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riverofmemoriesft · 8 years ago

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. Between the Lines . 159

Lucy's eyes snapped open, staring blankly at the ceiling above her. Her breath came in harsh gasps and she shook a little as she came to terms with reality. After a moment, she let a soft breath of relief out and threw an arm over her eyes.

Nightmares were a pain in the ass.

And since she'd joined Fairy Tail, they were all she dreamed of.

Her hand smacked something warm and there was a snort of annoyance. She stiffened irritably as a muffled voice mumbled, "Stop, that hurt."

"What the hell," she seethed, "Are you doing in my bed, Natsu Dragneel?" Awake, she turned and slid up to rest on a propped elbow. She glared down at him and he blinked tiredly up at her from shadows onyx eyes, his pink hair hanging in his face. Furious, she scowled down at him.

An entire week of avoiding her and he decided it was okay to crawl into her bed?

Bastard! I should kick you to the curb!

Natsu didn't seem to know - or care - what he'd done wrong, because he simply squinted at her and then grabbed her by the waist. She squawked in surprise when he merely tugged her down and buried his face in the pillow. "Tired."

She squirmed, smacking his shoulder. She received a wisp of flames in her face for her efforts. "Natsu," she hissed again.

"M'sorry," he slurred, ignoring her when she tried to squirm out from under his arm. She was a bit annoyed with how easily she was pinned, to be honest. She went still, narrowing her gaze. He rolled his head to he could peek up at her from beneath his bangs, looking a little anxious despite his exhaustion. "Didn't mean to. I was thinking."

Lucy took a deep breath, struggling to hold onto her anger while he stared at her with large puppy-like eyes. Finally, she let it go. Rubbing a hand down her face, she rasped, "I'm mad at you, you jerk."

For a week now, Natsu had avoided her. Not that she could blame him entirely; the horrified look on his face when she'd quietly informed him that her mother had died sealing his father away at an unknown location was enough to tell her that he didn't know what to say. It had still hurt walking into the guildhall only to realize he'd left the moment she'd turned onto the street.

When the guildmaster had demanded a group go out to show magic to the expectant town, she'd volunteered alongside Levy and Erza, fully expecting him to go with her. She'd been hurt when he'd remained silent, onyx eyes locked on a space above her head.

Lucy knew that everyone had noticed.

But they'd said nothing, respectful.

Even Mirajane had said nothing, only a quiet, "Make up soon, okay?"

"I'm sorry," he repeated, voice clearer this time. He watched her nervously now, as if concerned he'd be removed from where he was comfortably arranged. "It's...your mom died 'cause my dad asked her to. I didn't...I don't know what to…" He made a frustrated sound and hid his face in the pillow.

As per usual, however, Lucy understood fully.

"I know," she muttered, running her fingers lightly over his head. She flushed when he squirmed so that he could lightly rest his chin on her shoulder, studying her expression. "It's hard to figure out how to react to that kind of thing. There's nothing you or I can do, so why don't we just keep on the path we were on before? We need to focus on the Games. And why would you not go to the couch?"

"Because the bed's comfy?" He scoffed as if it was common knowledge. "I took my shoes off. See? And I took my scarf off, too, since I know you don't like when I sleep with it on."

She smiled a bit. Lucy prodded his naked shoulder with amusement. "And your shirt, apparently. Infected with some of Gray's habits, are we?"

He scowled playfully at his blonde girlfriend and then demanded, "It's the middle of the night. Why'd you wake up?"

"Nightmare." She wrinkled her nose and he puffed out smoke playfully. Lucy bit her lip before admitting, "Dreamed about the guy from Tenrou. He was...I don't even know where to begin describing what happened." She shuddered, not wanting to, and fell silent for a few seconds. "It was bad."

Pricking, prodding, ripping at the flesh of the person beneath him, all in the name of his country…

Natsu snorted and then closed his eyes, tightening his grip on her. "I've got ya Luce. I won't let anyone hurt ya. I'll protect you with my life if I need to."

