Author's Notes:
Disclaimer – Language and Mature Content
Enjoy!
The Difference Between Us
Lucy
I woke up feeling really hot.
Turning my head, I saw Natsu sleeping beside me. His arm was under my head giving it a cushion and his other arm was wrapped around my waist. We were both naked under my tangled sheets. Last night's events flooded my mind. After I came on his fingers in the hallway's bathroom, he turned me around and fucked me against the sink.
Not getting enough, we stripped off our clothes and showered together to do it again against the shower walls. Somehow, I craved him more than normal last night. I couldn't get enough despite how sore I was. After our shower, we did it one more time in my room. I don't even remember finishing, but I can assume I did from how relaxed I feel now.
I traced my fingers down his bare chest and along his happy trail to grasp his morning wood. He groaned as I began stroking him slowly. Peeking one eye open, he glanced at me and chuckled.
"You want more?" His blissful smile, interrupted by a yawn, was a testament to his enjoyment.
I didn't answer him as I pushed him down to straddle his waist and leaned forward planting a kiss on his forehead. I kissed his lips then his chin and moved down to his neck. His hands gripped my waist and stopped me from going further. Both of his eyes were now open.
"What are you doing Lucy?" I kissed him to be silent before moving down his chest, kissing each pec, down to his solid abs and to his thighs. I pushed the sheets away and wrapped my hands around his dick again. I stroked him slowly causing him to take in a sharp breath. I tightened my grip and quickened my strokes as I wrapped my lips around his tip. The burst of his flavor hit my tongue as I engulfed him down to his hilt. I hummed as I slid my mouth back up his shaft and consumed him again.
Natsu fisted his hand in my hair as he raised his hips slowly to meet me and then sped up. I could only hold the bed sheets to keep steady as he took over. My throat relaxed to take as much as I could. He continued thrusting into my mouth in a continuous pattern. Doing this somehow made me wetter than usual.
"Fuck Luce," he groaned. I loved to hear the strain in his voice knowing he was close to coming undone. I engulfed him one more time before licking my way up his dick and placing a chaste kiss on his tip.
Inhaling, I wiped the extra saliva from my mouth before leaning in to kiss him. He gripped the back of my head to deepen our kiss. I sighed into his mouth when he slid inside of my soaked folds. Letting me go, I buried my head in his neck as I rode him feeling myself getting close. In minutes I was coming moaning his name near his ear. After a few more relaxed thrusts, Natsu came.
He kissed my temple after catching his breath. "If this is how you're going to wake me up every morning, I might not leave."
I laughed.
Chef Ade had a giant spread made for breakfast due to Ms. Spetto mentioning Natsu and Happy being here. I smiled at the two while they talked.
"Good morning, Lucy. Did you sleep well?" Chef Ade asked as he handed Ms. Spetto a hot plate of pancakes.
"I did thanks," I hummed taking up an orange and started peeling it. I sat on the barstool behind the island to eat my orange. I shivered thinking back when Natsu had me bent over it and fucked me to oblivion.
"Where are our guests?" Ms. Spetto asked, returning from the dining room. I smirked reeling in my thoughts.
As if on time, Natsu was walking into the kitchen with Happy after their shower. Happy ran and hugged me as they entered.
"Hi, Ms. Lucy!"
I inhaled his sweet soapy scent as I hugged him. "Morning Happy. Did you sleep okay?"
"Yup! I woke up in a big bed and warm blankets. It was the best." He let me go to look at me. "Do you sleep like that every day in that bed?"
I laughed pinching his chubby cheeks. "Yes, but in my own bed. Are you hungry? We got everything you might like." I lifted him up and carried him to the dining room. Natsu was behind us just as hungry from the sound of his growling belly.
"I'll gobble up a whole fish right about now if it means I can eat." We both laughed at his analogy.
Over breakfast, we conversed. Happy told me about his two weeks with his aunt Grandeeney and older cousin Wendy. He also bragged about Carla coming to see him at the competition next week.
"Will you be there too, Ms. Lucy?" Happy asked as I wiped his syrup-covered lips with a napkin cloth.
"Are you inviting me?"
He glanced at Natsu before looking back at me. "No. I already asked Carla. Natsu is supposed to ask you." We both turned our eyes to Natsu as he drank his freshly squeezed orange juice.
He arched an eyebrow placing the cup down. "I'm not competing Happy."
"So?" We both said.
Natsu laughed. "Fine." He stood up and bowed with grace. "Ms. Lucy Heartfilia, I would be honored if you were to accompany me to the Little League boxing competition next week?"
I grinned looking at him as he peeped up from his bow. "Of course, I wouldn't miss it for the world." I peered down at Happy as he smiled. "I'll be rooting for you."
"Thanks!" His anticipatory smile showed his excitement for the upcoming event.
While we talked more, my phone rang. Excusing myself, I got up to answer the call in the courtyard while enjoying the summer morning breeze.
"Hello, Ms. Heartfilia my best-selling author."
"What happened Brandish?" I cut her off and went straight to the point.
