Chapter Twenty-Three

Natsu watched Lucy as she studied the symbols on the console. He was continuously amazed by her. She had memorized the symbols and the order of them to make the Magi-Hover take off and land. She was picking up the International Guild's written language remarkably quickly. He watched her as she taped gently on symbols. Studying them.

"What's this one?"

"That is the internal recorder symbol. You can create messages that can be transmitted out or saved to the memory of the Magi-Hover."

"That's useful." She murmured and looked at the symbols. He nodded and looked at her, a smile tugging on his lips. "What are you smiling about?"

"You look pretty studying the Internal Guild's written language."

"What?" She whipped around to look at him, her eyes wide and a blush running up her neck and into her face. He smiled at her, resting his cheek on his fist.

"You look pretty studying."

"You…wha….Did…" She stopped stuttering and closed her eyes. When she opened them she looked at him. "Are you okay?"

"What? I can't tell you that you look pretty?"

"Natsu…" She shook her head and sighed and he smiled at her. "I'm…"

"Don't say you aren't pretty. You are. And I know you know it." He argued and she rolled her eyes.

"I'm not ugly, I know that." She said and crossed her arms over her chest. "But you are still moving a little too quickly."

"I'm not moving at all." He said and looked down at the chair he was in.

"I mean, whatever relationship we have…which we haven't settled on; you are moving too fast with. We've discussed this slightly." His smile faded and he nodded. "I'm not trying to be mean."

"I know." He said and pushed off of his fist. "I'll try not to tell you that you're pretty."

"Natsu…"

"It's fine." He said and stood up. He walked back to his room. Lucy dropped her head. She jerked it up.

"A.I.?"

"Yes NL-777?"

"Feel free to call me Lucy." She sighed. "Can you notify me if Nat…I mean N-777's metrics start to wavier too dangerously?"

"What is your definition of too dangerously"

"Any idea how to tell if he's about to go into a mental stasis?"

"Mental stasis levels have been recorded roughly in historical data. If N-777's biometrics get within thirty-percent of those levels I will notify you."

"Thank you."

She dropped her head back on her shoulders. She got up and walked over to the panels near the bench. She tapped around but nothing happened. "Which panels have the food?"

"These panels." Several lit up as the A.I. spoke softly. "What is it that you require?"

"Something to drink?"

"You may enjoy what is in this cabinet." The voice said. "I have compared your genetics and biometrics to various chemical components of the foods and drinks. Please let me know what you prefer or don't."

"Thank you." She whispered as the panel to the cabinet opened. She saw a bottle of pink like what she had been given earlier. But she looked at the various options and picked up a bottle that had a bright yellow liquid. She opened it and froze. It smelled like a strawberry and banana smoothie. She gently lifted it to her lips and took a sip. The taste hit her tongue and she did a little dance. She turned to tell Natsu what it reminded her of, but then deflated when she realized he was sulking because of what she'd said.

She dropped onto the bench and drew her legs up to her chest and carefully sipped the drink. She turned her head and looked at the door.

Natsu curled into the nest, holding the pillow that Lucy had slept on to his chest. He sulked. He knew he was sulking. He hated that he was sulking. But he didn't know what else to do.

"Ugh!"

"Your stress levels are rising N-777. If they continue to rise; I will have to notify Lucy."

"What?" Natsu looked up at the ceiling and the A.I. hummed softly.

"The human named Lucy has requested I notify her if your biometrics get too close to a mental stasis level."

"Of course she did." He sighed and tightened his hold on the pillow.

"Biometrics have held at a slightly elevated level. I will continue to monitor."

"Thanks." He muttered and closed his eyes. Lucy's scent wrapped around him and he sighed deeply.

"Would you like me to play the Edolas footage? The human Lucy enjoys playing them as she lays inside the sleeping quarters."

"No thanks. I just wish to see…"

"Wish to see what? Hobke files? Crocus Prime? Tenrou Belt?"

"Lucy." He murmured and threw an arm over his eyes.

"Scouring resources for recordings of the human Lucy." Natsu's brows scrunched together and he turned onto his back. He watched as the wall of his room shimmed for a second. He braced himself, expecting a copy of one of the fights. But he was surprised when bright colors lit up the walls.

"Lucy! Come on!" A bright eyed girl came across the screen; and he was surprised that she was only wearing scraps of fabric across the most private of areas. Then Lucy appeared, also in scraps. He sat up, his mouth falling open. She joined the girl running into water. They kicked up the water, screaming and giggling. He watched as Lucy spun around threw her arms out before jumping back and sinking into the water.

The video shifted and Lucy was wearing a short black and white skirt with a red and black top that lifted to show her abdomen. Her hair was piled up and she wore metallic ornaments on the lobes of her ears. There were flashing colored lights around her, and she was in the middle of a sea of bodies. He could hear what he assumed was Earth-world music. Lucy was swaying and smiling. He watched in awe as she moved gracefully. She started to sing to the music and wrapped her right arm around another girl. The two danced together as they sang.

