Hey thanks for the reviews! Let's just pretend my last update wasn't in February it soothes the guilt. So I do not own Fairy Tail and I also apologise for this being a tad shorter than usual.
I made up to you with Jerza Nalu and foreshadowed Gruvia!
Enjoy!
In school hours there was a small but noticeable shift in Natsu's attitude to school, he liked it. He would never admit it but he had found a friend in Gray Fullbuster, they still argued but now it was a playful banter. Treatment from others towards Natsu still remained the same because after all, not everyone was Gray so not everyone would understand. Everyone thought differently.
What made me smile was that Natsu and Gray found that they enjoyed to read an collectable on-going comic together, I personally didn't like it much. Too much fighting and not much plot. However that didn't stop the boys from reading it in class and on the playground (Natsu refused to let anyone but him, Happy and I in the Dragon Den) but what really made me smile and very proud was when the duo would reinact the comic which meant they went around defending the victims from the bullies and serving playground justice.
Miss Erza Scarlet would give praise and speak very highly about them to Jellal and I, and about how she liked seeing them so happy, she said she was proud of me for making it possible and would be honoured to have me as a friend.
How could I say no?
Jellal and I even shared an amused eye roll when she looked at the boys with such longing in her eyes.
"...would you like to join them Erza?"
Her face went as red as her hair.
"If I remember correct you enjoy the comic series as well Erza." Jellal joined.
"O-of course not," her posture changed to a more serious one. "I am much too old to engage in such childish fighting ... thrilling rough-housing or pretending to be an iconic superhero beloved by all whilst also in reality doing good or to be the courageous Fairy woman serving justice to those who can't do it themselves and they will cheer and praise and respect..."
"...is she okay, Jellal?"
"Of course she is, just the obvious denial,"
"Yes this is quite the tangent isn't it?" Watching as she began to pose for action sequences at no one in particular.
"That's why I love her."
Where did that come from?
"Wait, you love her?"
I was quite shocked, I mean we're only children-
"I'm 15, Lucy. Besides it's always been there weather it be romantic or platonic, the love is always there, I only realised a while ago."
"Does she know?"
He gave me a knowing look, "Erza is 13, she is discovering her feelings and she needs to do this herself. I won't force things and hope she feels the same." He looked off slightly, "I'm willing to wait for her..."
How noble. I envied Erza, men like Jellal were rare.
"Good luck Jellal, you deserve to be happy," he really does also a bonus because him and Erza make a cute pair. But things change and it was down to Erza, she gets the options that will never be available to me...
The strained look on his face said otherwise. I shook off my jealously to confront him-
"Are you two even listening?" An angry redhead fumed.
"Of course, you'd make a great hero Erza," Jellal also gave some claps.
Erza gave a small bow with flushed cheeks awkwardly trying to brush off the praise.
...I smiled to myself.
From an outside perspective, Jellal was going to be just fine.
We continued our chat until Natsu practically tackled me to the floor.
The snow covered freezing floor.
I shuddered as I felt the burning cold sensations flooding into my clothes as my dragon friend sat on my back.
"Did ya see me Luce?" I could feel him jumping on me slightly.
"Y-Yesss N-Natsu, you w-were great," I shivered tensing up.
"Oi what's wrong Lucy?" His tone changed to concerned and all humour had gone.
"She's freezing ya dumbass."
Thankfully Gray and Erza came to my rescue.
Surprisingly it was Erza that shoved Natsu off me whilst Gray helped me up. Yes, it was not only Natsu that made a friend in Gray. Despite losing his clothes at random times he was like Jellal but more blunt, I liked him and could come up with some genius games with him.
I was weak in the knees and rubbing my nose whilst Gray helped in by brushing the snow off of my coat.
I've always wanted a brother.
It was a weird connection I was much too shy to admit but in the fortnight I'd known him he was like the sibling I always wanted.
Turning to my group of friends I asked the obvious question.
"How was the game, Natsu?"
The boy puffed out his chest, "I kicked loads of butt and Gray saved some gloomy girl in blue."
"She was nice enough." Gray defended.
Erza nodded, "I am very proud, it looks like a lot of fun."
Jellal sighed and I just whispered in Gray's ear.
The boy nodded.
"Ya know, Erza. We need someone to play the role of Fairy woman...and since Lucy isn't interested...would you-?"
"Yes."
"Wait what?" Natsu wasn't really following, he was too busy trying to warm up my cheek by roughly rubbing his mittens around my face.
"Erza's gonna play with us." Gray spoke.
"Aw what? That means I can't fight her!"
I thought back, that sounded familiar, "-And I can defeat Erza and Laxus!"
That makes sense.
"I'll fight you, are you challenging me?"
A lady and a man fighting, was this normal? Erza could be hurt! A huge dragon like Natsu would crush her...but then again, Erza was like a knight.
I don't think my father would approve of me watching a fight.
...
Natsu was down?
It's been 5 seconds!
The bell rung for classes and I took my beaten friend to the nurse.
I looked in and saw that the room was empty and no nurse in sight, that was a complaint I would send to my father. My friend is in need of medical attention and the nurse is off for a smoke!? Where were the standards?
I shifted across the room and sat Natsu on a cushioned chair and went rummaging through the cabinets within my reach. After a while I found a basic first aid kit and put what I learned from my tutoring to practice.
I looked up to see Natsu drifting in and out of consciousness. I now respected Erza on a whole new level I had never heard of a lady beating up men.
"...Lucccccyyyy,"
"Shh, focus on something Natsu."
"Pretty...eyes."
