Lucy settled deeper into the warmth around her back, cool air nipping at her shoulders.
"La-lady Lucy!"
Lucy grumbled at the squeak, high pitched but decidedly male. A serving boy then. Why wasn't Aries or Lyra in here? Lucy buried her face into the silk pillows, tugging up her blanket to cover her from the morning air. She felt soft skin rub along hers, weight firm and soothing as it laid over her shoulders. Their hand intertwined with Lucy's.
Natsu.
She smiled as she remembered last night. Lucy blushed and smiled brighter as she took in the feeling of Natsu bare against her back. Skin on skin. Naked.
Lucy's eyes flew open. She met the shocked serving boy's gaze, bundle of fabric clutched tightly in his arms.
"I'll, I'll just leave these here for His Majesty Natsu." The boy squeaked again, Lucy realizing it was the boy who had been kicked by Daniel at the party.
Panic bloomed in Lucy's chest. To be found so improper, in the arms of a man while unwed, the scandal alone. Lucy shrieked, sitting up in the bed and dragging the blanket with her. "Wait, it is not as it looks!"
"Lushi, it's too early to be screaming like this. I haven't even touched you yet."
Lucy paled at Natsu's sleep roughened groan. The serving boy became flaming red at the implication of Natsu's words, dropping the clothes on top of the changing bench. The changing bench Lucy had stripped on for Natsu.
Lucy gaped as she watched the boy run from the room.
"Natsu, Natsu get up!" Lucy hissed, swatting at the large mass under the blanket beside her.
"Nooo," the lump moaned, turning over and curling in on itself. Lucy shook him with more vigour. She was taken by surprise when she was thrown down to the bed, a heavy weight pinning her to the mattress. Her arms were caught above her head, nestled in the bed of her sleep mussed hair, strong hands wrapped around her wrists. Lucy blinked up at Natsu, his hooded eyes sparkling with a dangerous mirth. She flushed when she felt his leg push between her thighs, his heated skin settling between her spread legs and embarrassingly close to her intimate places.
"Since we're awake…" Natsu drawled, fanged smirk causing Lucy to melt under him. Something pressed against her inner thigh, pulsing and erotic in its lewdity.
"I see I'm not the only one awake," she said, teasing voice low to match Natsu's. She dragged her leg down and back up his thicker one, hooking on his hip and opening herself further. Natsu grinned widely at her invitation. Lucy's breath caught as he ducked his mouth to her neck, relentless as he sucked and kissed her tender skin. She arched into his touch, biting her lip to stifle a low moan as his hardening length slid between her already slick folds.
Natsu's grip tightened on her wrists, pushing Lucy deeper into the mattress. "Don't hide your noises from me, princess. Or do you want my fingers back in your pretty mouth?"
Lucy whimpered, high and desperate. She felt Natsu nip at her collar bone, teeth rough and leaving wet marks in his wake as he traveled lower. He ground his hips against her, slow and deliberate as his head rubbed on her clit. Her eyes flew open when Natsu sucked heavily on a sensitive spot beneath her jaw, having made his way back up her neck from the top of the dip of her breast.
"If you leave marks everyone will know," Lucy breathed out, a weak protest she knew, but it was all for the sake of propriety and show.
"Good. Then they'll have your skin and my ring as reminders that you belong to me."
Natsu's growl echoed through Lucy's bones, and she couldn't stifle her needy moan when he turned attention to a bruise he had left on her last night, deepening it and surely bringing it back to a vibrant colour.
"Kiss me."
Natsu pulled back, soft grin making his eyes glow in the morning light. "Anything you wish, princess."
The kiss was slow, Lucy pressing into Natsu's mouth and tracing his canine with her tongue. Natsu chirped happily at her boldness, teasing her with his own tongue, hot and wet as he sensually licked at her. He was sour with sleep, but Lucy couldn't find a care within her as Natsu grew more forceful with his strokes, matching the heavy grinds against her that had Lucy's hips twitching in desire.
Lucy broke for breath as Natsu released one of her wrists, trailing along her body and teasing her with his nails scraping down her sensitive skin before reaching between them. She felt the intense blunt pressure against her entrance.
"Wait." She croaked. Natsu paused, looking at her expectantly. "We'll be late for the meal. It would be impolite as guests." Natsu cocked an unimpressed eyebrow at her in response. "We'll have time later, when we're not rushed to be somewhere. I want to take my time with you."
Lucy flushed at her admittance, peeking at Natsu through her lashes when she felt his gaze on her.