A new video. Lucy sitting at a strangely shaped item. Her fingers were moving along white and black shapes imbedded in the item. And more Earth-world music came from it. She had her head bowed, her eyes closed. Her hair had been pulled away from her face and twisted tightly behind her. She wore all black, and had little white spheres in her ears and around her throat. He frowned. She did not appear like her usual bright self in this recording. As the last of the music faded, he heard clapping. Lights lifted and he saw a large man walk up. He had blond hair, with peppered gray at the temples. He put his hand on Lucy's shoulder and she stood up. A blonde woman appeared and Natsu fell off of the cot. The woman was a duplicate of Lucy, but she had some more lines around her eyes and lips. But she was just as beautiful. The woman hugged Lucy and kissed her forehead.

"Oh Lucy, you were spectacular." The woman said and pulled back. "Thank you for playing that."

"It's your favorite song, mama. Sonata to the Stars." Lucy whispered softly. The camera zoomed in on Lucy's face. She smiled softly and her mother kissed her head again.

"And you are my favorite star." The man patted Lucy's shoulder and kissed her mother.

"Our Lucky Lucy will play Carnagie Hall one day."

"Father…" Lucy sighed and shook her head. Natsu tightened his hold on the pillow. Her parents.

Another video came across the screen. Lucy sat in an open window, a book in her lap. Her head was resting against the glass as she read. He watched as her mother appeared and sat with her. To his surprise she ignored her. After some time in silence her mother put her hand over the pages.

"Why is my favorite star acting so cold?"

"Don't…" Lucy's voice was dry and Natsu leaned back. He knew that tone. She was murderous.

"Lovely…"

"What's lovely Mama? Tell me. Because from where I'm sitting; everything is shitty."

"Lucy I do not condone that type of talk."

"And I do not condone being told that I am being whored out for a business deal!" Lucy shouted and her mother leaned back, her mouth falling open. Lucy threw her book across the room and as it flew out of sight, Natsu heard feet running towards them. He saw her father appear. He started to shout and Lucy pushed on the window and fell backwards.

"Luce!" Natsu screamed.

"Natsu?" Lucy pounded on the panel trying to remember where to hit it to open the door. She finally hit it and the door slid open. She stumbled in and froze. Natsu looked from the wall to her and she fell to her knees.

"What do you mean…by that?" Her mother asked and her father shifted from foot to foot. She was holding onto Lucy's waist. Video Lucy sat up and looked from her mother to her father, her face turning red.

"You said Mama knew and agreed!"

"Jude!"

"Turn it off!" Lucy called out and the recording stopped. Natsu scrambled to his feet and turned to look at her frantically. She shook her head closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself.

"I'm sorry, I didn't…"

"How is that even accesable? Did your International Guild have recording devices here? Spying on us?"

"Negative." The A.I. stated before Natsu could open his mouth. "This recording was found on the remnants of the planet's air files."

"Air files?" Lucy's brows furrowed.

"We found many recordings in the air around this planet. May have unique file names. Like \\ \Heartfilia\DoomsDay, which is the one just partially viewed."

"Oh my stars." Lucy closed her eyes. "The Internet still works?"

"Internet?" Natsu asked and tilted his head.

"Information hub that was used before the Draconics invaded." Lucy inhaled slowly. "It had access to anything and everything you could want. And there were companies that stored information for you. The file name that the A.I. stated was from a home security company. My parent's used it exclusively in all of their houses."

"Oh…." Natsu sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at her and then slowly patted the bed. She inhaled deeply and then plopped down and dropped her head onto his shoulder. He didn't move. She wrapped her arm around his waist and he finally moved and turned so she was cradled into his chest.

"It's okay Lucy." He murmured as she cried and he held on. He understood her pain. Seeing and hearing the images and voices of her parents when she had no idea if they were alive or not. He rubbed his hands up and down her back, nuzzling her head and biting back his own tears. Her scent was starting to change, infusing with her sorrow and pain. He didn't like it. Her normal scent was light, comforting and sweet. Right now it was twinged with a bitterness that came from pain and a sourness of sorrow.

"I'm sorry." She sniffled and shook her head. "I wasn't expecting any video of them, least of all that one."

"I understand. Very well." He murmured and she nodded, remembering the surprise he'd had seeing his family. She sighed heavily. He nuzzled her again and she felt her eyes prick with more tears.

"Sleep Lucy." Natsu murmured and moved, carefully laying her down. "I'll tell the A.I. too store any videos like that for you to look through at your own pace when you feel up to it. If you ever feel up to it."

"Natsu…"

"Sleep Lucy. It's been a long day, and that recording was hard to see. So you just sleep." He growled lowly and the lights dimmed and she murmured resistance but he just wrapped the blankets around her like a cocoon. She grabbed his hand as he stared to stand up to leave. He looked down at her and she stared into his eyes. They seemed to glow in the darkness around them. "Go to sleep."

"I'm sorry Natsu."

"Don't be sorry." He leaned down and nuzzled her head and she nuzzled him back. As he straightened, she watched him go with a hooded gaze.

Natsu sat on the bench and sighed heavily. He couldn't believe she'd walked in and seen the recording. He wouldn't have wanted her to walk into that for anything. Even if it had been one of the happier records before that specific one. He probably looked like a stalker.