I chose to ignore him. I needed to focus and not that weird comment. Boys are gross but Natsu was Natsu so I didn't react.
0000000000000000000000000
"Hey, Natsu?"
We were lounging around the Dragon den currently trapped. It was now mid December and the snow fall was heavy, but that's not the reason we were trapped.
Natsu had brought up tonnes of blankets to bundle up so obviously we took it too far and now held captive and looking like sausage rolls.
"What is it Luce?"
He tried to turn to me but successfully just rolled away into the wall.
Giggling I tried to imitate the gesture but rolled away in the opposite direction.
"Haha! Luce ya look like a pack of runaway biscuits!"
I puffed my cheeks, "I do not!"
"Gettin' fat Lucy?"
"Shut up! It's the blankets!"
"That's what they all say."
"Argh! "
I pressed my face further into the wall whilst Natsu laughed at me.
"Hypocrite..." I muttered.
"I heard that, and nice try cause you've already used that one, Luce! I know what it means."
When the silence returned I tried again.
"I was gonna ask you earlier..."
"What?"
"Now that we're friends with her, why is Erza in our class? She's three years older?"
"It's actually really unfair, it's all cause she can't pass one of the basic tests."
"Why is it stupid? Surely it's common knowledge to know the basic tests."
"You're doing it again." He frowned.
"What?"
"Makin' me feel dumb."
"EH?! I'm sorry, Natsu! I try really hard to not do it."
To prove my point I put all my strength in rolling towards Natsu and accidentally squishing my cheek against his.
"Just be careful, Luce. People round here don't like it, Gray didn't like it. I hated it, but then I met you 'nd I don't get too bothered." He said idly.
"Wait. Do I do it a lot? You implied that I did!"
My response was a raspberry on my cheek.
"Argh!" I rolled away, "Natsu that was just vile! Disgusting! Filthy! Unsanitary! Where has your mouth been?"
"You don't do it a lot, only when you're angry or clueless."
"Don't just change the subject! You just spat on me and I can't use my arms to wipe it off!"
"Yeah your cheek's all shiny."
"Natsu Dragneel at least TRY to look remorseful!"
"Does that mean guilty? Or sorry?"
"It doesn't matter! Apologise!'
"I'm gonna take that as a yes."
I just sighed in defeat, Natsu just drained me of my energy.
...
"She can't pass the written tests."
"Huh?"
"Erza has real bad handwriting see? The school board can't understand it so they assume she is just scribbling."
"Poor Erza..."
"Mmm, It's sad."
"But she has Jellal, right?"
"Yeah that guy's cool, he fails all his tests until Erza catches up. He's 15 and only in the class above."
..."What?"
"Erza would get bullied because of her being held back an' her parents are no good either."
"How do you know this, Natsu?"
"I saw the bullies, plus her parents humiliated her in the middle of recess loud enough to hear all that stuff."
"I have faith in Erza and I know some handwriting techniques I can show her. We can all stay back after school!"
"Sounds boring but fine."
"Oh! I just remembered!"
I wriggled out the blankets and grimaced at the chilling wind.
"Mr. Lobster brought back the dragon!"
"Seriously?" Natsu began to wriggle out the blanket roll.
"Uh huh I checked it looks amazing!"
"Show me! Show me!"
He was jumping up and down on my back whilst I rummaged through my school bag.
"Alright get off or I might drop it."
I pulled out the bubble wrapped figurine. I pulled at the sticky-tape and uncovered it holding the object between me and Natsu as we both sat cross-legged on the floor.
"Woah!" His eyes shined in awe.
The dragon sat proudly with a snarl and his big, slightly tattered, wings spread wide. The dragon has been painted a glossy dark red with a light underbelly and many scars. It was really beautiful, I asked for it personally.
"When I requested it this was going to be your Christmas present but then it came and I couldn't resist showing you. I'll buy you something else for Christmas."
"You requested this...for me?" There was uncertainty in his eyes, this act of kindness was obviously foreign to him. "Only Gildarts gets me stuff even Cana doesn't get me anything."
"Cana doesn't seem the type to give out presents, has she ever played cards with you?"
"Uh yeah, all the time at night. She always beats me though." Natsu looked as if was remembering some embarrassing flashbacks.
"Here's something I've learned from Cana, she only plays cards with people she acknowledges as company."
"How do you know?" He clearly didn't believe me.
"She only ever asks to play with people but doesn't play when asked," I checked to see if he was still following. He was. "The game of cards is important to her and she only wants to share that with people she cares for." Like I said Cana was a friend and I had been challenged to her game it was easy to pick up, "Plus I was raised to be observant."
Natsu smiled slightly, "What's that got to do with presents?"
"Cana isn't the type to give presents. The way went on suggested that because she didn't give meant she didn't care, I just wanted to assure you she does."
The boy pulled me into a hug, "Never leave me, Luce."
I could feel my cheeks flushing.
"S-s-so about the dragon..."
I didn't have the heart to tell him the truth.
"Oh yeah, it looks SO cool I'm definitely putting it in the middle. Safe and seen."
Clever.
"Are we naming him after you? He fits the descrip-"
"No way! We're calling him Igneel!"
..."Why?"
"This dragon is the coolest so be has the be named after the coolest! He even has the same scars as Igneel!"
Wow Igneel must be amazing to come above Natsu's ginormous ego.
"I can't wait to show it him next time I see him!"
My chance! "Oh? Where is Igneel?"
Natsu smiled at me and casually said, "Igneel's in jail!"
.
.
.
"What?"
He turned away from me and said in a lower voice,
"That's why I don't like your Aunt, see? 'Cause she's the one who put him there."