The Demon and The Princess | NaLu

Chapter 24 - Final Days Part 2

[1 Day Till Battle]

Natsu found Lucy the next day in a part of Magnolia that few people visited. It was a forest. The area was dense and quiet. She was working out a contract with Aquarius.

"Please, you need to work with me."

"No. You know the rules." Aquarius was a harsher spirit. A blue mermaid with a temper, really.

"Yes, but, I need to be able to contact you for more than an hour. Please." Lucy begged. Aquarius sighed.

"Fine. But only this once." She stated. After she finished, Lucy wrapped her arms around the spirit tightly.

"Thank you!"

"Let go of me!" Aquarius demanded. Lucy did as she was told. "Now, I think pinky over there wants to talk to you." Aquarius gestured towards Natsu's well-thought hiding spot, behind a bush.

"Natsu?" Lucy asked. Natsu moved so he was better hidden from her vision. But, he was still found fairly quickly.

Lucy leaned over a branch and found him, knees brought up to his chest. "You don't have to hide, you know."

"Yeah, I know."

". . . Then why are you hiding?"

"I don't know." Natsu rested his chin on his knees and starred out into space. The forest was shaded over but bright patches of sunlight poked through the spaces in between leaves. He heard ruffling and turned his attention to his left. Lucy sat cross legged next to him.

"Thanks for the book. I started it last night." Lucy said.

"You're welcome." He replied. Lucy turned her attention forward. She started telling a story about the time she "fell down a rabbit hole" but she sprained her ankle and spent the day in her room. She was dressed differently today. Her outfits weren't usually modest and not blue. Today she wore a dark, loose fighting jeans and a dark purple v-neck shirt. The white converse were on her feet and the golden locket was arose her neck.

"I was so embarrassed. I kept saying, "But the hatter's waiting for me." And no one believed me. I think what I saw was . . . Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like . . . That." She made a gesture with her hand that really didn't mean anything.

"You're going to have to be specific, Luce."

"Natsu, I asked my question first. Why are you staring at me like that?"

"You really want to know why?"

"Kinda," To answer her question, he kissed her. It didn't last as long as before, but it meant something. It wasn't forced or awkward. She melted into the feeling of his lips and rested a hand on his shoulder. He broke it off before it could escalate.

"I think that answered your question." He stated as he stood from his spot. Lucy blushed and nodded. The feelings she had for him, were mutual. He helped her onto her feet, before going back to town. Leaving Lucy standing alone and dumbfounded.

• • •

[ Only Hours Till battle]

Lucy and Natsu were sitting on her apartment living room floor, watching a movie on the lacrima. Natsu was focused on the pasty white actors while Lucy was distracted with her own worries, fiddling with her fingers.

Throughout the day, her stress increased by the hour. At this point she was ready to burst into tears of fear. She brought her knees up to her chest as the end credits began to roll. Natsu watched her from the corner of his eye. Her eyes were glazed over, focused on the credits. A few tears began to build up but she wiped them away with her arm.

He stood from his spot and was going to head to the kitchen, before Lucy grabbed his wrist as if saying, "don't leave."

"I'm not going far." He comforted her. She hesitated for a moment but let go of his arm. He strode to the kitchen. He took a kettle and filled it with water, setting it on the stove and turned it on. He went through her cupboard and pulled out a jar of loose, hibiscus tea. He filled a tea steeper up with a tablespoon of the tea. As he did so, he heard quick, light footsteps coming towards him. He turned as Lucy wrapped her arms around his torso. She buried her face in his shirt.

She was vulnerable. Afraid and frustrated. She was going to be the cause of many deaths and she couldn't handle the weight that was on her shoulders. He was her rock, her protector. She knew how to handle her own problems, and tended to deal with them on her own. But sometimes, she needed someone to lean on. He wasn't her knight in shining armor.

He was her idiot in a tin can.

Natsu stroked her hair with one arm and wrapped the other around her back. Neither spoke. Words weren't needed. At this moment, her heart ached. She knew her feelings were growing, and would only continue at this point. She stood on her toes and kissed him.

He leaned into her kiss. The kiss was soft, yet passionate. But, yes, it became rougher seconds later. Lucy nibbled on his bottom lip. Her reward, a low grunt from the dragon slayer. He's enjoying this. Her hands moved up his torso to his neck. His arms traveled low, down her back. His arms went under her ass, he hooked them together and lifted her up, her legs wrapping around his waist.

There were no distractions. No one bursted in the door. When the kettle whistled, it was swiftly moved off the burner. Natsu spun her around and pressed her against the wall. Her hands moved into his hair, gripping it. His mouth moved down, from her chin to her neck. He began sucking on it, using his teeth and tongue. She moaned, oh, her neck had always been very sensitive.

The makeover session continued as soldiers were doing final preparations for battle, just miles away.

• Comment here if you want a side chapter with the rated R or M scene •

Author's Note:

This chapter was delayed only by a few hours, but I still got it up today (Monday)! Way to go me! Ten points to Lucy! Anyway. . .

So the beginning of the battle will be next chapter. Meaning this stories closer to its end. *cries* But it'll be okay.

This chapter was not as good as I wished it would've been. I've been fairly busy and lazy this week. And I rushed to get this chapter done. So be sure to shout at me in the comments to work on chapter 25 so this doesn't happen again.

Next update will be June 13th or sooner!

~ Lucy (lucythegirl)