Hurt so good •Nalu•

11

Some time had pasted since the night Natsu and I had cooked together. He and I have started hanging out a little more lately. I had told him about wanting to build a little muscle on my biceps, so he'd been helping my out with that in the gym. Work was going quite well, I was getting close to reaching just the right kind of breakthrough I needed.

Tonight I'm the last one to leave, I stretch out my stiff arms and swore legs. Walking out of bright lights of the lab, the moon and stars shine beautifully in the night sky. Enjoying the peaceful air and calm night I decide to take a detour.

I make my way to the second place I'd seen Natsu in action- the residential area where the fire had occurred. The homes are beautifully lite, showing off their landscaping. Something about this street takes me back to when I was 7, back when mama would play in our front yard with me..

"Excuse me, do you have a moment?"

I shiver hearing a sudden voice from behind me. The moon light lights up the face of a man slightly older looking then me. There's a ticking in the back of head though, 'He looks familiar..'

"Sorry to bother you, but do you live around here?"

"Not really." I cautiously answer his question, but he follows with another.

"Then, do you pass by often?"

"Not exactly."

"Just our for a walk then, or meeting someone?" The man persistence in his voice, but is eyes are cold as stone.

As my suspicions grow so does my irritation, 'What's with all these questions.' But the ticking in the back of head pops as a car drives by, the head lights run across his body and that's when it dawns on me. 'He's the guy from the fire that day!'

And then...

"Well well, if it isn't Lucy."

I hear Natsu call out from the other side of the street. Taking a step back away from the strange man, I look in Natsu's direction to see him trotting towards me. I feel relieved that he happened to show up, now that I feel safe I turn back towards the suspicious man..

'Huh!?'

But the shady character has completely vanished into the wind.

'So creepy!' I shutter as Natsu finally reaches me.

"Heh, didn't expect to see you- Hey wait a sec, are you alright Lucy?"

I can only assume I'm pale as a ghost from the strange event and horror movie creeper. Having him come to my rescue has me wanting to hug him..

"Natsu!"

"Whoa- Luce, did something happen?" Worry stricken his voice as he caught me in his arms. I buried my face in his chest and began telling him the events up till now.

"Hmm, well actually.. the man you seen is why I'm here.. I have some suspicions about him."

"What kind of suspicions?" For a split second Natsu almost seemed torn but quickly answers my question with. "I think he's homeless."

"Oh?"

Natsu scratches the back of his head and continues, "Ya know, I value life, all people's lives. I want to help and protect their smiles.."

"Your very kind, Natsu."

I can tell he's blushing as he looks the other way, even in the darkness. For some reason, I'm happy to see him acting like this. A warmth, burns softly deep inside me.

Natsu's phone starts to ring suddenly. "Uh, oh!" He says as if he forgot about something and answers the call.

"Hey Jellal."

....

"Yeah."

...

"Nope, Alright, see ya."

'Jellal?' Natsu turns off his phone, placing it back into his pocket. "Ready to go home?" He asks with a grin. Of course I've had enough real life horror flick for one night. "Yes!" I reply with a smile.

~•~

Once Natsu and I returned to Fairy Hill's, Jellal is there waiting for us.

"Glad to see your Alright Lucy." Jellal says first thing as we enter the lounge area.

"Huh, y-yeah me too." I'm say with slight confusion.

"Natsu called me. Just Incase." Jellal exclaimed with a wink.

'He called Jellal!?' I quickly glanced at Natsu who had tinted cheeks.

"Yeah.. well.." Natsu shrugged his shoulders.

"Dinner anyone?" Mira, who was standing at the counter asked while sitting three plates of food down for us.