The Love of Dragons- Nalu

Chapter eight- wounds

POV: Lucy

It was the morning, I was in my apartment, but neither Natsu nor Happy were with me; I had come to expect it, and without them it seemed immeasurably lonely. I went through the motions of waking up, changing clothes, -grabbing them off my bed- brushing my teeth and hair, then subconsciously walking to the guild. When I got there, I was stunned at what I saw and heard.

Fairy Tail was silent. Only Grey, Gajeel, Levy, and Juvia were there. They all sat around a table, staring at me like a rare animal.

“Lucy...” Levy blinked, like she was trying to rid herself of an unpleasant sight, Grey coughed and tugged on his white coat (he was wearing all of his clothes).

“What is it?” I groaned, running a hand through my rough hair,

“Urm... How was last nigh?” Grey asked awkwardly, blushing just a bit and looking oddly sad, Juvia, next to him glared at me with a furious passion that was honestly terrifying.

“What do you mean?” I asked groggily, glancing around the near-empty building,

“... With Natsu.” Levy asked, sounding a bit confused.

“What? I don't want to talk about it.” I reached to tear at the hem of my big, pink hoodie, but realized that it was incredibly thin and tattered... My gaze dropped to my outfit, and I immediately was appalled; and understood what they had been pressing about,

“Oh my god, guys this is SO not what it looks like, I just put on the wrong clothes!” I screamed, tugging the black and gold vest over my near-bare chest.

“But why were Natsu's clothes in your room?” Gajeel asked, his face looking wide and childish.

“IDONTKNOW!!!” I yelled, my words mushing together as I tried to cover up the massive blush that crossed my cheeks.

“Because I left them there.” the black haired bastard came in through the big doors. He had given up on the false bad posture, and was no longer wearing the shades. However it seemed that the rest had become a constant.

“Why are you here?” I wanted to want to hit him and scream at him, but all I wanted was to hold and kiss him.

“I left my jacket.” he stated bluntly, giving Grey a challenging stare.

“Explain yourself.” Levy stood and placed a hand on his chest, glaring deep into his weary eyes ringed by dark bags.

“I can't.”

“Liar.” My most loyal Fairy Tail friend insisted, “You are a lying, sneaking, heartless bastard, now tell Lucy -and me- that we were seeing wrong last night.”

“You weren't, that's me.” He snapped, shoving past Levy and stuffing his hands into his pockets.

“No, it's not, I'm not telling you you have to stop what you're doing...” I started, feeling the tears already welling up around my eyes, “I just want to know why so that I can help.”

“And I want to know why you put on my clothes.” he said, tossing his dark face and raven hair over his shoulder for a brief glance in my direction.

“I didn't mean to!”

“Damn you, Natsu. Are you trying to screw with us?” Gajeel extended his arm and created a barrier of his iron pillar.

“No, let me upstairs.” My boy sighed.

“Nope, do what Levy says. Explain.” a massive exhalation fell from Natsu's lips, then he placed a palm on the iron dragon slayer's arm (the metal extension), almost immediately it began to melt, leaving molten beads to drip on the wooden steps; Gajeel withdrew with a grimace, biting his lip, it obviously hurt. Levy knelt and inspected the burn, while Natsu took one, shaky step up.