The Geek's Game | NaLu Fan Fiction [3rd place in FTWattyAwards Romance]

Investigation

Chapter 16 - recap

"You are adorable Lucy," he teased me and poked my blushing cheeks. I only grew redder making him laugh. His laugh made my heart race in my chest. We sat there for a few hours, but eventually a nurse said he had to sleep. Mrs. Dragneel had been there the last hour visiting and took me with her. Now we had to live in the Dragneel family mansion, until we got a new apartment. If we got a new apartment...

In the dark of the house I made my way to Natsu's old room and pulled one of his older hoodies from the closet. It fit me perfectly, so I crawled into his bed and fell asleep, letting his comforting scent make me feel close to him.

• * •

Chapter 17 - Investigation

My eyes fluttered open and met the bright light of day. I sat up and yawned before getting up and heading to find Mrs. Dragneel. I eventually found her in the sitting room, reading a book.

"Mrs. Dragneel?" My voice was soft as I called her name. She looks back at me and then gently sets her book aside and stands up.

"Yes Lucy?" She heads over to me.

"I was wondering if you had any clothes I could wear..." I ask nervously.

"Yes, I had someone pick up some clothes for you yesterday. The bags are in the foyer, if you need help with them call for help--our staff is very kind and willing," she informs me before going back to her seat and picking up the book again.

I turned from the room and made my way to the foyer passing old rooms filled with memories, some better than others. I eventually reached the room and saw a mass of shopping bags. I stared at them shell shocked before ringing a nearby bell to call for help. I couldn't lift all of those bags all by myself even if I tried.

Soon a familiar butler stepped into the room and my eyes lit up. "Victor!" I squealed happily and engulfed him in a hug.

He laughed and hugged me back, "Hello miss Heartfilia!"

I released him and then looked at the bags, then back to him. "Mind giving me a hand with these?" I gesture to the many bags.

"Gladly," he bows slightly and then picks up half while I take the other half. We head to a room near Natsu's and set the bags inside.

"It's a pleasure to see you again Miss Lucy," Victor smiles before walking away. I duck back into the room and dig through the bags, finding a good outfit. In the middle of getting dressed I got a phone call. I picked it up quickly.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Is this Lucy Heartfilia?" The female voice asks.

"Yes, that's me," I confirm. I set my clothes down.

"This is officer Hennessey. I need you to come to the station so we can have you confirm the identities of the criminals," she tells me.

"Uhm, yeah. What time do you need me there?" I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear.

"By twelve. We would like to get this case closed," she informs me.

"Sure, I'll be there," she hangs up and I throw my phone aside and finish changing. I call for Victor and ask him to drive me to the station which he happily agrees to do. We get in the car and he drove me to the station. I climbed out and pushed open the doors. At the front desk stood an officer. She had her brown hair up in a bun, and when she set her eyes on me they gleamed with a certain hint of authority.

"Lucy Heartfilia?" She calls me name. I nod and follow her. Another officer meets me halfway.

"So, we have a few hits on the descriptions. We need you to tell us which guys are the culprits and we will handle it from there," an officer told me as I was led into the station.

"Let's do this," I breathe as he opens the door. I looked through the glass at the men. This was going to be easy. I quickly spotted the one who was called "Ripper", the one Natsu punched in the face while defending me. The other was harder to pin point because his identity was fuzzy in my memory but I picked him out.

"Thank you," the officer opened the door and I walked out. I passed some offices and caught sight of Sting, sitting in a chair talking to an officer. The officer looked pissed, and Sting had a smug look smeared across his face. I wanted to listen in but the officer cleared her throat to catch my attention.

"Oops! Sorry," I murmur an apology and hurry outside. I race back into the car and close the door with a sigh of relief.

"Where to Miss Lucy?" Victor asks in monotone.

"The Northern Magnolia Hospital please," I request. He takes off without a word. The silence in the car was drowning me, and the drive couldn't have been more agonizing. I chewed my lip as I nervously waited to arrive. The second Victor stopped the car in front of the hospital I burst out the door. I hurried inside and checked in.

I got in the elevator and went up to the floor Natsu was on. I made my way to his door, pushed down the cool metal handle and opened it. Natsu was sitting on the side of the bed, tightening part of his bandages.

"You shouldn't mess with the doctors work," I warn him. He looks up, surprise in his features.

"Luce... I didn't think you where coming by today," He stares at me. I shrug in response.

"I couldn't not come and see you. How are you? When can you leave?" I ask him as I close the door and move closer to him.

"I can leave tomorrow but I have to bring a nurse home. The nurse will leave after a week--just before school starts back up again," he tells me. I nod, standing still a few feet from him. Finally he stands up and walks over to me.

"Hey, wait shouldn't you stay- mph," my voice is cut off as he pulls me into a kiss. After breaking the kiss he leans his forehead on mine.

"Natsu, you should stay in bed you idiot!" I chide him, only provoking his laughter.

"Luce," he murmured his nickname for me into my hair, "I'll be fine. I am the Indestructible Natsu Dragneel,"

I laughed, burying my head into his chest. "So now you are indestructible? Your ego just keeps growing..." I sigh.

"Well, in a few months we will be done with school, and I'll have a surprise waiting for you that just might make that statement true," I could feel his smirk.

"Oh shut up you egotistic maniac," the words slip from my mouth in only a soft utterance. But even if they where soft Natsu still chuckled in response. I wrapped my arms completely around him and stood there in the hospital room with him, feeling as if time had paused on that single moment.

• * •

Chapter 18 - Civil Unrest! Natsu is a Star! - Preview

"The new rising star in basketball, Natsu Dragneel, is now recovering from a gunshot wound! After hearing his story thousands of fans began expressing their support for the talented young man," the reporter said into her camera.

"Sources lead us to believe that the new handsome rising star in athletics is not single, sorry ladies!" I groaned and flipped off the TV.

How had this even happened?!