I lie in the bed at the infirmary, the corse sheets rub my burns causing pain to shoot throughout my body. My battle with Flair had left me mentally and physically wounded. My pride had been burned as well as my body. The final battle of the day was about to begin and Porlyusica had gone to get more medicine. The first day of the Grand Magic Games had left a huge dent in her medicine supply, and Fairy Tail was in dead last. I had played a large role in helping us achieve this ranking.
Natsu had told me to not give up, that being in last place would make it even more fun to overcome the odds and win. He had told me to save my tears for when we win, but just thinking about the whole ordeal caused tears to role down my cheeks.
Suddenly the door opened with a large crash and Porlyusica entered the room with Wendy at her heels. The child had begun to spend more time with the woman after we realized she was Earthlands version of the Sky dragon Grandeeney who Wendy had lost 14 years earlier.
"What are you still doing here, didn't I send that oaf Elfman to take you home? We need to make room in here for the next poor sap who gets the crap beat out of them" the elderly woman growled causing a chill to run up my spine.
"I'm her Polyusica-sama" Elfman's voice rang out from the hallway.
"Where the devil have you been?" she asks when he makes it inside the room.
"Master wanted me to help calm Natsu down" Elfman said quickly hoping that the excuse would suffice the woman.
"Fine just get her out of here and back to the inn" Porlyusica demanded pointing toward me.
"Yes ma'am" Elfman replied and scooped me up in his arms. Neither of us said a word the whole time. I was kind of glad he didn't speak, nothing he could have said would have made me feel better.
Being at the inn all by myself was worse than the infirmary. By now everyone else was at the bar celebrating. I don't exactly know what the hell they could possibly be celebrating but knowing Master he would find a reason to drink.
I was officially miserable, my body burned and every time
I would try to quiet my mind I would recall those final moments of the battle.
"I should have won" I say weakly, "I deserved to win damn it".
"Yeah but you didn't win" a voice says from behind the closed door.
"Who is there?" I ask.
"It's just me" Natsu says stepping into the dark room.
"Shouldn't you be at the bar picking fights with people twice your size" I joke trying to steer the conversation away from my loss.
"I felt like you needed me more" Natsu said hanging is head slightly to hide the blush that had overtaken his tan face. Seeing him blush made me nervous, I had only recently discovered that I had feelings for him. Levy said that everyone in the guild knew the feelings Natsu and I had overlooked for so long. She might be right about me but until now Natsu only seemed to think of me as a friend. But if I was just a friend why would he be blushing?
"Really Natsu I'm fine" I lie.
"If you are fine then why are you crying?" he asks taking a seat on the side of my bed and lightly brushing the tears away. Now it was my turn to blush but I didn't have time to hide it. For what seemed like an eternity we just sat there staring into each others eyes, until I broke.
"I love you" I yell, clinching my eyes shut so I don't have to see his reaction. He didn't say anything but, without warning I felt his lips press against mine. It surprised me but I didn't fight it. Instead I wrap my arms around his neck and lace my fingers in his silky hair. I am sure I will regret it latter sense my wounds haven't healed yet but right now I don't care. All I can think about is him and his lips and the way his warm callused hands feel against my back.
"I love you too Lucy" he said with that stupid grin I love so much. "All this time I have protected my friends, the guild, but I feel most powerful when I am protecting you".
All of this seemed to be too much for the boy and color flooded his cheeks again he started to get up from the bed, unsure of what to do next but I stopped him and pulled him back into another kiss.
"I promise I'll do better next time. There is no way I am going to let those Raven Tail bastards win. I'll save my tears for when we win." I state proudly.
"I'll do my best too, and when we win I'll tell the whole guild how much I love you" Natsu exclaimed and pulled me closer to him. I thought about Levy and all the others and how they had all obviously seen our feelings for each other a long time ago, I could already hear the teasing. Maybe it was good thing we are in last place, but looking up at Natsu's determined grin, I knew their was no way we would stay at the bottom for long.