"Why Lady Lucy, do you plan on ravaging me? What is a poor, defenceless King to do at the wiles of such a beauty?" Lucy laughed lightly at his teasing, lowering her hand to intertwine her fingers with the ones that remained on her wrist. Natsu rolled off of her, Lucy resting on her side to face him. Their hands laid between them, still laced together.
"A sweet talker when you want to be, aren't you, your Majesty?" Lucy hummed.
"It's because you're so weird. After only a night it's already rubbed off on me. Imagine what the next years will turn me into." Natsu's tone was bored, but Lucy saw the impish joy dancing in the emerald of his gaze as she pouted at him.
"Well if you think I am so 'weird' then why have you asked for my engagement?" She shot back, cheeks puffed in indignation.
"Because I like you! I couldn't imagine going back to my court without your weirdness to brighten my day." Natsu said it so honestly, bare and simple in a way that stole Lucy's breath. He said what he thought, society's rules be damned to him. Lucy knew she loved that about him now, if she was not yet in love with him.
But Lucy knew that that would be a very quick and very painless fall.
Natsu would be there to catch her when she neared the ground.
"Why're you looking at me like that?" Natsu asked, cautious as he looked over Lucy's face. She smiled brightly, leaning forward and brushing her lips over his in a gentle kiss.
"Because you make me so happy, Natsu." She whispered. Natsu blinked owlishly at her, cheeks and ears turning a shade softer than his rose coloured hair. She brushed her lips over his nose before pulling away fully and standing from her bed. She shivered, making her way to her wardrobe slowly despite the chill. Natsu's heated gaze had a way of making Lucy want to perform for him.
She touched her hand to her cheek, embarrassed for herself at how gone she was for a man she had just met. She gathered the abandoned clothes meant for Natsu and inspected them. A white formal undershirt in Natsu's size as well as a simple riding coat. Well, Lucy supposed it was simple for royalty. It was a pale cream colour inlaid with golden stitches along the borders of the cuffs, pockets, and lapels. The material felt expensive under her fingers, expertly crafted in a way that Lucy rarely saw.
That was all the decoration on it though, save for the six golden buttons meant to seal it closed over Natsu's chest.
She looked over her shoulder at Natsu's whine, the man having walked over as she inspected the garment. "I hate the clothes I have to wear here. How am I supposed to swing my sword if I can't move my damn arms above my shoulder?" He grumbled as he rested his chin on Lucy's shoulder, arms snaking around her waist and pulling her flush to him.
"It's quite fine," she defended. Natsu snorted, Lucy feeling him roll his eyes as he looked at the garment. She placed it back on the bench delicately, turning to her own clothes.
"It's annoying is what it is."
Lucy ignored Natsu's complaint, instead focusing on the task of finding the simplest dress to wear. She fingered a pale violet dress, the corset simple enough for Natsu to help her into, and the skirt trailed in the floor for a few inches in a graceful train. The underskirt was thin, nice for Lucy to slip into herself.
Heaven knew Natsu would take no issue with a handmaiden helping Lucy dress in front of him, but Lucy could only imagine how it would scar Lyra to be put in that situation. Or the teasing Lucy would endure at the hands of Virgo should she find out.
She let Natsu wander her room as she slipped on her stockings, garter, and undergarments, all a crisp white cotton. Less enticing than the lace she had donned last evening for the ball, but still appealing if the way Natsu's gaze lingered on her was any indication. She put on a silken slip, intricate lace bordering it, the fabric hugging her curves. At least Virgo would be pleased some of the more revealing pieces she had gathered for Lucy over the years would now be seeing use.
As she adjusted a thin strap of the underdress, Lucy was reminded of the marks littering her skin at the heat that bloomed from her shoulder where her fingers brushed against the abused skin.
She would try to cover the majority of them first, then, before dressing.
Lucy shook her head as she saw Natsu stand on her balcony, bare as the day he was born and just as uncaring. She cringed as she examined her shoulder and neck, thankful the violet dress had a mostly modest bust line and sheer sleeves. If she were honest, she didn't want to cover the marks Natsu had left on her skin, but she also refused to be gossip fodder for spoiled court members.
"What're you doing?"
Lucy gave Natsu a small smile through the mirror, his low question distracting her from her half finished task. "Covering the worst of the presents you left on my skin," she said, dabbing more of the white and green powders into a particularly red bruise on her collarbone.
"Why?"
"Because a proper lady does not show up to first meal covered in evidence of last night's adventures." She explained, applying a lightly covered wax to her lips, pride swelling inside as Natsu watched her finger's movements on her plump flesh through the reflective glass.
