Trail of a Fairy

16. With Love, Lucy

As Natsu came back into the room, he sighed. He hadn't really planned on telling Nashi all that, but it was okay. At least it was something. He had told his son something about his mother. About Lucy. As Natsu sat down on the bed, he rubbed the back of his neck. He groaned as he felt all his hair.

"Damn, I've let it get so long." Natsu shook his head of the water. He pulled a lock of hair out. It looked to be about four to five inches. Maybe it's time for a haircut.

But he let the lock of hair drop. Natsu sighed again, and felt his shoulders hunch a little bit more. As Natsu sat there, he just let himself breathe. Sitting still was something he never really thought that he would do, but, death changes people. And Natsu was at least smart enough to realize that.

"I'm back, dad."

Nashi walked in and shut the door quietly. Natsu raised his head to look at his son. His hair had dried off a bit more, and it was taking its unruly shape just like Natsu's hair. As Nashi dove through his backpack to find a pair of pajamas, Natsu saw a flash of faded fabric. He grinned.

"You still sleep with your blanket, kid?"

Nashi froze. He felt the blush rise in his cheeks, but made it go away. "Yeah? So what?"

Natsu chuckled. "Nothing really. I just think it's great that you still love that quilt so much."

"Well, mom made it for me. So..." He trailed off. The room stayed silent as Nashi climbed into the bed, hugging his quilt. He turned his back to his dad. "Good night."

"G'night, kid." Natsu replied.

He watched as Nashi's breathing became slower and more regular. It became obvious that the boy was asleep when there was a slight snoring sound. Even as a kid, Nashi snores, huh? Natsu chuckled to himself, but was careful not to wake up Nashi. It took him a minute to find the knitting needles and yarn. He began his project again, keeping a careful eye on Nashi.

One loop here, and pull from this part, and now... Natsu let his thoughts run away on him. Besides, there had already been so much day dreaming in the bath. No reason not to go down memory lane again.

In his mind, Natsu was sitting in the creek. It was a bit awkward, but surprisingly friendly at the same time. Lucy sat in front of him - back turned to him. And in Natsu's hand was a scrub brush.

"Natsu?" Lucy spoke up. Just barely looking over her shoulder, Natsu could see the blush on her cheeks. "Are you okay?"

Natsu took a moment to think. Last time he had opened his mouth, he had said something stupid. Yet, here he was.

"Yeah. I- I'm fine, Luce."

Lucy reached around and passed Natsu a bottle of soap. Vanilla and lilacs. It tickled his nose - but it was also so familiar to him. Natsu took the soap, pouring a bit on the scrub brush. Lather, wash, repeat. That was all that was really going through his head. He hoped he could make this the least awkward that he could.

"I'm gonna wash your back now." He warned.

Lucy nodded, and looked ahead. "You know, Natsu. I'm surprised by you."

Natsu paused with the scrub brush still on Lucy's back. "How?"

Lucy shrugged, barely turning back to look at him. "Well, you proposed. That was the biggest surprise."

Natsu chuckled, continuing to wash Lucy's back. "Of course. I surprised myself too. You really were the surprising one - saying yes like that. I never even took you on a date."

"Oh." Lucy paused. She then fully turned around.

Immediately, Natsu froze. He kept his eyes up and on her face. She was blushing a lot, but at least she was looking him in the eyes.

"Why did you propose to me, Natsu?"

"I- I guess because it felt right?" Natsu stammered.

"Was that it?" Lucy asked. She waited patiently, sitting back on her heels comfortably. "It just felt right?"

Natsu looked away, running his hand through his hair. "That's kinda it, Luce. It just felt right."

When he looked back up, she was smiling. It was a small smile, but for some reason it annoyed Natsu to no end.

"Of course. I wouldn't expect too much thought of romance from you of all people."

Natsu paused. He had to stifle a yawn; after making sure he had put down the knitting needle. Memory lane had taken a long time. Looking down into his hands, he checked the project. The newest lines were better than the last, but they weren't the level of Lucy's. Not yet. But Natsu couldn't ignore the yawn. He even had to blink away a sleepy stare. So, picking up his work, Natsu got ready for bed.

He pulled of his vest and flung it on a chair. Pausing, he looked from his vest to Nashi's - hanging off the corner of his bed. Nashi's vest was smaller, and looked newer. The black had just begun to fade from wear, but the edges were still smooth and a continuous line. The trim was still bright, in its own tawny orange way. But Natsu's own vest was very different. It was worn, and the black was extremely faded. There were nicks on the lining, so it wasn't one long band of color. It was more like flakes that hadn't quite lost their grip yet. And to match his own self, there were cuts in the cloth - likely to match up with the scars on his own body. And glancing downward, Natsu didn't need to be told just how gray his pants had gotten. Even the ties over his calves had gotten worn with use; and had undoubtedly seen some damage from past battles as well.

With a sigh, Natsu grabbed his vest off the chair. It's not even worth keeping anymore. But as he moved to throw it out, he froze. He couldn't throw it out. Not this vest. On the back of the neck, on the inside of the jacket, Natsu's hand brushed over a tag. Never had he bought a piece of clothing from the store, yet this vest had a tag. It was a specially made tag - for someone who sewed a lot. One - who no matter how many times they pricked their finger and drew blood - would keep going.

With a tsk, Natsu threw the vest onto the chair again. Even from the corner of his eye, he could read what the tag said.

With love, Lucy

"Dammit. Luce." Natsu muttered.