The Princess And The Dragon

Chapter 3: Unfamiliar feelings and battles

Lucy's P.O.V
So you can say goodnight to your mom.
Lucy, with tears rimming her eyes, turned to face him on the bed. Laying face to face, she was going to thank him, but he was already soundly asleep. Smiling, she reached her hand towards his face, cupping his cheek, she stroked it with her thumb. Saying her thanks she drifted off into a sweet sleep.
Natsu's P.O.V
Natsu felt every touch, heard every word.
'Why am I letting her touch me, why am I sleeping next to her...I'm a monster, why does she trust me so much?' He discouraged himself, she was just a innocent princess, a angel compared to him.
He was being selfish, he knew this, yet he didn't do anything to change it. Natsu wasn't thinking with his mind.
He shared the bed with her, because that is what felt right within his chest. He could have easily showed her the rest of the castle, were more rooms were located, but he didn't.
Natsu woke up the next morning intertwined with Lucy. His arms were linked around her upper back, while hers were around his waist. Their legs tangled in ways you thought might be uncomfortable, yet it was not at all . Her head was resting against his collarbone, whilst his cheek was pressed against the top of her skull. He could feel the pitter patter of her slow breath hit his chest with each intake and exhale. He could smell the sweet scent of roses and honey as his nose stuck in her hair.
Opening his eyes fully, they enlarged.
'How did this happen, I shouldn't hold her like this...' His mind jumbled as he tried to think of a way to remove himself without disturbing her. As he tried to untangled them, she pulled herself closer and tighter.
'How is she so comfortable with me?' All he had were questions, ones he couldn't answer on his own.
He must of laid there for hours, watching her sleep in the most respectable way possible. He unconsciously admitted his enjoyment of the position he was in, even though he knows it's unfamiliar to him and probably not right...to others.
Lucy's P.O.V
Lucy awoke delightfully warmer than what she fell asleep to. Slowly peaking through her lashes, she saw the bare chest which belonged to Natsu. She too observed their almost merging bodies. She felt almost guilty for not wanting to move straight away.
'You shouldn't be doing this, not without knowing him...' She tried to pull the stranger card, but he didn't feel like a stranger to her, something about him made her feel nostalgic and whimsical.
"Lucy..." Natsu called her name quietly, earning her attention.
Still wrapped up, they stared into each other's eyes; as if mesmerized.
Breaking off the gaze and embrace, Lucy apologized(half heartedly)
Natsu's P.O.V
"You don't have to be sorry..."
'I liked it.' He thought all but innocently.
She just smiled at him, making his chest tighten, which now became a normal feeling each time she was near him.
"You can sleep in longer if you want, I'm going to train outside." He jumped up from the now decent bed.
"Train?" She questioned him with confusion.
"I want to get stronger. I will get stronger." He told her with a half smile, but not giving his reason behind it.
'I just want to protect you.' He found himself thinking.
"Stronger...Can I train with you?" Hope gleamed through her eyes.
"You want to train with me?" He held back his excitement.
Lucy's P.O.V
"Yes! So when I become stronger, I can protect you too." She smiled thinking back to the trip here, he probably didn't notice she heard him whispering to himself.
His face blossomed with self embarrassment.
"I-I- Ok." He babbled and ultimately led her downstairs.
Two months later
They made it their daily ritual to train. Each muscle received a work out. Pushing their bodies to the limit, they surpassed their original goal.
When the sun rose, they stayed outside and challenged each other, by night they slept comfortably in the same bed, with no formalities. They were used to each other's uncontrollable night embraces. The first few weeks, they started out sleeping with a gap of distance, but somehow durning the night, they would unconsciously pull each other together. Soon enough, they just accepted their silent wishes and began interlacing before sleeping.
Lucy's P.O.V
Night came once again, their day was productive enough. As they laid in each other's arms, Natsu jolted upwards, his ears perked up.
"What's wrong Natsu?" She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.