"I can give you some other evidence if you want." Natsu purred. Lucy blushed brightly at his lewd offer, heat pooling in her stomach pleasantly.
"I'm sure you could." She agreed, ignoring the roughness of her voice. "I'm sure you could also help me dress once I fix my hair."
Natsu rolled his eyes and Lucy preened as he moved closer and ran his hands through her messed tresses. Her curls from last night had relaxed, soft spirals unknotting under Natsu's gentle touches. She sank into his touch as he gathered her hair in his hands, securing part of it in a loose bun just below her crown. "I wasn't aware you were so talented at this, Natsu." Lucy hummed, opening her eyes to watch Natsu's chest puff at her praise.
"I'm skilled at many things, with my hands." Natsu replied. He finished what Lucy thought of as a complex braid leading from her left temple to the bun, wrapping the remains hair as a way to secure the gathered hair in place. "My mouth," he continued as he started on her other side. "You especially seemed to enjoy my talents with my co-"
"Dear heavens Natsu!" Lucy squeaked, giggling behind her hand along with Natsu's low chuckle. He continued his work in silence, stepping back when done. Lucy admired herself in the mirror, genuinely impressed with her hair style. "Thank you, it's beautiful, Natsu."
He coughed, looking away as he rubbed at his neck. "It's nothing," he mumbled, and Lucy smiled at the sudden shyness. He was odd, but Lucy found it endearing. She stood, stepping into the skirts of her dress and placing the corset where she wished it to be, sleeves tickling her skin. Lucy noted the distaste Natsu eyed her corset with, but he said nothing as he drew the bindings of the garment.
"Tighter, please Natsu." Lucy said, tilting her head at the furrow on his brow. He looked as if he wanted nothing more than to set the dress on fire, for some reason Lucy couldn't fathom. He obliged, but left the ribbons much looser than any of her staff would have. As much as she appreciated the breathing room she didn't understand his aversion to tightening her dress. Once he was done Lucy turned around, resting her palms on his bare chest and giving him a slow and gentle kiss as thanks. The affection seemed to ease his mood, warm hands resting on her hips and fond gaze pulling a smile from Lucy unbidden.
"I, uh, have something I'd like you to have." Natsu said, words quick as they left his mouth. Lucy cocked her head as Natsu searched for his pants in the discord of her room. He returned triumphant, fist closed tight around something. She waited patiently as Natsu shifted side to side, his lip caught between his teeth. His shyness made Lucy want to coo, fighting between allowing him to come to her and reaching out to touch him.
He finally held out his hand, Lucy's eyes widening at the ring sitting on his palm. Lucy picked it up gently, turning it over as she looked it over in awe. It was gold, a thick band tapering to thinner point opposite the inlaid crest on the widest part of the band. The crest was bordered by a diamond with two intricate lines weaving along the edge, the simple profile of a dragon head the centre design. Four small fire rubies were set between a point and the dragon, obviously expertly crafted. Lucy knew of no smiths or jewelers with the skill shown by this crafting.
"Natsu…" Lucy breathed, blinking through the beginnings of tears as she looked at Natsu.
"I was hoping you'd wear my ring. We'd have to have one made for you when we get back to our kingdom, but I thought this could do for now." Natsu said. He smiled brightly when Lucy started nodding halfway through his explanation. He left Lucy to continue to fawn over the ring, returning a few seconds later with a golden chain he had taken from her bourdaire. Natsu laced the necklace through the opening of the ring, walking behind Lucy to secure it around her neck. Lucy gently stroked the golden band, the ring sitting a few inches below the neckline of her dress.
"Thank you, Natsu." Lucy said, smiling as brightly as she could when he returned to stand in front of her. Cupping his face with one hand, Lucy raised onto her soles to kiss Natsu, slow and heated as she tried to convey everything she was feeling without words. When she finally broke the kiss, Lucy was thankful to see that Natsu too was breathless, his beautiful emerald eyes clouded with desire and drinking in her sight.
"Now dress or we'll be late." She chastised, clearing her throat to try and get them back on task. "Call if you need any help, I'll just be in the bath chamber."
Lucy left him to his devices, the clothes simple and light enough that Natsu should require no help in dressing. She stepped into an open pair of golden heels, lower than the ones she wore last night but still enough give her a few extra inches of height. Lucy walked around the puddle of wine red fabric on the stone floor of the bath, sighing to herself as she made a mental note to ask Virgo to retrieve and smooth the fabric for her. It was a favourite garment of her's now.
