A Dragon Slayer's Love

-3-

The rain thundered, lightning flashed across the sky and a sudden clap of thunder caused Lucy to cling to the shivering body of her best friend; more for her own comfort than anything else.

It had only been three hours or so since Happy had departed to find help, Natsu had begun to shiver and his naturally firey body temperature was getting colder by the hour. After cleaning and dressing his wounds, all Lucy could do was pray. Praying Happy would get there in time, knowing this rain would interfere and praying Natsu would make it. 

Natsu was her motivation, light and the reason for who she has become. Seeing him like this made her heart shatter; his body covered in sweat, dirt and whatever caked blood Lucy couldn't clean off. He seemed so calm, so weak, so. . . vulnerable. 

Suddenly, a flash of lightning followed by an ear-splitting clap of thunder caught Lucy off guard and she screamed, covering her ears and closing her eyes.  Then, she felt something tap her foot and upon opening her eyes, she found the dragon slayer weakly smiling up at her with his infamous toothy grin.

"Natsu! You're awake! OH, I was so worried. Happy's gone to find help but then the storm started and you keep getting colder and I didn't know what to do--" Lucy was cut off when Natsu attempted to sit up but ended up falling back and groaning in pain. 

"NATSU YOU IDOIT! You can't move! Do you know how many injuries you have?! Four shattered ribs, a giant hole in your lower stomach, a head injury, that I still don't know how bad it is, a broken foot, and A BROKEN PINKY FINGER YOUR RIGHT HAND!" Natsu gasped, and pretended to be overly concerned,

"OH NO, NOT MY- MY PINKY FINGER ON MY RIGHT HAND!" He mocked Lucy's concern and all her worry went right out of the cave and into the pouring rain and was replaced with fury.

"Really, I'm okay Luce. When Happy gets back, we'll just have Wendy fix me up. But that fight though, I think I did pretty damn awesome, don't you?" Lucy rolled her eyes at his dismissiveness and crossed her arms. 

"You and Happy did really great too, Aquarius didn't seem too happy about being summoned from a mud puddle thou--" Natsu was interrupted when he was sent into a fit of coughing. Lucy rubbed the dragon slayers back but her mild concern turned to horror as she saw blood trailing down his chin and flying on to his hand. 

After his fit was over, Natsu gasped for breath and groaned, clutching his abdomen, but upon saw the red liquid spattered on his lap and chest and he became calm. 

"Natsu, are you having a lot of trouble breathing?" She was trembling, unsure of what to do if his lung had been punctured by one of his ribs.  He paused, then replied,

"Maybe a little bit but not much." Lucy's eyes widened and she undressed the bandages over his chest. Upon seeing his chest covered in black and blue bruises, tears welled up in her brown orbs.

"I don't know what to do Natsu, you could die and I can't do anything." Her hands flew to her face and her golden hair fell about her face and shoulders. Suddenly she felt a hand on her head and she looked up into determined, hopeful, beautiful, ebony eyes.

"Lucy, it's okay! I know you're scared, but look, I'm the one who's in pain and I'm not afraid, you know why?" His eyes had a strange light to them as he looked dead on into hers.

"Because I have you to care for me! I know we'll be okay. Plus, I have faith that Happy will be here soon." Natsu's toothy smile seemed to chase the crippling darkness away and letting hope flow freely through Lucy's heart. She took his hand in hers and returned his smile.

The rain began to cease.