"Well excuse me. Who pissed in your coffee this morning?" she sassed. "I figured you would be more laid back after you know… getting laid."
"Really," I groaned into the phone.
"What? Is he not putting out anymore because of Dan? I mean, I explained the gist of things to him. He didn't seem like the type to hold a grudge."
"He's not. What happened? You only call me your best-selling author when you need something."
Brandish laughed while sighing. "You know me so well." I heard shuffling on her end before she started again. "Okay, remember that author you've been wanting to collaborate with for a short story analog?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, she's here in Magnolia for the next three weeks and she wants to do an interview with you next week. She already has the reporter. Some guy named Jason."
"Wow. I'm speechless… I don't know what to say." I started pacing excited for the opportunity to meet my idol. "An interview… together?" I stopped pacing and stared at the horizon. "But why? This is so sudden."
"To my understanding, she wants to get to know you, and see if you can handle press like she can."
"Seriously?" I pushed my bangs behind my ear thinking about how I should respond. I was equally happy yet a little bit nervous. "This is unexpected. Did she send you the list of questions?"
"According to the instructions here, no," Brandish muttered. "This is what she wants. She wants to see if you can handle unpredictable questions and if you can answer them honestly. I read some of her past interviews… I forwarded some through your email. Take a look when you can. From what I've read so far, they're pretty straightforward." She paused, shuffling around again. "But remember her interviews are with her reporter."
"Yeah, they might be in cahoots together," I bit at my fingernails trying to analyze the right approach.
"Precisely. I don't think you have anything to worry about… aside from your relationship with Natsu."
"We're friends."
"Who happens to sleep together. Now try again and sound more convincing."
"Dammit Brandish…" I growled.
"Lucy, are you okay?" I turned around to see Natsu leaning his arm above his head against the sliding doors.
"Is that him I hear? Tell him I said hi!" Brandish cooed in my ear.
"Shut up," I whispered into the phone. Looking up at Natsu, I smiled. "Yes, I'm okay. Just talking to my editor."
"I have a name. Rude," she snapped.
"You mean, Brandy?" he tilted his head thinking.
"Brandish." I corrected.
"Oh yeah, I remember. Tell her I said hi."
"Sure thing."
"I'm heading to the gym. I'll be back late. Breakfast was great too." He waved, turning away. I watched him leave craving the need to kiss him. If reading my mind, he turned around and made his way to me. "I almost forgot." Wrapping his arms around my waist he pulled me close and kissed my lips. Automatically, my hand went to the back of his head to deepen the kiss.
I moaned loudly because I was ready to strip down and let him have his way with me in this courtyard when I heard two simultaneous "Eww…"
We ripped our mouths away from each other to see Happy standing with his fingers covering his eyes and Brandish laughing through the phone. Natsu and I looked at each other and began laughing.
"See you later," he breathed kissing my forehead before turning way to gather a laughing Happy in his arms and walking into the house.
I placed the phone back to my ear, hearing Brandish still cackling away.
"Shut up."
~s~
Natsu
I couldn't remember a night in the past two weeks that I hadn't fallen asleep with Lucy in my arms or a morning I hadn't woken up to her gently trying to get me out of bed, so I wasn't late for work. I usually got home after the gym and was right back at Lucy's place where we'd either eat what Chef Ade cooked, go out to eat, order in, or if she was going through writer's block, she would cook herself, with a little help from Happy. He loved being with her and was comfortable enough to have her as a constant mother figure in his life.
In some ways, things were just as they always were between us. When Happy was in dreamland, she would say or do something, and lust would knock the wind out of me so that I couldn't breathe. It felt satisfying as hell when I would slide into her and watch as her face contorted into pleasure-filled euphoria driving me crazy.
In those moments, I knew things were different as fuck between us. Waking up before dawn after a mind-blowing session, I would find her leg thrown across my body, her butt pressed against my morning wood, and drool on the corner of her mouth. It was something I didn't mind waking up to every day. Coming to her place to be greeted with a hug and a kiss when no one was looking had become normal. So normal in fact, I sometimes forget where the line we had drawn was. We were balancing between two ships and not saying anything about it.
Looking at her as I left that last day to go back home, I wondered if she felt the same way that I did.
Was she ready to get on the same ship that sailed towards forever?
Then again, would she feel safe in that ship with me after all Touka did to try and sink us?
During the court hearing to get the restraining order granted, I found out Touka was leaving Magnolia. At least that is what her lawyer told me. He handed me a letter after the judge granted the order, which she didn't bother showing up for. It was a written letter stating she was accepting her actions that caused Happy and me a great deal of pain.
She was giving herself an easy way out after spending years tormenting me. For her to leave a letter of apology was insulting. Her lawyer gave me a sad look as I was standing there crinkling the letter after I finished reading it. "Where is she?" I growled.
The round-belly lawyer struggled to push his suit jacket sleeve back to look at his watch. "Her flight leaves in about half an hour. She should be boarding."