She sighed again as she inspected her image in the large mirror above the sink. The necklace sat proudly against the pale colour of her dress, announcing to everyone that she had been taken as Natsu's bride. That and the state of her neck should seal any questions about what had transpired between her and the king last night. Her marks were mostly covered, visible enough to cause rumour but not to reveal the severity of them. She gently brushed her fingertips along the bare column of her throat, shivering as she felt the heat and tenderness imprinted on her skin by Natsu. If she were honest with herself she would prefer to walk with them proudly, a reminder of Natsu's claim on her with every whispered word and hurried glance between members of the court. Natsu appeared behind her, coat left undone and hair in need of a brushing.
"I like them on you." He said, nodding with his chin to her covered love bites.
"As do I, but unfortunately there is little else to do put gossip for the upper class." Lucy said blandly. She gasped as she felt Natsu press against her, hip bones pressing into the marble of the counter her sink sat on. "Natsu?" Lucy asked, voice catching as Natsu rolled his hips into her behind again.
"If you have to cover those, then I should give you another sign of who's house you belong to now. I was serious earlier." He breathed in her ear, nosing the soft skin and holding her gaze in the mirror. Lucy had to grip the counter for balance, feeling her knees weaken at Natsu's bold movements. He kissed her temple harshly as he lifted her skirts, bunching them above her hips. He pressed one hand on the small of her back, guiding her to a deeper bend and pushing out her ass for him. Both hands disappeared beneath the underdress, calloused hands scraping Lucy's hips where he gripped her firmly.
She felt him press against her through his pants and her undergarments, hard and enticing. Her core throbbed at the memories of earlier and she knew she was becoming wet from his teasing. "We'll be late." Lucy gasped, body pressing back against a deep roll without permission.
"Is that a no?" Natsu asked, movements stilling but not releasing her.
"It's not proper, in clothes." Lucy tried again, biting her lip at the desperate tinge rasping her voice.
"No excuses, princess. If you don't want me to continue, all you have to say is no. That wasn't a no."
Lucy looked at Natsu through the mirror, his gaze steady and serious. She wet her lips before speaking in a quiet voice, equally as serious and open as his. "I suppose it wasn't, was it."
Natsu grinned at her, fingers digging greedily into her skin and he nudged her thighs apart with one of his own. Lucy whimpered when Natsu reached between them, back of his hand pressed tightly against Lucy's heat as he undid his pants to free his cock. Lucy mewled loudly when he dragged his head along her lips through her thin undergarment, coating himself with her need. After moving the fabric aside with his tip he pressed into her roughly, forcing Lucy to cry out as she was filled. He continued until their hips were joined fully, his length sitting deep inside her.
Slow thrusts made Lucy see stars behind her eyes. Natsu took his time, Lucy moaning wantonly each time his cock stretched her open, whimpering when he pulled back and left her hollowed. Natsu grew rougher with each sound Lucy made, emboldened by her obvious enjoyment.
"Such a dirty princess." Natsu growled, thrusts sharp and deep into her, Lucy being crushed between the counter and Natsu as he ground into her. "Allowing yourself to be fucked in your dress." Lucy raised her head from where she allowed it to hang.
"And what a depraved king to pin his betrothed against a bath chamber counter and ravage her." Lucy shot back, gasping as Natsu's head rubbed viciously on a sensitive spot inside her, heightening the burn of his cock stretching her around his thickness. Natsu laughed, gravelly and dangerous as he roughed his strokes into her heat, jostling Lucy with the force of each one. The ring bounced and swayed with the rocking motion, slapping her covered breasts in random strikes. Natsu cupped the front of her throat above the chain of her necklace, holding her head up and forcing her to look into the mirror.
"Why don't you watch yourself as I fuck you, princess. Watch the expressions you make on my cock and tell me which of us is the 'depraved' one."
Lucy whimpered at the lewd words and command, the eroticness of watching herself with Natsu clouding her brain and causing wetness to trail down her thighs. Natsu harshly gripped her ass, fisting at the flesh and using it to impale Lucy on his cock, almost fully leaving her before filling her to the brim again, motions repeated and forcing high wails from Lucy's open mouth.
Her face was flushed a deep red, flyaway strands of gold adding to her disgraced look. Her lids hung heavy, brown of her irises muddied with lust and sex and such bare pleasure that Lucy would have blushed in embarrassment were she not being fucked mindless. Her lips were swollen and spit covered, unable to close her jaw against the powerful moans and wanton noises falling from her lips. She looked beyond disheveled, so improper even a whore would deem her scandalous.
