Camp Crush |✔️|

The Cold Water

Lake mornings were when Natsu was at his worst.

Or—if you asked him—his best.

It all depended on your perspective.

Lucy was free from him on Tuesdays. Tuesdays he coached archery for another group. But on Thursdays he had that particular hour free, and he had quickly discovered that this was the time that Lucy and her kids were slotted for free time at the lake. With Sting as the lifeguard.

Natsu hated Sting.

Lucy left the lake most Thursdays wanting to throttle Natsu. If he wasn't bribing eleven-year-olds to attack her with squirt guns, he was hiding her flip-flops under the dock with their help.

"Hey, gorgeous," Natsu winked at her one such Thursday, and Lucy stifled a sigh. "You look like nice today." Which she did. She was wearing a yellow one-piece swimsuit that Natsu hadn't seen her in before. She looked like a sun goddess. "New swimsuit?"

She rolled her eyes at him good-naturedly, "Yeah. Thanks," she dismissed his compliment lightly.

"Morning, guys!" Sting greeted, coming down the hill to join them on the dock, where Lucy's kids were anxiously awaiting permission to get in the water. "Sorry I'm late. I forgot the life vests," he explained, indicating the large plastic bin he was carrying, full of bright orange life jackets. "So I had to go back for them." He came to a stop at the end of the dock and set the bin down, letting the kids crowd around him to grab vests if they needed them. "Same rules as always, guys—" he reminded them as they looked for their sizes. "No holding each other under, no breath-holding contests...if you haven't passed the swim test yet, you have to wear a life vest. Let me know if anyone wants to take the test."

The kids all said good morning to Sting with cheery enthusiasm, a few of them greeting him with high-fives and hugs and stories about their doings at camp and letters from home. When they finally dispersed, Sting walked down the dock to join Lucy and Natsu and keep a better eye on the kids. "Hi, Lucy," he said warmly, looking as smitten as ever. "Is that a new swimsuit? It looks really nice on you."

"Thanks, Sting," Lucy said genuinely, blushing a little bit at his words.

"I literally just said that and you rolled your eyes at me," Natsu pointed out.

"Yeah, well, when you say it, it sounds like a pick-up line," Lucy explained, leaving Natsu sputtering in protest while she turned back to Sting. "I ordered it online and it just arrived in this morning's mail. My old one was getting really worn out from the sun." She smiled happily, nudging her glasses in place.

A mischievous smirk stole across Natsu's face. "Brand new, huh?" he asked.

Lucy looked at him nervously, backing away. "Oh no...not today, Natsu. It rained all night. That water is freezing."

He just grinned more broadly. "Sounds like the perfect way to break in a new suit."

"Don't you dare, Natsu," Lucy warned, stepping behind Sting and grabbing his shoulders to use him as a shield. "Sting, don't let him."

"Um...Natsu?" Sting gulped feebly, backing up the dock with Lucy, attempting to protect her as Sting prowled closer, completely ignoring him.

In a sudden movement, Natsu made to dodge behind Sting, and Lucy squealed, running in circles around poor Sting as Natsu chased her, catching her within moments and throwing her, kicking and shrieking, over his shoulder as he carried her right up to the edge of the pier—much to the amusement of the campers, who had grown accustomed to these antics from the archery coach.

"Natsu! Natsu, put me down!" Lucy demanded, but Natsu just swung her down into his arms and stepped off the pier with her, an icy blast of lake water shocking both their systems.

Sting watched in helpless amusement. Normally he would protest, but there were several things stopping him: First, that he was pretty sure he couldn't stop Nasu Dragneel from doing anything he wanted to do. Second, he knew that Natsu would never let Lucy or any of the kids get hurt. And finally, even Natsu reminded the campers that just because he indulged in a little rough house, didn't mean they were allowed to, so Sting wasn't worried about him being too much of a bad influence.

Sting liked Lucy Heartfilia. A lot. But he also knew his little crush paled in comparison to Natsu's infatuation. Natsu was totally enamored by her, and Sting knew better than to get in the way of something like that.

Within seconds, Natsu and Lucy emerged from the water, Lucy gasping indignantly and splashing Natsu for his insolence, and Sting shook his head, scanning the rest of the group to make sure all was well.

"Natsu Dragneel I hope you drown!" Lucy bellowed, and Natsu just chuckled, unabashedly squirting water at her as the kids laughed.