The Second Salamander

27) Date?

Kameel

He did it! Natsu actualy did it! I was so proud of him!

On our fly home, I had challenged him to 'kidnap' Lucy and take her to a romantic place for 'insperaition'. What he didn't know was that I had just sent them on a date! Now I just hoped he wouldn't screw it up. I had a bet with Mira that I was planning to win.
-----------------------------------------------------
Natsu

"Where did you find this place?" Lucy whispered beside me.

"Here." I smirked. Lucy whacked me playfully on my arm and sighed. I chuckled under my breath.

We sat in silence, watching the sunset. It wasn't awkward, but comfortable.

"Heh. Remember when we first met?" She asked.

I looked down at her, a little surprised. "Uh, well... yeah, I do." I smiled, remembering that one fateful day when I first met Lucy. "What made you think of it?"

"Oh, I don't know..." She trailed off.

I looked down at her out of the corner of my eye, my face suddenly heating up. I looked away and slowly streched out my left wing. I carefully draped it over her shoulders, trying my hardest not to make it really awkward.

I felt her tense slightly under the thin membrane, and I cursed myself for thinking that would work. I started to pull away whe she gently wrapped her fingers around the thin film and pulled it back to her shoulder.

A small smile pulled at my mouth and my face grew almost as red as the scales. I almost jumped out of my skin when she rested her head on my shoulder.

My heart was beating so loud I was scared she would hear, and my tail swished around anxiously in the soft grass.

"Why did you bring me here?" She asked softly.

"Didn't I already tell you?" I asked in a low voice.

"Yeah, but I don't believe that's really why."

I blushed profusely, a bead a nervous sweat slowly sliding down my rough cheek.

"Y-you really wanna know?"

Was I really gonna tell her?! I only realized I loved her, like, yesterday, and I was gonna tell her now? What if... what if she was scared off? I didn't want to lose her. What if she only saw us as close friends, and didn't have any feelings for me? What would I do then? What would happen to our friendship after that? I trembled, terrified of the heart-breaking futures I invisioned in my head.

"Why are you shaking? Are you okay?" She asked, worry laceing her words.

"Yeah! Everythings fine..." I looked at her, hopeing I didn't look as terrified as I felt. "Do you really want to know?" I asked seriously.

"Yes..."

"Uhm... well, I brought you here... because..." My tongue wouldn't form the words. I couldn't spit them out, I was too scared. I looked away, ashamed of my cowardis.

Heh. To think that my greatest fear wasn't motion sickness, death, or the thought of never seeing Igneel again. The thing that really got me was addmitting my feelings to Lucy! Pathetic!

"Natsu?" Her soft voice cut through my mental panick and dragged me back to reality.

I looked down at her face, gazing into her chocolate brown eyes. My eyes drifted to her soft lips, pulled into a concerned frown. My face felt like it was on fire! I sucked in a breath and swiftly pulled back my wing, pushing myself back with my feet until I was several yards away from her.

She stared at me, confusion and worry written on her face. I closed my eyes and gasped, trying to slow my heart rate back to an average speed. MY GOD, I wanted to tell her so BAD!!! But I couldn't muster up enough courage to do it. I was a sorry excuse for a Fairytail wizard.

"Natsu! What was that!?"

My eyes snapped open. I gulped as I stared at her, her face just inches from mine.

"Would you mind telling me what made you try to get as far away from me as possible? I would really like to know!" She was mad, that was obvious, but I almost thought I saw a flash of rejection and pain in her deep, brown eyes.

"Uhm..." I was paralized. I couldn't say or do anything with her so close to me like this. It was like my brain shut down and now I couldn't move a single muscle.

"Say something!" She yelled, desperation and pain laceing her words. Her face crumpled and I saw a tiny sparkle of a tear sliding down her cheek.

She backed away and stared at me. She looked so pitiful, like a stray golden retriever puppy. She gazed at me with shining eyes, another tear slipping down her face.

Just like that, seeing her cry, my brain reactivated and my arms moved of their own accord. I reached my hand to her cheek, cupping her face and whiped away the tear with my thumb.

"Don't cry, Luce. You can hit me as hard as you want, I won't care. Just don't cry." I whispered.

She looked up at me, then she closed her eyes and leaned into my hand. A sad smile played it's way to her face, and I pulled her into my arms. She sucked in a short breath before wrapping her arms around me and gave a shaky, content sigh.

I wrapped my wings around us, sheilding her from the small, chill breeze that had picked up. We stayed there until I heard her soft snores. She fell asleep, in my arms. I smiled at the realization that she felt safe enough in my arms to completly let her guard down.

"I'll protect you, Lucy. I won't let anything happen to you as long as I live." I whispered.

"I love you, Lucy Heartfilia."