"You're such a mess, princess. You love being fucked like this, don't you? Love belonging to me." Natsu asked in his sex roughened voice, the one that made Lucy desperate and pliant in his hands. His grip tightened on her throat a fraction, a heavy moan falling from Lucy in response. "Answer me."
"Yes!" Lucy gasped, rocking back to meet Natsu's thrust, hips wild. "Yes Natsu, I love it!"
"Good girl." He praised, lifting his hand to rub at her lower lip with his thumb. "Who do you belong to?"
"You." Lucy wailed, rolling her hips on his length, pressing his head into the spot just behind her clit. Her legs felt weak, and if it weren't for Natsu's grip or the counter Lucy was sure she would collapse.
"Again." He commanded, angling his hips to drive more powerful thrusts into where Lucy needed him.
"Gods, you-ohh!"
"Again, princess. I'm so-fuck, so close."
"I belong to you, Natsu!" Lucy gasped, sweat starting to gather on her temples at the exertion. Her pulse throbbed through her body, the nerves of her clit and core overwhelmed by the feeling of Natsu rubbing her inside, stretching and filling her completely. On the verge of filling her even more.
She felt Natsu cum inside her, savage rolls of his hips making her scream and moan as he released himself with strained groans of his own. Natsu's hand dropped between her slick thighs, rubbing harshly on her clit and bringing her to orgasm in seconds. Lucy came down slowly, floating through the white haze in her head, tongue too big for her mouth and knees like a newborn fawn's. Natsu pulled himself from inside her, mess spilling out and dirtying her inner thighs.
Lucy hummed and tilted into the feather soft kisses Natsu pressed to the side of her face. His arms wrapped around her waist, supporting her and keeping her close to him. Lucy found a soothing happiness in how physical Natsu was, yet another thing frowned upon in court life that Natsu blatantly ignored.
"Hey Luce?" Natsu said. Lucy hummed in acknowledgment of his soft question, meeting his gaze through the mirror again. "I uh, just wanted you to know that I don't think you belong to me. I mean, once we have the marriage ceremony you'll belong to my house, but that doesn't mean you, uh, belong, to me." Natsu trailed off, tongue caught between his teeth as he sought for the words in his mind. "You're not property to be seized." Natsu decided on, looking at her earnestly, emerald wide and all trace of primal lust gone from before.
"Does that make sense?"
Lucy laughed at his worried question, joy and the makings of love bursting from inside her. This man was so good.
"Thank you, Natsu. You don't know what it means to me to hear you say that." Lucy leaned into his chest, resting her hand on top of his. "If it's all the same to you, Your Majesty, I did enjoy belonging to you in that way, just now."
Lucy said the words confidently. Natsu had all but asked her not to hide behind formalities, and she would comply when she could. She had liked Natsu's commanding voice and the possessiveness he spoke to and touched her with. It fed something inside her she didn't know was there, something that made her hot and needy and desperate to please. Please Natsu at the moment, at least.
Natsu chuckled as he moved away, Lucy sagging without his support. His chuckle turned into a low snigger at that, and Lucy glared at him over her shoulder. She eyed his relaxed length as he cleaned himself, looking away quickly when Natsu grinned at her slyly. Lucy had heard the term 'hung like a horse' amoung the cruder knights she encountered, and she silently agreed with the phrase now. Not that she imagined Natsu needed any more encouragement to his ego.
Lucy squawked in indignation when Natsu flipped her skirts back over, smoothing the violet fabric with a lazy hand.
"What do you think you're doing?" She hissed, rubbing her thighs together as the slickness continued to trail down her flesh in beads. "You know I can't clean myself in this!"
Natsu shrugged, glee obvious as he walked from the chamber to Lucy's main one. "I said I'd give you a reminder." Natsu explained lightly, Lucy trying her best to stalk after him. Instead however, she was forced to take small and shaky steps due to the lack of feeling below her hips. "And I figured that while you're pretending to be like every other Lady and dealing with the aristocrats with sticks up their asses I'd leave you with something to remind us both of how much of a lie that is."
Natsu towered over Lucy, hand on her hip to help steady her. He smirked down at her with his fanged smile. "Proper Lady Lucy, respectable member of the Court of Dreyar, secretly known to bed stray kings and fuck like animals." His purr brought a deep flush to Lucy's face, focusing on fixing the already perfect lapels of his coat while he teased her. "What scandal there would be if they knew how dirty you were beneath your skirt."
"Brute," Lucy sniffed, pouting at Natsu's easy laugh. Her glare sharpened when she saw how much he was enjoying himself at her expense.