"Good enough." I left the courtroom and found myself in a corner next to a window away from others waiting to be seen. I took out my phone and dialed Touka's number.
A small voice answered. "Hello."
"Why?"
"Excuse… me?"
"Why did you do this to me? To Happy? To Lucy? Why drag us into this mess if you were going to run away without facing the consequences?"
"You didn't give me a choice," she murmured.
"Choice? Are you fucking kidding me?" I gripped the phone trying to lower my voice as my eye caught a bailiff walking by. "You cheated on me on the day my father died. You broke up with me. You caused Lucy and I to separate for almost 5 years and almost did it again because of your jealousy. You kidnapped Happy and taunted him about his adoption at a vulnerable age. So, tell me... when do you take responsibility for all the damage you've caused in my life."
"What do you want me to say Natsu."
"Face me and apologize. Don't tell me you're sorry through a fucking piece of paper!" A few people looked at me, but I turned facing the window. "Not after everything you did to my family," I whispered harshly.
"I was mentally sick Natsu," Touka pleaded.
"I don't give a shit. Are you sick now? Apologize dammit!" I listened to her cry on the phone, but I didn't care. I wasn't hanging up until I heard her sincerely apologize.
"I'm sorry," she whispered through muffled sobs.
"What?!" I needed her to be louder.
"I'm sorry for hurting you Natsu and subjecting Happy to such things."
"What about Lucy?" I questioned.
"Is she with you?" she asked apprehensively.
"Does it matter? Would it make you ask for forgiveness better if she wasn't here?"
"No... I didn't… I didn't mean it like that," Touka stuttered. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry Lucy. I have no excuse for treating you the way that I have."
I huffed through the phone. "I'll pass the message along to her."
"Oh… okay," she mumbled. "Natsu?"
"What?"
"Please have a nice life. You and Happy."
"Yeah, whatever." I hung up hearing her gasp. I quickly blocked and deleted her number from my phone.
Given this rare opportunity, I was ready. With Touka no longer in the picture, I felt a huge burden had been lifted off my shoulders. I have been struggling with finding the words to level the playing field with Lucy during this whole ordeal. Now that it was over, I could tell her my true feelings.
But would she feel the same?
Would she take that chance?
To be my other half and a stable person in our lives?
I sent her a text about dinner plans tonight. She responded in less than a minute.
Lucy: Sure. Can't wait!
I smirked reading her reply.
Tonight, I would have to find out. I was ready to claim Lucy as my woman with no more barriers blocking us apart.
I sent Lucy a text that I would be arriving soon and to meet me outside. Happy threw his backpack on and jumped out of my car when I was typing.
"Hey, not so fast!" I shoved my phone in my pocket and opened my door. Running over, Happy was bouncing on his toes looking at me and back at Zeref's house. "Where are you rushing off to?"
"I want to see August and Larcade before they fall asleep."
"I get that, but you can't jump out of the car like that when it's in drive."
"But you weren't moving," he whined.
"It doesn't matter. If I don't open the door for you that means it isn't time to leave the car yet."
"Sorry," he mumbled looking down at the gravel.
"Apology accepted." I reached and tugged his backpack. "I'll see you later. Enjoy yourself with Uncle Zeref, Aunt Mavis, and your cousins. I'll see you at the gym for the competition tomorrow. That means no staying up late." I ruffled his head as he groaned.
"Okaaayyy! Can I go noowww?" Happy asked in a whiny tone, ready to take off.
"Fine," I laughed.
"Bye!" He ran to the front door and knocked. Mavis was there in seconds with Larcade in her arms. He wiggled out to hug Happy. The two kids laughing in their hug. Mavis waved at me when they walked inside before closing the door. I jogged back to the driver's side and pulled off as soon as my seat belt was secured.
Lucy was standing outside her entryway wearing a white midriff off-the-shoulder long-sleeved top, a short beige skirt, and black open-toed heels. She wore her hair down with curls and her makeup was light. Her face lit up with a smile that reached her eyes when she saw me.
"Natsu!" She ran down the stairs and hugged me when I stepped out of the car.
"Hey." I buried my nose in her neck inhaling the sweet scent of hibiscus, honey, and hints of vanilla. "You smell so good."
"Thank you." We parted slightly and gazed into each other's eyes. Her hand cupped my cheek while her thumb caressed it. "I won't lie, since you two left two days ago, I've been lonely. The house also feels empty without you guys."
"Sorry, but I felt like we were intruding. Also, with Touka no longer being here my house is deemed safe. Plus, Happy misses his own bed. He likes your guest bed, but it's something about waking up to his bubble fish alarm."
Lucy laughed. "Yeah, you're right. Wait Touka is gone?"
I dropped my hands that I held around her waist and nodded. "She left Magnolia. Where, I don't know, nor do I care."
"Wow, I never expected her to leave."
I shrugged. "As long as I got my restraining order granted and an apology, she is no longer my problem."
"That's good she apologized. I'm glad everything worked out for the better."
"She also sends her apologies to you too." Lucy looked at me weirdly.
