing against the ice as he lifted his upper body from the ground, the ice had taken on a shade of bloody red.
"Natsu, are you hurt?"
"Eh?" When he lifted his elbow to examine it, he revealed the gash just beneath his elbow. It was small, but blood escaped it in little streams nonetheless. "Ah, that's nothing bad."
"Let me have a look."
He did not object when she reached out and gently grabbed his arm, turning it slightly so she could get a closer look.
Her brows furrowed as an upset expression crossed her face.
"You didn't have to do that." she mumbled. "I could have handled a little fall."
"Tch, don't be silly Lucy. I'd never let you fall! Well, at least not onto the ground."
His heartfelt smile was impossible not to return. Carefully, she trailed her fingers along the rim of the wound. He flinched at the unfamiliar contact.
"Sorry. Does it hurt?"
"Nah, not really."
She smiled at his tough behaviour. Though she knew all too well he had endured far, far worse injuries, she also knew from own experience that the hurt did not lessen with the amount or depth of the wound.
"You know, my mom always knew the perfect remedy for little bruises like this. Against the burn, she said."
They were still kneeling on the ice, but Lucy felt nothing of the cold. His onyx eyes alone were enough to keep her warm as they locked with hers in a silent question. Around them, fellow skaters steered clear as they passed on each side of the wide field.
Her lips pulled into a cheeky smile before she leaned forward and lightly pressed her lips against the scraped skin. His eyes grew wide, and he sat entirely still. He had never felt lips on his skin before, and he hadn't imagined they'd be so soft and warm. When she pulled away, he almost felt disappointed. Had it been for him, she could have continued for a while.
"So? Better?"
She swiped her tongue along her lower lip to get rid of the thin layer of blood. The motion made him shiver, awakening something carnal deep inside him. Tearing his gaze away, he pondered her question.
"You must've done something wrong. I can still feel it."
"Oh."
Her face fell when a twinge of failure tugged at her heart. It had only been a little joke, but she had sure hoped it'd help somehow. When her mother had done it to her all those years ago, it had always worked wonders. She'd used to say it was because of magic's true nature.
A grin spread across Natsu's face, and hope stirred in her heart.
"I think you'll have to do it again."