Despite her annoyance, she smiled a fraction and made herself comfortable, her head resting against his.

"I know."

The guild seemed to release a huge huff of relief when they walked into the guildhall together the next day. Lucy glared when Levy practically sobbed her relief, crying, "You're okay, I'm so glad. It was like I was suffocating. Gajeel took a job without me because of it."

Natsu gave her a look, bewildered. "The hell are you talkin' about? Of course she's okay."

"Lucy!" Mirajane called, her voice strained. Lucy's head snapped around and she blinked when her friend gestured for her to come over. Natsu furrowed his brow, torn between going with her and figuring out if Happy had gone to Wendy and Charle's like he usually did when Natsu ended up wandering around at night.

"Just Lucy," Mirajane added, giving him a glare.

"Okay." Lucy flashed her boyfriend a smile and then sidled over to the bar, watching as he frowned and went to search for Happy. "What can I do for you, Mira?" Levy slid into a bar stool beside her, ignoring Mirajane's irritated frown.

"I want to help," Levy told her. "I've got nothing to do, remember? Gajeel and Lily are out, and Jet and Droy want to try a harder job on their own. I told them I'd pay for lunch if they did it successfully."

"...I think it's smart, but...Master doesn't want her to have the assistance," Mirajane admitted and then turned to Lucy. "We're leaving for the Games in precisely two weeks. Master requested that you take Cobra on a job outside of Magnolia in that time - without Natsu. The Council is demanding a report on what he's been doing, and Kinana's needed here. They'll trust your report more, anyways."

"Because I'm of royal blood," Lucy said bitterly and then propped her chin on an open palm. "I don't mind, actually. It'll be interesting enough as long as he learns to shut up and watch what he's doing. Is this another one of those test missions?"

"In a way." Mirajane's lips twitched into a smile. "Master's curious on how you'll do without your team, and he thinks that you'll do the best when it comes to getting along with him outside of Kinana."

"Huh. I see. Does he know yet?"

"Nope," Levy snickered, cutting in. Her hazel eyes danced with amusement. "They left that to you."

"Why do you know so much about my work?" Lucy asked, giving Levy a playful glare. She poked the short woman. "What else do you know?"

"That Natsu finally got himself back on track with being a good boyfriend?" Levy shrugged. "Happy likes to talk."

"...I'm going to throttle that blue cat," Lucy said with a dark look on her face as Mirajane cooed. "Alright, where's that bastard? I might as well get to telling him that he has to do something other than sit there with Kinana."

"He's actually been looking bored." Mirajane giggled. "He might appreciate this. I'll see to Natsu if he doesn't listen. Erza won't mind helping me deliver punishment."

Lucy shuddered at the images that conjured. Leaving her friends to do what they wanted, she hunted down Cobra, surprised that he'd arrived so early. He was grouchily sipping at a glass of water, watching her approach from narrowed eyes. When she got close enough, he snipped, "What are you? My babysitter?"

Lucy arched a brow. "What are you? A baby pouting because you have to be supervised? We know that you're trying to help us now and not try to use me as fuel for some ancient creation, but the Council doesn't entirely believe it. We're going on a job so that I can create a fantastic report to give to them."

Cobra scowled in a moment, thinking about what she'd said, and then gave a curt nod. "Fine."

"Good. I'll find one for us and let Natsu know that he's not allowed to come." Lucy moved to go and talk to the dragon slayer, and then paused when Cobra snickered.

"Good luck tellin' him he can't come. Dragon slayers don't like when they can't see their treasures, Blondie. Don't forget that." Cobra received a shocked look and he shrugged his shoulders. "What? I don't have a hoard, but I know about 'em."

"...mind your own business," Lucy muttered, frowning. She tilted her chin up proudly and crossed the guildhall back to Natsu. The dragon slayer was happily slurping down a drink that Mirajane or Kinana had offered, but when she came over he looked up. "Hey, Natsu," she began.