He shifted and felt something hit his thigh. He looked down and picked up the bottle. It was nearly empty. He sniffed and could smell Lucy on it. He smiled softly. Rainbow berries and Hobke Golden fruit. A little too sweet for him usually, but he liked that she enjoyed it. He opened it and finished it. Before returning the empty bottle to the recycling chute. The Magi Hover rumbled slightly as it broke down the bottle before storing the material for later use.

A message beeped and he got up and walked over to the console and plopped into his command chair. He clicked on the message and it popped up Gajeel's face. He raised a brow and Gajeel sneered. "What Rust Bucket?"

"Shrimp is asleep but she's been crying in her sleep for nearly a growlken."

"Then comfort her."

"How? I'm not the Blondie." The other male threw his hands up and Natsu sighed.

"Levy is probably scared. About what happened when she was taken. Take some soft blankets, wrap her up and let her talk about what scares her."

"Do I look like I have soft blankets? Or do that yapping shit?"

"The drawer under your Aluminina stash." Natsu raised a brow when the glowering Dragis tilted his head in concern. "Go look."

Gajeel turned away and stalked down the galley to the drawer in question and pulled it open. He reached in and whipped his head around and then pulled out several black, grey and red and black patterned soft blankets. He stormed back to the console of his Magi Hover. "What the hell are these?"

"I put some in every Dragis' Magi Hover in case they found their Growlkins. So they could make a nest that would be comfortable."

"When did you do this?"

"Does it really matter?" Natsu asked and rolled his eyes. "Go and help Levy. She isn't like Lucy or the redheaded one called Erza. She isn't used to violence or suffering. She needs to be comforted."

"I don't know how to do that stuff Match Stick."

"Put some of the blankets on her bed. Pat her back like you do Panther Lilly when it storms."

"You think that would work? He said that was an Exceed trick."

"It works on Lucy."

"How is she?"

"Ehhh." Natsu shook his head and Gajeel sighed heavily and looked at him.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine. The Magi Hover is tracking my vitals and if I get near a mental stasis it's supposed to alert Lucy."

"At least she has a plan." The other Dragis muttered. Natsu nodded. He wants to ask about Gajeel thought he should do but he knew that he'd tell him to take his Scalut back. But he'd rather rip out his scales one by one then ask that of Lucy. She was his Growlkin. He was sure of it.

"Ask her if she's ok. If she say's no. Tell her you aren't an want to stay close to put your mind at ease. She'll probably not buy it, but will let you stay in the room. Then you can try and talk to her about anything other than things that happened while she was there alone with the militia that had her."

"Can't believe I'm having to ask advice from you."

"I'm not a complete idiot you know." Natsu defended himself. Gajeel sniffed as if he didn't agree. He closed his eyes and nodded slow.

"I'll do that. Get some sleep. Laxus said that Gramps is going to send new coordinates to our Magi Hovers. A new location to go up at. Apparently the last few teleports caught some unwanted attention but we aren't sure by whom."

"Ok. That sounds like the best plan then."

"Fine. Don't die before we get back up to the Guild Station."

"Same to you idiot." Natsu signed off before Gajeel could retaliate. He smiled softly. Trying to picture Gajeel giving Levy the soft blankets and trying to be considerate. He couldn't actually picture it that well so he was going to bet that Gajeel messes up. A lot.

He spun in his seat and looked through his messages. Nothing important. He needed to submit his report on what happened but that wouldn't take long. Wendy had let him know that the girls had been welcomed by the other survivors but none of the humans would let the girls talk in the present of the Guild Station members. So she wasn't sure if they were able to reassure them that they were friendly or not.

He shut down his messaging system and looked at the map and where the new location was. It was in the woods off to the side of the town. Half a solar cycle. He turned and got up and stretched and looked around.

"Would you like me to change the floor's attributes so you do not cause Lucy to awaken when you go to sleep?" The A.I. asked and he froze and looked up at the ceiling.

"What?"

"I can change the flooring's…"

"No I understand that part." Natsu remembered when he'd been young and made the floor bouncy. He'd had so many concussions Wendy had threatened to never treat him again if he didn't revert the flooring to the original settings and leave them alone. "What did you mean about not waking up Lucy?"

"You and the human Lucy are calmer when in each other's presence. Even to sleep. I advise that you do not try and stay out here or create a different room. She is uneasy, restless. I believe you two need to be close for both of you to get enough quality sleep."

"She doesn't want that."

"She does not want to be alone. She said as much." The A.I. delivered that news coldly, as it had no other tone. "I require my primary inhabiter to be in full control of himself. So please, retreat to the shared sleeping chamber. I will provide additional furnishings so you can sleep on the floor."

"Fine. That's fine." He murmured. He could sleep on the floor and not bother Lucy. He was sure he could do that. It couldn't be that difficult. He walked into the sleeping chamber and looked over at Lucy instinctively. She was curled up, her back to the door. Her huddled form shaking and he knew it was with silent tears. He growled and climbed into the bed. He wrapped himself around her and nuzzled the back of her head. She stilled instantly, her breathing evening out.

"Goodnight Lucy."