Chapter 6
The next morning, Lucy woke up from the best sleep she'd had in a long time. She was warm and her pillow, though a little hard, was very comfortable. The slight up and down movement was soothing and the heartbeat was-
'Wait, heartbeat?'
Lucy's eyes shot open as she realized that she was using her boyfriend as a pillow. He had an arm around her shoulders, cradling her to his chest, his other arm bent under his head. Lucy lifted her head slightly and took in Natsu's sleeping face. His mouth was partially open and his face was fully relaxed. Lucy felt a soft smile take over her face. She lowered her chin back down to his chest and allowed herself to simply breathe in this moment of peace.
She became so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice Natsu's eyes blink open and look at her. He smiled at her and tilted his head to the side slightly when she did not immediately acknowledge him despite looking right at him.
"You like what you see there, Luce?"
Lucy jerked violently and squeaked in surprise. "Sorry!"
She started pulling away but was startled again when Natsu wrapped his arm around her more tightly and pulled her back.
"Where are you going? I like you right where you are."
Lucy felt her face heat with a blush and hid her face in Natsu's shirt while he laughed at her.
"Shut up, " she mumbled, giving Natsu a little swat with the hand she had on his chest.
He grabbed her hand, bringing her still bandaged wrist to his mouth and kissing it. Lucy peeked at him through her lashes. He smiled at her again and then a thoughtful look took over his face.
"What is it?" Lucy asked.
"I think we should go see my mom today. Let her take another look at your hands."
"Natsu, we don't need to bug your mom with this. The paramedics said I'm fine."
Natsu focused his eyes back on hers. "Please? I know they said you're okay, but I would feel a lot better taking you back to the station if you let my mom have a look. She's got today off, so she'll be at home anyway."
Lucy sighed, taking in the pleading look in her boyfriend's eyes. "Fine, fine. I'll let her have a look."
Natsu grinned. "Thanks Luce. We'd better get ready then. It's already eleven o'clock."
Lucy sat up sharply. "What?! Why would you let us sleep that long?! I'm never in bed past nine!"
Natsu chuckled, watching as Lucy shot out of bed and started for the bathroom, still mumbling to herself about sleep schedules. He got up himself and threw on some jeans and a t-shirt. He walked into the bathroom to find Lucy fussing over her hair and straightening her clothes. Natsu reached under his sink and grabbed one of his extra toothbrushes, handing it to her and receiving a thankful smile in response. They stood shoulder to shoulder as they brushed their teeth.
Once they were finished in the bathroom, they made their way downstairs. Natsu wandered to his kitchen and grabbed a couple energy bars, tossing one to Lucy once she stood up from putting on her shoes. She looked at the bar and then raised an eyebrow at Natsu.
He shrugged, tearing his open and taking a bite. "What? It's what I've got. I'll get you a big lunch after we see my mom," he said, still chewing his bite.
Lucy sighed and opened her bar, taking a nibble as they left Natsu's townhome, stopping briefly so he could lock the door. They made their way to Natsu's borrowed car for the day, Natsu walking to the passenger side and opening the door for Lucy. She gave him a smile as she climbed in. Natsu closed her door and made his way around the car, sliding into the front seat and starting the car.
"Ready Luce?"
"Ready," Lucy nodded.
Fifteen minutes later, they were pulling into his parents driveway. Natsu put the car in park and jumped out, running around to open Lucy's door before she had even finished unbuckling.
"Thank you, kind sir," Lucy giggled.
Natsu gave her a grin. "You are most welcome, fair lady."
They walked up to the door together and Natsu unlocked it with his key, ushering Lucy inside first.
"Mom! You home?" Natsu called.
"Natsu? You didn't tell me you were coming over!" Grandine called. "I'm in the kitchen!"
Natsu put his hand on the small of Lucy's back and guided her to the kitchen. They found Grandine putting a lump of dough into a bowl and covering it with a towel. She turned around with a smile that got wider when she noticed Lucy. She gave her a once over and furrowed her brow when she saw her bandaged arms.
