The Gifted Mermaid➳Nalu

Chapter 18: Mesidian Sea

"Are we there yet?"

Erza gave one of the crew members the hairy eyeball for a moment, glancing back down at the map in her hands. "Not yet."

A calming, silent pause passed over the crew, but it only lasted so long.

"How about now?"

"Did I say we were there yet?!" Erza shouted, drawing her sword out of her sheath. "How impatient are you idiots?! Next time I hear that question I'll punish one of you!" She swung it around dramatically, scaring off at least half the men.

"We're sorry, we won't ask again!" Droy pleaded, waving his arms in the air while sliding to his knees before bending down. He clasped his hands together like for a prayer, hoping that it wouldn't be his last moment.

"Oh, get it together! That's just pathetic," Gajeel grunted from the side.

Erza pointed the tip of the sword straight towards the iron dragon slayer. "How about you be quiet before I do something about it?!"

"I'll bite your sword in half for a snack if you keep that up," Gajeel mumbled under his breath, shaking his head.

Lily shook his head in disapproval. "Oh man, you do not wanna get caught saying that."

"Yeah, or else she'll steal your fishies!" Happy shouted from the upper deck, casually sitting on the perch in front of the steering wheel.

As the tension grew thicker in the air, Max was sweeping the wooden floor with a broom as usual. "Can everyone just move so I can get this done earlier?" He lazily asked, rolling his eyes afterwards.

He carelessly swept over Gajeel's feet, getting dirt all over his shoes and proceeded forward, not realizing he made a big mistake.

The broom bristles brushed over another pair of feminine boots, and it wasn't a person to mess with.

The broom was swept from his hands and a fist clenched the front of his shirt, holding him up in the air. "H-Hey, I didn't m-mean it!" He kicked his feet, trying to break free.

"I'll shove this up your ass for all I care! Maybe it belongs there anyways!" Erza threatened, waving the broom in the opposite hand.

Lucy sweat-dropped as another meaningless commotion started on the lower deck, seeing Erza waving her sword chaotically in every direction possible while Droy limply cried on the floor begging for mercy. A gusty, chilly wind roughly passed by, causing her skin to prickle with goosebumps from the coldness. She hugged her arms, noticing that it wasn't necessary the warmest weather like usual.

She smiled as his familiar warmth snaked around her, a strong arm sending a mass amount of heat to seep in her body. Being enveloped in the emitting warmth, Lucy leaned against his side comfortably.

"It's a bit chilly, isn't it?" Natsu said, keeping his left hand on the wheel.

Lucy nodded, letting her head lean on his broad shoulder. "Yes, I'm not used to it entirely. Back at home it was..." her voice trailed off into nothing but a soft mumble.

She blankly stared at a spot, vividly remembering the words Sting told her at their encounter.

Riduele...it was most likely still in ruins after the ambush because someone was after her. The thought pondered around to know if whoever destroyed her hometown were still tracking them.

Lucy wrapped her arms around his torso without hesitation, a sadness washing over her.

Natsu sternly looked down at her, noticing that she wasn't necessarily chirping with happiness like the usual. He turned his body to face her and enveloped her in a warm embrace, heating up his body temperature so she wouldn't be cold. "You okay?"