"You're cute when you're mad," Natsu said suddenly, causing Lucy to sputter and stumble when he pulled away. His hand linked in hers, pulling her to the door, the cooling mess spreading more between her thighs and bringing what was sure to be a constant flush her face.
"And you are horrible." Lucy grumbled, mouth set in an unimpressed line when he offered her his arm. Rolling her eyes Lucy lightly placed her hand in the crook his his elbow, proper etiquette in how two betrothed should act in public not lost on her.
They walked in easy silence, Natsu keeping his pace leisurely for Lucy. She lifted a hand to stifle a snort when Natsu whispered an inappropriate comment about a pack of aged court ladies reliving their youth, determined to continue feigning displeasure with him. Just because she happened to enjoy his teasing and games did not mean that he needed to know that, should it encourage him. At least, not until she had settled into her new court.
Lucy took her time to think over the truth of it, that she would be moving into a new court, as a queen, no less. Would they like her? Would she like them? They were Natsu's after all, she ought to like them if Natsu did. Her mind wandered to all the sights he had described, adventures he had whispered in her imagination as they fell asleep. Lucy was drawn from her mind by a curious glance from Natsu. A soft smile slipped past her guard, one Natsu gladly returned. A smile so honest and beautiful Lucy could feel untoward declarations of feelings sit heavy on her tongue.
"I am sticky," she sniffed instead, looking ahead pointedly. Natsu huffed at her declaration. He returned the gentle squeeze Lucy gave his arm, their grip on one another tightening and bringing them closer in step.
"You are also extremely enticing right now, especially because I know that you're like this because of me." Natsu whispered in her ear, stealing a kiss to her temple before they rounded a corner and passed a few servants hurrying about their daily routine.
"I suppose I am." Lucy admitted, fluttering her lashes and lowering her voice as she looked at Natsu. It was Lucy's turn to smirk when her flirtation caused Natsu to stumble over a cobblestone. It was always good to remind herself that Natsu could not receive nearly as much as he good give when it came to teasing.
"You will have to remind me to return the favour. I don't know when, or how, but I hope you are aware that I will get you back for this."
Natsu raised an eyebrow even as he turned a bright pink. "Oh?" Lucy felt vindicated at the way his voice broke, Natsu trailing behind her as they neared the dining hall.
"I never break my promises, Natsu." Lucy said innocently, fingering the ring resting on her bust.
"Aye sir," Natsu beamed, gait gaining bounce as they crossed the large threshold into the dining hall.
Most of the inner court sat around the long rectangular table, ten deep on each on side. King Makarov sat at the head, his grandson Laxus on his right and his advisor Macao to his left. Lucy slipped into a seat across from Mira and beside Lisanna, focusing her attention on gathering pieces of fruit and cheese from the platters in the centre of the table. Talk quieted around them, but it did not cease.
"Well someone appears to be a little late, don't you think, dear sister?" Mira Jane crooned, Freed giving Lucy a sympathetic smile from where he sat between Laxus and her.
"It is most definitely out of character for Lady Lucy of all people to not be on time." Lisanna agreed, popping a grape in her mouth and she raised her brows at Lucy, sly smile twinkling in her blue eyes.
"What ever could have caused your delay?" Mira Jane asked, fluttering her lashes at Lucy, eyes flicking to Natsu before coming back to her. Lucy became extraordinarily aware of the cool mess between her thighs, fluids from unseemly activities reminding her of exactly why she was late.
Lucy bit her tongue, stalling as she thought of a reasonable excuse before Natsu managed to swallow the large piece of pork shoulder he had stabbed with a fork and claimed as his own. He hadn't even said hello to anyone before stuffing his face, a thing Lucy silently thanked the heavens for currently.
"The ball took quite a bit out of me, is all. Thank you for the concern though, Mira. It's quite ladylike of you to be concerned for my wellbeing." Lucy said easily, Mira Jane's grin sharpening at her words.
"I'm sure the ball isn't what exhausted you so," Lisanna mumbled into her chalice, Lucy blushing at the sisters titters.
"If you keep asking about my night in public then you shan't hear it in private." Lucy warned, smile on her lips and tone friendly as she pulled apart a piece of twisted bread. Lisanna pouted at Lucy's threat while Mira Jane only seemed encouraged by the prospect of things to be told.
"Where did you get your necklace?" Mira Jane asked instead. Lucy blushed brightly, lifting a clean hand to gently rest her fingertips on the warm gold.
"I's mine." Natsu interrupted, swallowing heavily before continuing on. "It's my house ring, given to Lucy until I can gather the proper dowry and make her her own."
