Fairy Tail: Falling Towards the Chaos

Chapter 12

Lucy spent the next few days trying to recover. Reconstruction of their new guild hall had already begun and while she wanted to go help out, she was thankful to enjoy her day filled with relaxation.

Not without company, of course.

"Happy! How many times did I tell you about sneaking through the window and most importantly, getting fish on my bed?!" Lucy scolded, picking up the green bag and tossing it onto her breakfast table before she gagged. She sighed before giving the cat a small scratch behind the ears. Natsu laid behind her, dozing off.

"Are we just going to lay here and sleep all day? I want to go do something!" Lucy whined, kicking her feet on the bed. Happy wormed his way between them, snuggling up to Natsu's arm.

"Natsu said you're never leaving his sight again," Happy snickered.

"Natsu!" Lucy gasped playfully, poking him in the stomach. He cracked an eye open, looking at her briefly. "Natsu, you can't be serious," she stated bemused.

Natsu sighed, sitting up unexpectedly. Happy clung to his arm, dangling in the air before Lucy gently set him down, wrapping him in Natsu's scarf.

"I'm dead serious, I'm not dealing with that again," He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. She grabbed his cheek, turning his face towards her before squishing both his cheeks together. He stared at her blankly, his face emotionless as she played with the slight chub of his cheeks.

"I'm be fine, it'll be over soon," she whispered, pressing her forehead to his. She closed her eyes, smiling slightly. "By the way, what are imprints?" She inquired, pulling away from him. She sat cross-legged on her bed next to him, head tilted a bit to the side. She remembered Gajeel mentioning it. Natsu gave an even bigger sigh, letting himself fall back onto the bed once again.

"Nothing that you should be concerned about," he muttered, laying his arm on his forehead.

She blinked, unsurprised by the lack of response but she was determined and wouldn't take that measly dismissal as an answer.

"Gajeel said something about you i-imprinting? Can that even happen with dragons?" Lucy asked, sounding a little unsure at the end. She clambered over Natsu, heading over to grab a book from her bookshelf. She bought it recently in a bookstore nearby, hoping her questions would actually be answered. She held out the hardcover book to him and he reluctantly accepted it, eyes skimming through the first page. The Dragon Encyclopedia.

"Imprinting is an involuntary mechanism, it can happen to anyone and it binds you to the person whose meant to be your soulmate," Lucy recited. Natsu pressed his lips into a straight line before tossing the book back at her. She yelped, hurrying to catch it, fumbling with it in the air for a few minutes.

"So you know what it is," he deadpanned, turning from her, facing Happy.

"S-so... did you imprint on somebody?" She whispered, speaking directly into his ear. She clutched the book to her chest, leaning over him. Eyes wide as she waited expectantly.

"No, I didn't, the metalhead was probably just saying that to mess with you," he replied, closing his eyes. He was lying through his teeth and he knew it but he wasn't about to ruin his fragile relationship with her. Humans were delicate, that much he understood. The time wasn't right and she needed to focus on herself rather than on someone who would be tied to her for her whole life like a weirdo.

She pouted, still hovering over him before he tugged her down onto his chest. She let out a gasp as she fell. He snuck his arms around her, holding her. One of his hands slid up to tangle itself in her hair and he took the chance to bury his face in her hair, a common thing that seemed to happen with them lately. Did Lucy one hundred percent believe his answer? Of course not. She'd find out who it was eventually but she dreaded it because she would probably never get cuddles like this again. Touch starved, she eagerly accepted his affection. Her body still ached, bruises on her cheek and on her sides but laying against Natsu, everything felt right.