"Okay… thanks I guess," she said warily.
"Enough about her. Are you ready to eat?"
"For sure. I'm starving." She rubbed her belly to emphasize her hunger.
I laughed and kissed Lucy's cheek causing her face to soften and letting a gentle smile play on her lips, reflecting her happiness from my action.
We talked and flirted during our drive. It really helped calm my nerves about moving forward with our friendship.
She stopped talking when we pulled into the parking lot of the Strauss Sibling's Restaurant.
"Wow. Is this place Mira's?" She turned to look at me.
"Yeah. I figured you want to try it out."
"Absolutely," she grinned.
Lisanna greeted us behind the host stand when we walked in.
She smiled at me. "Natsu, you're back again?" Her eyes moved towards Lucy. "Lucy Heartfilia in the flesh? How are you?" She walked over and gave her a hug. "It's been what… five, six or so years since we last saw you?"
Lucy blushed and nodded. "Sort of. I've been traveling for work."
"Really?" Lisanna tilted her head confused. "I thought an author sits by their computer all day?"
"Trust me she does," I inserted my two cents.
"Hush Natsu," Lucy glared. "I'm not most authors. Before coming here, I wrote wherever the wind would take me. Whether it was under the stars, in a forest, by a waterfall, or in a town square, I got inspiration. However, since I've been here… I had a bit of a distraction keeping me seated at the computer desk." She made a subtle wink towards me, before looking at Lisanna. "Plus, my publishing company is overseas."
"I remember Levy told me that once. I'm glad you're back. Hopefully… to stay?" she asked wiggling her eyebrows.
Lucy's stiff smile was a stark contrast to her usually warm expressions. "I'll see." Her eyes moved towards me again. I looked at her confused. Was she planning on leaving? There was an awkward silence filling an unspoken tension as we stared at each other.
"Lucy!" We turned to the bubbly voice shredding the silence.
"Mira!" Lucy unexpectedly smiles amid the tension at the long silver-haired woman. They embraced when Mira was in reach. "You look beautiful as ever."
"I can say the same about you. Is this date night? Who's the lucky guy?" Mira tilted her head to look behind Lucy. She smirked at me. "Oh, you're only here with your best pal. Natsu are you back for more of my signature flaming chicken?"
I grimaced at the 'best pal' comment but shrugged it off before answering. "Do you have to ask? But I'm not the one starving tonight." I pointed my thumb at Lucy who twisted her face in shock.
"Natsu," she grumbled blushing. Mira laughed at us and helped guide us to a table.
Handing us menus, she excused herself to help her brother at the bar. Lucy waved at Elfman who had his arms up shaking a tin container with a cocktail inside. He gave a head nod in recognition.
"I can't believe it. Everyone looks the same, yet they don't," her eyes scanned the restaurant rapidly for anyone else she might know.
"It has been five years. People grow up," I clarified.
"I know that… but still, I missed a lot." She glanced at me; a strained smile was signaling her inner turmoil.
"Doesn't matter. You're here now, right?" I quickly said to ease her mind.
"True..."
Lisanna came to our table, and we gave our food orders along with our drink choices. After she walked away, Lucy began firing off about her book and how much she had written. She mentioned interacting with Happy these past few days helped her to write from a child's perspective, giving her words a genuine feel.
I told her stories about Happy and his little adventures which included me sometimes.
"In my defense, I thought I was a hot dad tree swaying my leaves on that stage," I pointed out. "But Happy disagreed and rather have had me as a bush shaking in the corner away from the audience's gaze. You know he never asked me to be in a play again," I frowned thinking back on it.
Lucy began laughing. "Oh god, that's priceless." She wiped a tear from her eye and ducked her head to hide her little snort behind her hand.
Seeing her laugh made me reach across the table and cup her chin. She stopped laughing and smiled at me with curious eyes. I leaned in and kissed her. She gasped from the unexpected public display of affection in the middle of the restaurant, but I didn't care. I wanted to do this since I saw her earlier standing outside her house waiting for me. She relaxed and kissed me back. I pulled away and sat down, my eyes memorizing this new moment and of many more to come if everything goes right tonight.
Lucy's cheeks were pink from embarrassment and excitement. I took that as my cue to ask her about us when…
"I'm sorry but you two are so cute."
We turned to see Mira with our food, placing them in front of us. Lisanna was behind her with our drinks. "Please tell me you guys are officially dating?" Mira asked grinning ear to ear. "And am I the first to know too?"
I turned my head to see Lucy's reaction, but her face was pale and solemn. The corners of her mouth turned slightly downwards, lost in her thoughts. She glanced up as her eyes flickered between the two women. She quickly waved her hands in front of her face.
"No, no, no," she awkwardly laughed.
My stomach sank at her utter rejection. Mira glanced between us, her smile dwindling down to a neutral façade. "I see. Sorry for assuming," she apologized. Lisanna had the same sad look when she glanced at me. They walked away after telling us to enjoy our food.
Lucy glanced my way but quickly turned, avoiding my gaze. She chuckled with uneasiness. "Imagine that?"