The table fell silent then, all gaping at Lucy and Natsu's declaration.
"You couldn't mean…" Mira Jane trailed off, wide eyes hypnotized by the gold hanging from Lucy's neck.
"Um, yes. Natsu and I are betrothed." Lucy said, voice squeaking under all the stares set upon her.
"Thoist's eye, Natsu. One dance and you propose?" Laxus boomed, exasperated expression betrayed by the small up tick of the left corner of his lips. At the same time Lisanna squealed and threw her arms around Lucy, congratulating her loudly on the engagement. Chaos broke across the table, Ever clamouring to know how he proposed while almost forcing Elfman's head into his plate.
"I'm sure it was more than a dance, if you know what I mean," she heard someone snicker, quickly followed by the sound of a fan hitting someone and a yelp. Lucy giggled under the attention of her friends, ignoring Natsu as he bickered and hurled insults at Laxus and Macao and others whose voices Lucy couldn't separate from the uproar around the table.
Lucy thought she distinctly heard King Makarov sob 'my children are getting married', but the cacophony of noise from the hall was overpowered by the sounds of scuffle outside the main entrance from the ballroom.
The room fell silent as the large double doors were kicked open, slamming on the stone walls they hinged on. Erza, Gray, and Bixlow were yelling at the strangers marching into the room, the knights obviously irritated but not perceiving them as a threat.
Lucy was unsure if that was wise when she saw the leader stalk in. Taller than six and a half feet the man radiated danger with his mane of long black hair, wild like his crimson gaze as it swept the room. His muscles were obvious from his attire, sleeveless black tunic tight fitting and shoulders lined with wolf fur, a matching pelt tied around his waist with a loosed chainmail skirt. Boots up to his calves were those of a smiths, but the chainmail wrist guards were those of a knight. Countless piercings littered his ears, three more over each eyebrow, two between his lower lip and his chin all on his face. Tattoos marked his forearms, the crest of his family proudly displayed near the elbow of each arm. Natsu's crest.
"Oi, ya little bastard! You know Atlas would kill me if you died before spitting out an heir!" the tall man barked, four people brushing past Erza and Gray to follow him into the room.
"He'd also kill your dumb ass for speaking to your king that way!" Natsu snarled, leaping from his seat to charge the man. The two grappled as the fell to the ground, the other three men looking on tiredly while the young girl watched them worriedly.
"Natsu, you really worried us this time," the blue haired girl lectured, twin pigtails leaving her hair loose in a way that was unseen in Fiore. She dug through the leather bag slung across her shoulder, retrieving a white scarf that looked pillowy and soft, obviously well worn with use but still well maintained. "You left your scarf behind in the inn."
Natsu perked up from where the taller man had him in a headlock, two of his fingers pulling on the man's cheek like a youngling. He squeezed his way out of the tumble, bounding over to the girl and sweeping her up into a tight hug. Her loose dress swung around her knees, revealing all she wore were sandals under. "Thanks Wendy, I can also count on you!" He put her down, giving her a brotherly pat on the head before taking the scarf from her hands and winding it around his neck in a well known movement. Lucy stood from her spot, slowly making her way over to where Natsu stood with what she assumed was his escort.
"Um, Natsu?" she asked, trading her weight from one foot to another as she looked at him.
"Luce!" Natsu beamed, grabbing her hand and pulling her close, arm thrown around her waist as he introduced her. "This is Wendy! She's my favourite little cousin and our healer for when we travel. This," he gestured to the man still on the ground, looking up at them with obvious disinterest, nose twitching as he tried to see what was on the grand table. "Is my metal headed cousin Gajeel. He's our smith in case… actually I don't know why we keep him around." Natsu pondered. He ignored Gajeel's sneer, mutterings of 'piss off' heard as the giant stood up. Next he gestured to the two younger looking men Lucy didn't know, one with blond hair and blue eyes, his clothes that of a knight without the chest plate and a sword attached to his left hip, the other a boy with black hair in a short ponytail and red eyes like that of Gajeel, a shawl thrown over one shoulder and pants like those of an Expanse Rider, tight at the knees and loose with a dropped seam to the waist, matching sword on his right hip.
"These are my traveling knights Sting and Rogue." He said 'travelling knights' in exaggeration, drawing glares from both boys. "Rogue is Gajeel's little brother and Sting's a third cousin or something. He's part of my court." Natsu waved off the specifics, Lucy giggling as the two boys shared a look before bowing slightly to her. She curtsied in turn, smiling.
