Sweetheart

75

"Welcome back Natsu," Kelia greeted. "You have great timing. We're having steak tonight."

Natsu's face lit up. The two women laughed quietly at his reaction and entered the kitchen to start cooking.

"Momma?"

Kelia stopped what she was doing and turned back to her daughter, questioning, "What's bothering you?"

"I talked to him about it."

"And did you talk about what you wanted to?"

"I think so. There's still a lot that--"

"Miss Labelle, do you want to use plastic cups or the glass ones?"

"Why don't we do glass tonight? Special steak season deserves some real ones," she joked.

Natsu grabbed the cups and disappeared into the dining room. Kelia turned back to Aina and continued their conversation.

"There is a lot of information online, and I would suggest researching the steps and what to do."

-------

"Come on in, Natsu. I got a new coloring set that I think you're gonna like."

"Um, can I talk to you about something?"

"That is literally the reason why I'm here, Natsu."

"Something happened with Aina and I wanted to get your opinion on it."

"This isn't something bad, is it?"

"No," Natsu quickly denied. "It's just she said that she, uh, might be ready. And I don't really know how to approach that."

"Ready for sex? Did she share any concerns?"

"Not really, but I really don't think she knows anything other than facts about it," Natsu joked.

"Well then we better get working on your conversation!"

-------

"Hey jackass, let's go before your warden gets back."

Natsu looked back to his friend and then back to the empty seat across from him. He was waiting there for a reason - he wanted to continue their conversation - but Gajeel would surely be suspicious if he decided to stay. The salmon haired student sighed before slowly standing up and following his friends out to the parking area. While crossing through the halls, he sent a quick text to Aina so that she didn't think he disappeared.

"How's your homework, Dragneel?"

"What're you talking about? I don't do--"

"Well obviously. I'm talking about the salutatorian. How's your progress on your little quest?"

Irritation pulsed through Natsu's body, but he couldn't really say anything that might blow his cover. He settled for a 'don't know what you're talking about' before trying to distract his friend with something else.

"Whatever man. You better tell us as soon as it happens so that we can throw a party to celebrate you completing the impossible."

-------

"So how's the situation going?" Lucy inquired as the trio sat on her bed.

"I told him that I think I'm ready, but my mom kinda cut off the conversation before we could really talk about it fully. Do you think you could help me, like, understand what the fuck I should expect?"

"Don't you worry about a thing, little Labelle. Lucy Heartfelia is here!"

"And Levy McGarden too!" Levy excitedly added.