"Yeah…" I grumbled reaching for my drink, "…imagine that."
~s~
Lucy
For the rest of the night, I did most of the talking. Natsu gave one-word answers or nodded when necessary. He was picking at his food, which was odd because it was one of his favorites. After a while, we settled into silence. Lisanna returned, easing the uncomfortable stillness. He asked for his food to be wrapped up and for the check. They chatted for a bit, more than he had with me since the food was served.
I won't lie, I was jealous. He gave attention to her while I sat there looking between the two debating whether to join in or not. They had a history before I was ever in existence in his life. So, for them to chum it up was only typical and impolite for me to interject. He paid and left a hefty tip.
The drive back was even worse. We drove in dead silence. He didn't even turn on the radio to fill the void. At least in the restaurant, we had other patrons talking and light music playing in the background. Once in front of my steps, he got out and opened my door. At least that hadn't changed.
"Are you okay?" I asked trying to gauge his mood once I was out of his car.
"I'm fine," he mumbled closing the passenger door. "Night." He turned to walk to the driver's side before I could respond.
"Night." I don't think he even heard me as he got back in and drove off. Standing there watching his backlights disappear down the drive, I could feel this time I was the one who messed up.
In the morning, I woke up to see he hadn't texted me his usual good morning messages. Rolling over to the other side of my bed, I hugged the pillow he used while he was staying there. His firewood scent still lingered on it giving me a sense of tranquility.
I was supposed to see him today for the boxing competition. If he would answer my text, maybe, we can resolve whatever it is that has us at odds. Or for me to apologize. Turning over, I closed my eyes repeating last night's events. I knew I messed up when Mira assumed we were dating and I flat-out denied it. But I wasn't wrong.
We weren't dating.
His attitude after I rejected her claim shouldn't be met with animosity. I did nothing wrong.
I groaned, turning to the other side of my bed, and taking the scented pillow with me. I pulled my phone from the charger and called him this time. The call went straight to voicemail. Ripping the covers off, I threw my phone back on my nightstand and got up to hop in the shower. I was going to his place to confront him.
The driveway was empty when I pulled up. Getting out of my car, I dialed his number again while walking up to his front door. It still went to voicemail.
"I hope he's okay." I rang the doorbell while I peeked through the glass pane on the sides of the door. After what felt like forever with no answer, I turned away and went back to my car. Since he wasn't home, I would check the gym.
Driving a few miles, I arrived at the boxing gym. The flyers and decorations were up for the competition happening in a few hours. My eyes scanned the parking lot finding it empty, and his car was nowhere in sight. My heart started beating rapidly worrying about Happy and Natsu's whereabouts.
Did Touka return and do something?
Was her apology an approach for Natsu to let his guard down?
Did she lie about leaving as a decoy to get him to return home?
I got out of the car dialing his number again. I ran up to the glass door about to start banging but stopped when I heard it ring this time. His voice filled my ears after the fourth ring causing me to inhale sharply.
"Hello."
I quickly turned away from the door and almost burst into tears. "Natsu, where are you? Are you okay? Did Touka come back and harm you? Oh god, what about Happy?" My words rushed out feeling the increase of fear flooding through my body.
There was little shuffling and a hushed voice. "Lucy?" I could hear the grogginess of his voice.
Where did he sleep if he wasn't home or at the gym?
Was he drugged?
"Yes, it's me. Where are you? Are you and Happy together? I went by your house, and no one was home. I'm here at the gym now. Are you here?" I started pacing outside the gym like a mad woman. A man walking his dog passed by and glanced at me puzzled but kept moving.
He groaned and then yawned. "Calm down. Happy is fine." Natsu finally said after what sounded like him stretching. "And we're not home or at the gym either."
I stopped pacing and looked at my phone as if it had burned me.
He was too calm. Or maybe I'm just paranoid.
Pressing it to my ear, I heard him talking to someone. The voice sounded like a woman, but I wasn't sure. I hung up without confirming. Looking around the parking lot and hearing the erratic breaths leaving my mouth, I ran my sweaty hand through my hair wondering what I was doing here. Turning around, I walked back to my car on my now weak legs.
Settling into the driver's seat, I gripped the steering wheel as I pressed my head against the rim. Tears I knew were coming, began to cascade down from my eyes onto my jeans and I began sobbing. My phone was ringing but I refused to answer it.
He was doing it again.
Abandoning me for someone else.
~s~
Natsu
Ring. Ring. Ring.
"The person you are- "
I clenched the phone in my hand after hanging it up. My gut was telling me it was happening again. The feeling of her believing I had abandoned her.
I got out of bed to put on my pants and my now wrinkled polo shirt from last night. Maybe I should have gone home yesterday. Instead of talking about it, I drank to numb my rejected feelings.
Angel sat in a chair on the other side of the room giggling to herself. Her phone was in her hand buzzing with incoming notifications.
"I'm heading out. Thanks for letting me crash."