"Finally, the wallflower over there is Erik. He's our apothecary, in case someone tries to poison me." Erik gave her a small nod, tanned skin marred by the large scar over his right eye, leaving it permanently shut. Lucy could see nothing under his dark cloak, but the Dragneel crest was seen plainly in faded gold over his heart.
"And how could he have done his job if you keep insisting on riding off alone?" Rogue asked, tone pointed as spoke to Natsu.
"Considering I watched His Majesty swallow what should have been a lethal amount of cyanide because he couldn't be bothered to read the label beside the roast, I highly doubt wandering off to get some alone time will kill him." Was Erik's dry reply. He seemed to want to be here even less than Gajeel, who was still eyeing the food.
Lucy paled when Erik narrowed his eye on Lucy's chest, sly smirk making her anxious. "I see our King has found a Queen." He tapped the centre of his chest, where Lucy's ring sat on her body. Her hand raised to it instinctively, drawing the attention of the rest of Natsu's escort to her necklace.
"Sand in Joal, Natsu, you proposed? You know no one actually expected you to follow Atlas' advice, right?" Sting laughed, hands on knees as he wheezed. Rogue patted his back in concern. Lucy was quickly surrounded by the joiners, Wendy peering up at her as her family towered over her.
"Oi, shove off, the lot of ya. You can pester Lucy later when we're heading back to Ki'gan." Natsu snapped, possessive as he pulled Lucy closer into his side.
"What do you mean you're taking her back already?" Freed stood from the table, lips pinched as he looked over Natsu. "It is Fiorian tradition to wait at least two cycles of the moon after a proposal before the Lady is to join the Lord's court. It is unfair to expect Lady Lucy to be whisked away without a chance to gather her belongings from her keep or inform her house or even say goodbye to those here."
Erik rolled his eye at Freed's declaration, Lucy frowning at the disrespect to her friends. Her and Freed had shared many books over the years, Laxus' beau one of the only men in the court to treat Lucy as an intellect and an equal. "We can't wait that long. The winter winds of the Expanse are due to arrive soon and we are less than poorly prepared to cross like this. We have a week at most." Erik's words were clipped, no emotion other than minor irritation on his face. Lucy wondered if perhaps it just rested like that, rather than show his inner thoughts.
"Bunny girl can deal with that later. I haven't eaten since yesterday, due to His Majesty setting our horses free into the woods." Gajeel gave Natsu a deadly glare as he stood, walking past and throwing himself down in Lucy's chair. Natsu shrugged, though he was obviously proud of his success in stalling his escort.
"Bunny girl?" Lucy asked Natsu, unsure if to take it as an insult or just the manners of the people of Ki'gan.
"It's because of your hair," Wendy chimed, looking up at Lucy and smiling shyly. "They're called bunny braids at home. They're unique to our court, due to Natsu being the only one who can do them that well." She fingered her long loose hair, midnight blue hair straight and soft looking. "Natsu usually does my hair when we travel, but I can do with loose hair if it means Natsu has found love."
Her smile was bright, Lucy seeing the familial resemblance in the fanged teeth and squinting eyes. Natsu sputtered a cough at the mention of love, Lucy and Wendy sharing a look as they left Erik and the knights to make sure he was alright.
"He's quite responsible and charming Lady Lucy, really. Well, when he wants to be," Wendy assured Lucy in a hushed tone, wide brown eyes flickering back to Natsu where he had started wrestling with Sting, Rogue and Erik watching on with mild interest. Lucy smiled at Wendy's concern should Lucy change her mind, fingering the gold sitting around her neck.
"It's alright Lady Wendy. I know who I agreed to marry, and I would not have him any other way." Lucy said, the truth ringing clearly in her voice.
"Natsu is lucky to have found you." Wendy replied, looking up at Lucy like she would imagine a little sister would. Lucy smiled down at the younger girl, offering her arm as she had seen Mira Jane and Lisanna walk hundreds of times. Wendy beamed as she took it, allowing Lucy to guide her to a pair of open seats beside where Erza and Gray had settled after speaking to Makarov.
"And I him."
A/N; Guess who's back. Back back. Back again.
And with more smut! Honestly as I write this I feel like changing the title and summary, so if it switches during the once in a blue moon updates then you'll know what happened lmao. So plot! I actually have so much plot for this. And so much smut. It's a beautiful sinful mess. Set in a period piece!
*Note* Due to the time this piece is written in women are not expected to blatantly approve of engaging in sex. It's an aspect of Lucy's personality that is addressed, and the only reason Natsu presses her in a moment is to get her true answer, which is a fully consenting yes.