"We are being surrounded." He told her.
"Stay here, stay out of sight." He continued as he prepared for battle.
"Let me fight with you." Lucy grabbed his hand as he tried to exit the castle.
"If you get hurt-"
"I'm worried about you too, please let me go with you." Mustering up all of her emotions she let them persuade her words.
"Fine, just...please, be careful, Promise?" He was holding her gaze with such intense heat, she could have melted.
Nodding with courage, she lifted his hand up, wrapping her pinky around his.
"Pinky promise." She laughed, making him chuckle.
They snuck out of the castle, hiding behind piles of rubble as they stalked closer to their still unknown enemies.
Closer and closer they crept. The crowds become more clear.
"They are here for me." Lucy whispered in Natsu's ear as she stared at the Heartfilia crest on their shields. He gave her a hopeful look, before giving her the signal to attack.
Natsu's P.O.V
With a swift jump start, Natsu burst through the men, sending his flames to the sky's. He glanced to see Lucy dive into action, though she couldn't breath fire, she developed a reputable skill in the whip.
Each punch Natsu struck was powered by his desire to win, not only for himself, but for her.
"How are you holding up?" Lucy yelled from the other side of the field, playfully smirking.
"I'm all fired up!" He roared and took out a entire section.
He could hear her giggles as he continued.
Lucy's P.O.V
The guards would lay a finger on her. Most likely in fear of her father. But even so, they attacked Natsu, so she unleashed her strength. She was in good shape, until a small group of men decided against the 'no touch' rule.
"grab her!" One ordered, she whirled in attempts to slash him, but he caught it with his hand. Far from gentle hands grabbed her shoulders slamming her to the ground. Having her breath knocked out of her, she gasped.
"What are you doing? King Jude will kill us!" Another guard panicked.
"She hurt my men, she must me punished." He said coldly.
Natsu's P.O.V
She hurt my men, she must me punished.
Natsu heard every word, he could hear her struggle. Feeling his rage build up, more men surrounded him. He enlarged his wings to fly to Lucy's rescue, but a chain caught him, holding him back.
Just then, he heard a loud smack, it echoed throughout the entire battlefield. His ears picked up the pain in Lucy's voice, he could practically see the mark upon her face.
His eyes blurred with vengeance, breaking the chain with ease now, he flew at the speed of light into the man who inflicted the blow.
Easily with his heightened power he vaporized them all to ash. Once they were all gone, he knelt down to Lucy.
"Are you okay?" He asked with worry.
Looking around herself, "Yes, I owe you one. But I've never seen you do...that."
"I sort of let it happen when he..." Natsu scratched the back of his head, trailing off.
"Nevertheless, thank you." She smiled only to stop when pain shot through her cheek.
"I'm sorry I wasn't fast enough." He softly cupped her injured cheek.
He was close to her, faces mere inches a part. He could hear her heart beat pick up, maybe she could hear his...
Lucy's P.O.V
He touched her face with such gentle care. He was so close. 'He must really care for me..' Her heart smiled.
Leaning her face in, she placed her forehead on his. Closing her eyes she thanked he once more, not revealing her real reason of thanking him.
'Thank you for; rescuing me not only from that man, but from my life before. For taking me in your home with open arms. For letting me experience this new feeling within in my heart.' She expressed mentally.
Lucy felt Natsu pull away, but only so he could hold her close again.
"I didn't break our promise, it didn't even hurt!" She laughed nervously, in hopes to make him feel better.
Natsu's P.O.V
"I won't let anyone touch or hurt you again." He whispered.
It might have only been one measly punch, but the thought of someone laying their hands on Lucy sent Natsu over the edge. He couldn't lie to himself anymore, he wasn't concerned about his selfish actions. He wanted to stay with her forever, this feeling in his heart only occurred when she was with him, he wants to explore it.
'What do they call it...love? Is this love I feel?' They both thought in unison as they held one another amidst the desolate after math of the battle.