She looked up from her phone and glared at me. "I couldn't let you leave. Jellal would have killed me if I let you drive home drunk." She waved me off as her phone buzzed again.
"Whatever." I grabbed my car keys off the nightstand and out of the apartment. My eyes squinted as I was walking down the stairs into the daylight failing to avoid the brightness of the morning sun. The abrupt movements and bright light started to make my head pound. Walking through here at night was totally different in the daytime. The bar strip was quiet and deserted. Only a few known local drunks were sitting on the curb nursing their last bottle while snoring.
I turned down the alleyway to the place where I parked my car. I groaned feeling the hangover headache as I reached my car door. Sitting down I tried Lucy's number again before starting my drive.
Still no answer. Groaning, I pulled off to head to my place for a needed shower and to sort myself out before the competition.
Happy gave the other child another right hook causing him to tumble onto the canvas.
The bell rang out signaling the match was over and everyone cheered. He turned to me with wide eyes with such pride.
As the ref, all I could do was raise my fist in salute, trying not to show too much favoritism with the other parents watching. Once we were alone, I would give Happy all the cheers needed to show him how proud I was. After he was declared the winner, he ran out of the ring into Lucy's open arms. She gave him kisses all over his chubby cheeks praising him.
When she walked in before the match started, she came in without a care in the world. Like I wasn't calling her all-damn morning. When we saw each other, she gave me a weak wave before turning to greet Zeref and Mavis. Grandeeney stood up and grabbed her in a motherly hug. They talked for a bit before taking their seats. She stayed with them not bothering to acknowledge my existence again.
Throughout the matches, she whispered to Mavis giggling and nodding to whatever was said. She held August in her arms since Zeref was helping me out with getting the other children ready for their round. I was the ref for the matches, but my eyes would always find her in the crowd.
Watching Lucy praise Happy with hugs and kisses warmed my heart and temporarily made me forget that she was giving me the cold shoulder. She took on the role of a mother figure so easily without me asking. Something I had hoped would be true after last night's dinner. However, since everything went left and I drove off angry, both at her and mostly at myself, the likelihood of her status change in both our lives was slim.
Lucy let Happy go so he could also receive hugs from both Mavis and Grandeeney. Wendy and Carla gave him high fives before he waved to go back to his side of the boxing ring. I couldn't help but admire my family. Taking the short break before the next match, I figure this was a good time to talk to her.
"My son needs extra lessons after that beating."
I looked down to see Yukino standing outside the ring. She was looking up at me with a sweet smile. Leaning against the rope I grinned. "You know I still hate your husband, right?"
She gave a throaty laugh. "I know, I know. He's remorseful but too prideful to make an apology."
"I could never understand how you tamed that guy."
"Patience," she smiled, a tender and optimistic expression of her love. "Sting knew he could not play the edge of a manwhore much longer."
"At least someone knew it." We laughed and I poked her head playfully. "Your kid is young but has the basics down packed. Granted next competition I will have him up here again."
"I appreciate that." The bell rang notifying me the next match was about to start. Yukino and I turned our heads to see the next two opponents gearing up. "I'll let you get back to it," she said hurriedly.
"Yeah… and tell Sting to help him. His dumbass trained here too," I called out as she laughed waving.
I shook my head chuckling to myself before feeling a sudden chill run down my spine. Looking up, I locked eyes with Lucy. Her once joyous smile was gone and was replaced with a sour expression. I arched an eyebrow at her attitude. My frown only deepened when one of the fathers of the boys in the competition approached her. Her eyes glinted with something I hadn't seen before.
She embraced him in a tight hug and then whispered in his ear. Watching their exchange made my blood boil. The things Gray had said about 'the one' started flooding back in droves. I was about to duck under the rope to break up their little party when the other coach called out my name. I turned my head to him, and he beckoned me over. Nodding to let him know I had gotten the message, I glanced back at Lucy to see her whispering to Mavis pointing to the twins who were asleep in their strollers. She waved at her before walking to the guy who was waiting by the exit.
My mouth went dry. Was she leaving? She was here for Happy's match but was that it? No celebratory dinner. Just up and gone?
Growling, I turned back and prepared to start the next match.
Happy smiled as I placed the gold medal around his neck. The crowd cheered as all the winners stood in the ring to have their pictures taken. I ducked out of the ring and watched Happy smile for the camera. He looked at me smiling hard as he held his medal up. I put my thumbs up cheering as a proud father. Zeref patted me on the back with his own proud smile.
"He's a natural. Dad would be proud."
"Your two boys are next," I pointed out to the two sleeping toddlers.
"Yeah… maybe just August. Larcade isn't much of a fighter. He's like me. All love and peace," Zeref said mellowing his arms down to his sides showing me his nonviolent nature.
"You sound like a hippy."
"Is that supposed to be offensive?" We both laughed. Happy ran up to me once the photographs were done.
"Look Uncle Zeref. I'm the champion."
"Yes, you are." They high-fived.
"Can I stay at your house again tonight?" Happy asked. He glanced at me then back at Zeref. "I want to talk to Grandpa."