"Hello dear! Whatever happened to your hands? Are you alright?" Grandine walked to the sink to rinse off her hands while she awaited an answer.
Lucy blushed. "Um, well...you see.."
Natsu cleared his throat, deciding to take the jump and just tell her. "Lucy was kidnapped yesterday by a crazy cult guy with a grudge and he tied her up. She escaped and knocked him out and we got him, but she burned her wrists pretty bad on the rope. Could you take a look?"
The towel slipped out of Grandine's hands as she turned to Natsu and Lucy in shock.
"What?!"
Lucy smacked Natsu on the arm. "Natsu!"
Natsu grabbed his arm and gaped at Lucy. "Ow! What?"
Lucy huffed in exasperation and turned back to Grandine. "I'm fine. Really, I'm okay. Natsu just insisted that you take a look. I think he trusts you more than the paramedics from last night."
Grandine gave Lucy a weak smile. "Well, of course I'll take a look. But darling, are you sure you're okay? That's quite an ordeal to go through, and just last night too. Maybe you should take it easy today."
Lucy waved her hands in front of her, giving a little wince as her bandages shifted. "No, really. I'm okay. I'm just glad that we caught him."
Grandine set her mouth in a frown and came towards Lucy, grabbing her hands and inspecting her wraps.
"Well even so. As your doctor," Grandine looked up at Lucy and gave her a smile. "I must insist that you take a break today. We can spend the day together. You can help me! I'm making bread and baked goods for the hospital employee picnic that's coming up!"
Lucy shook her head. "Oh, I couldn't possibly impose!"
Natsu chuckled at her and put his arm around her shoulders. "Don't even try Luce. Mom has her mind made up. Guess she's keeping you today."
Grandine smiled brightly. "Excellent! It's settled then. Natsu, you can pick her up when you come over tonight. It's family dinner night anyway. Oh, Wendy will be so happy to see you when she gets home from class. Let's take a look at those hands now."
Grandine wrapped her arm around Lucy's waist and guided her further into the kitchen. Lucy looked back at Natsu with a disbelieving shake of her head. Natsu just grinned, blowing a kiss at her and waving goodbye.
Natsu left Lucy in his mother's more than capable hands and headed off to the station to catch up with Gray on the Lapointe situation.
"You know, it was kind of mean to release Lapointe like that. You knew he was going to get caught again almost immediately," said a man with unruly yellow hair and crazy red eyes. "You're kind of evil, Hades."
Hades, a man with long white hair and a long white beard past his waist scoffed. "Hardly evil, Zancrow. Just calculating. He was the perfect distraction. Did you see how many officers responded to help that pathetic Heartfilia girl? Practically the entire force. It was exactly what we needed to move ahead with our plans."
Zancrow cackled, throwing his head back. "So true."
Another, larger man scratched his head in confusion. His hair, so dry it crackled when he touched it, released a waterfall of dandruff. "I'm confused."
Hades rolled his eyes. "You are always confused, Kain. What is it this time?"
"What are our plans again?" Kain asked, scratching his head harder and flooding the air with more dandruff.
A chuckle sounded from another corner of the lavish office the men were occupying. It came from a man with blue hair styled in a pompadour that would rival Elvis, his fur lined jacket pulled snugly around himself.
"You poor soul. No room in that thick skull for any imagination at all, is there? You really can't remember what we might be doing? What we've been planning for months, ever since that pathetic excuse for a gang, Oracion Seis, got themselves all captured?"
Kain shook his head. "No Rustyrose. I don't remember."
Hades released a long-suffering sigh. "Honestly. I'm surrounded by idiots these days. We're remodeling Magnolia, Kain."
Kain tilted his head. "We are? Azuma, are you helping with that too?"
A fourth man stepped towards Kain, letting out his own sigh. His brown hair was styled in a crown around his head and his green shirt rustled as he moved.
"Of course I am, Kain. One big boom at a time."