Zeref looked at me with probing eyes. "We were going to Dad's grave tomorrow. Just to clean it up and set out some new flowers."
"Yeah?" I faced Happy who was waiting for an answer. "You want to tell Grandpa you're a champion?"
"Yup! If I talk to him, he'll tell all the other angels, and they can give me strength for the next match." He balled his fist and threw a left hook in the air. "So can I Natsu?"
I ruffled his blue hair and smiled. "Of course, you can." Zeref sighed in relief. I looked at him confused.
"Thanks. I have to show Carla my medal up close now." He ran off towards Mavis who was talking to Grandeeney with Wendy and Carla by their sides. They smiled at Happy as he showed them his new shiny medal.
"Why were you so uptight?"
"I thought you would say no since death creeps you out."
"It does, but it's only Pops," I shrugged. "Why would I deny Happy from talking to him?"
"I don't know, you're overprotective of him."
I glanced away. "What parent isn't overprotective of their own children."
"Fair enough." Zeref turned to look at our little family. Mavis smiled at him. She mouthed one word to him, and he chuckled. "Should we wait for you to have a celebratory dinner? Mavis is hungry."
"Yeah, I just need to change." Trying not to look anxious, I mumbled. "Did Lucy leave?"
"I think so. She had a date that was scheduled for today. Hopefully, she can still make it. She must have felt bad for letting the poor guy wait."
"A date?" My mind drifted to the guy she left with.
Was that her date?
A man with a child… just like me, but not me?
"That's what Lucy said when she got here. She was upset that it couldn't be rescheduled, but she wanted to be here for Happy. He understood when she told him."
"She told Happy?"
Zeref looked at me. "Yeah… she did. Wait, am I missing something? She didn't tell you?"
"No, she didn't." I turned away. "I'll meet you by the car."
Ms. Spetto opened the grand door of the Heartfilia mansion. Her eyes narrowed at the bag of food in my hands.
"Despite the late hour, it's good to see you again," she said displeased.
I squeezed past her to remove my shoes and slid on a pair of guest slippers. "Same. Is Lucy here?"
"More or less. This new manuscript is taking its toll on her," she said sadly. She turned around and pointed to the other side of the mansion. "She's sitting on the patio." Ms. Spetto went in the opposite direction leaving me to find my way.
I sighed and walked searching for the patio. Even though I spent time here with Happy the other week, I still couldn't fathom how big her place was and always managed to get lost. Searching for her, I went over in my mind how to talk to Lucy without sounding bitter.
First, ask about her date calmly.
Second, ease my way into the subject of us.
Okay, I got this.
Seeing the moonlight seeping through the open French patio doors, I approached with my eyes set on the slumped figure.
Lucy sat with her back towards me staring straight ahead at the dark grassy field. She had a throw blanket over her shoulders hiding her body. "Lucy," I called out cautiously. I saw her flinch before turning her head slightly to look at me. Her face was blotchy, her eyes red-rimmed with tears flowing without a sound.
Everything I was prepared to do was no longer on my mind. Seeing her cry broke me. Had her date ended terribly for her to shed tears like this?
"Why are you crying?" I said, feeling my anger surfacing. "What did he do to you?"
"What… what are you… doing here?" her voice choked as she tried to wipe her face with one hand. She shuffled on the lounge couch with her laptop, closing it and placing it on the glass table with the other.
I walked around the couch to get a better look at her. "You weren't picking up my calls." I put the bag of food next to her laptop. "Why are you crying?" I moved to sit next to her, but she scurried away burying herself deeper into the lounge couch. I immediately stopped moving. My hands stayed by my side and tightened into fists. "What are you doing?"
"Wallowing in self-pity," she mumbled, bringing the blanket up to wipe her tears.
"Huh?"
Lucy moved the blanket from her face and stared at me. In the luster of the moonshine, her face held a serene calmness. "Shouldn't you be with your new girlfriend instead of here with me?" I was even more confused by her accusation.
"New girlfriend?" I watched her glance at me before turning away hiding an emotion I had never seen before. "What about you and your date?" She scoffed as if she was dismissing my question, which annoyed me. A vein throbbed in my forehead as I tried to keep my temperament in check. "Lucy, tell me what is going on with you? What's your problem?"
Clicking her tongue, she threw the blanket off her body and stood up. Her finger was pointed in my face and the calm poise was gone despite the falling tears. This time she was enraged. "You! You're my problem!" I took a step back, but she quickly closed the distance. "You have this way of worming your way back into my life and taking things from me, then leaving me confused." Her brown eyes burned with unshed tears overshadowed by fury.
"Wha-"
"Ignoring me for hours and having me run around like a chicken with its head cut off because I was worried about Touka hurting you again only to find out you weren't even home. Instead, you were with someone else screwing your brains out. Then you answer the phone as if it's nothing."
"Because it was nothing!" She stepped back when I yelled. "Why are you acting like you're my goddamn girlfriend?" I felt the unbearable grip on my chest from the impact my words had on her, but I could not take them back.
~s~
Lucy
Fresh new tears welled up in my eyes, spilling over and tracing down my cheeks. I quickly turned away, trying to hide them.
"You're absolutely right. I'm not." It was like I had swallowed a stone, and it was slowly sinking, pulling me into a dark abyss of heartbreak.
"Lucy, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that." He wrapped his fingers around my wrist to turn me around. "I… I just don't want to ruin what we have."
"What is it that we have Natsu? Friendship? Sex? Which is it? Because you can't have both." Despite the tears that blurred my vision, my words held an intensity that surprised even me.
"What are you saying?" he asked.
What was I saying? Was I giving him an ultimatum? For what?
"Nothing, just forget it." I tried to wiggle out of his grasp, but he tightened his hold.
"No, you don't get to shut down on me. Tell me what you mean."
"I don't know," I gritted through my teeth trying to pull free.
"Bullshit. Tell me!"
I stopped trying to pry from his grip. "Fine. Who were you with last night? Why didn't you answer any of my phone calls? Text messages? Why have you had this bad attitude with me since dinner yesterday? What about today? Who was that woman near the boxing ring you were flirting with today? Was she the same person from last night?"
"Wohoo woho wooho." He held up his hand to stop me, but I kept going.
"I don't know what is wrong with you. It's like I can't understand you anymore. Or maybe it's me. I don't understand myself. How can we grow from this? We've been in this never-ending wheel of pandemonium constantly hurting each other."
"Hurting each other?"
"Yes! I've been so careless with my emotions around you. I can't get you off my mind. I think about you all the time. Every single day I wonder if you're okay, have you eaten, are you happy, are you sad? Are you scared or hurt? My mind swims with thoughts of you. I dream about you frequently. So, to answer your question about what my problem is… well… IT'S YOU!"
"Me?" His jaw was set, and his nostrils flared, an evident sign of his irritation. "What about you? You left the competition for a damn date. Then the confusing signals you've been sending me."
"Date? What signals?" Now I was confused.
"Stop acting innocent. I saw you leave with that guy after Happy's match." He ran his fingers through his hair looking away.
"Why do you care?" I pushed.
His eyes snapped back to my face. "What? Are you serious? I've always cared. I mean who has sex with their best friend without caring? You've known how I felt about you for the past five years and you're going to act like it never happened?"
"Of course, I know about your feelings."
"Then, answer me."
I was taken aback by his challenge. "Wha… what?"
"Answer my confession right here, right now. Tell me how you feel." His face was demanding, eyes determined and focused.
"I… I…" I choked on my words. It was there but I couldn't say it yet. "Before I say anything, you need to tell me about last night."
Natsu threw his hands in the air groaning in frustration. "I swear to… I got drunk at Jellal's bar last night after I brought you home. So drunk in fact that Angel, his main barkeeper let me sleep it off at her apartment since she lives above the bar." My eyes widened. He raised his hand to stop me from spiraling. "No, nothing happened. And the person you saw me supposedly flirting with was Yukino. Angel's little sister and Sting's wife." My mouth dropped open in astonishment. "Remember him, right? The ex-boyfriend who broke your heart after I broke his nose. Yeah him."
I didn't mean to, but I giggled.
"Are you seriously laughing at a time like this?"
"Yes…" I choked on a laugh. "I've been upset over you seeing someone new and leaving me again so yes… I'm laughing at myself." I covered my mouth to hide the giggles and snort. His irritated smile made me laugh out loud. "I'm sorry," I apologized through each snort and giggle.
"Whatever man." He turned to hide his annoyance.
Seeing his strong back in front of me, my heart fluttered with the need to lay my head there and wrap my arms around his waist. "I love you Natsu," I emphasized. He quickly turned around to face me.
"What did you say?"
I wiped my laughing tears away and smiled. "I love you. I've always loved you as my best friend. I can admit that. But seeing and hearing you with someone else disturbed me to the point where I started crying. I was upset with myself for feeling that way. Why would I cry when my best friend has a new girlfriend? I would ask myself. That's not what friends do." I moved closer to him taking hold of his hand.
I began tracing his fingers. Feeling the calluses of his heavy hands from boxing. "I was green with envy and scared because I was in love with my best friend." I brought his hand up to my face to cup my cheek. Closing my eyes, I leaned into his warmth. "Loving you as my best friend has been the greatest gift I could always fall back on." I opened my eyes gazing into his keen onyx orbs. "However, falling in love with you is something I want forever."
"Forever?" he asked with a toothy grin. His mesmerizing smile held my attention.
"Yes… forever." He suddenly pulled me in and kissed me deeply.
Author's Notes:
The Last Chapter is next.
Until Next Time.
Songs
Through The Night – Maeta, Free Nationals
Orion's Belt – Sabrina Claudio
Teenager – Got7
Callin' – Avery Wilson
Never Tear Us Apart – Bishop Briggs
Middle of the Night – Monsta X
Problem With You – Sabrina Claudio
more than friends – Isabel LaRosa