"Yeah?" He set his glass down, as if expecting that he wasn't going to like what was coming. "What do ya need, Luce?"

Still annoyed with him for his behavior over the past week despite him apologizing, she retorted, "Don't ‘What do ya need?’ me, Natsu. I'm taking a job with Cobra for Master. The Council wants a report on how he's doing. You're staying here with everyone else."

Natsu's jaw dropped for an instant and she wasn't surprised when began to try and argue. "But, Luce! You never go on jobs with other people! I'm your partner, why can't Erza or Gray or someone else do it? We're a team!"

Lucy snorted to herself. "Master asked Mirajane to ask me and that means I need to do it. And they'll trust my opinions more than someone else's in the guild, we think. I was and still am the princess of Heartfilia family. Natsu, my word holds a lot of power in things like this. To top it all off, I'm the one Cobra tried to hurt to begin with. Cobra's really changed - for the most part, I know you're eavesdropping you bastard - and I think we need to do what we can to help him. That means that you need to stay here and behave while I'm gone. It won't be more than a day or two."

Natsu glowered at her, onyx eyes blazing with anger. "It's not fair!" he snapped. "You're my partner! Not anyone else's! It's not like me going would be bad! I could help, Lucy!"

Aware that people were starting to look over and be nosy, Lucy scowled. "I said no, Natsu. Mirajane's going to make sure you stay here, by the way, just thought I'd tell you." He barely flinched at the subtle threat. "Have you ever thought that I might want to try a job on my own? This'll be - in a way - my first solo mission. I've only ever taken work with you guys."

"So?" He clenched his jaw, smoke leaving his nostrils. "It's better that way, we have fun-"

"We do," Lucy cut in firmly. "I love going on missions with you and the others, Natsu. Usually something goes wrong, but I have fun. But sometimes, I need to test how much farther I can go without having you trying to step up and protect me from every little thing, okay? I have my Spirits. The arrogant jerk who's still eavesdropping-" She spared a glare at Cobra. "-can do a decent job of helping. So just...stay here. We'll do something when I get back, before we go to the Games."

Natsu opened his mouth to protest some more, and then clamped it shut, scowling irritably. "Whatever," he huffed, and then pointedly turned away from her. Instead, he looked at Happy, who'd arrived mid-argument, and the blue cat jumped.

Lucy ran a hand down her face and shook her head. Levy gave her a sympathetic look while the silver-haired woman gave Lucy a proud look.

From where she sat beside Wendy at a table, Jellal across from both of them, Erza stared openly at Natsu, a look that promised violence should he act any more out of hand on her face.

Lucy decided against sitting at the bar and instead went to join them. Erza gave her a warm smile as she slid into the seat beside Jellal, a groan escaping her as she planted her head on the table. "Natsu's always been annoyingly clingy to those he is close to," Erza murmured, reaching over to rub her back.

"It's part of being a dragon slayer," Wendy said apologetically. "His instincts consider you a part of his hoard. Your hair really doesn't help. It's the closest color to gold that I've ever seen. It's natural for him to try and keep an eye on you at all times."

Charle sniffed. "What a brute."

"He needs to know that he can't be around like this and say that I can't go off without him," Lucy muttered into the table. "Especially after he avoided me for a week."

"Why was he avoiding you?" Wendy asked. Erza gave her a curious look as well and Jellal tried to keep from looking too interested while sipping at some tea.

Lucy hesitated. Loke had told her to be careful about the information she gave away. Taking a deep breath, she admitted, "Um, my mother...Igneel requested something of my mother. Wendy, you know my mother and yours met."

Jellal choked a little at that, but said nothing.

"Mhm," Wendy hummed. From where Charle was sitting irritably beside her on the table, there was a snort.

"Well...let's just say that my mother is the reason all of the dragons have disappeared." Lucy kept her voice low, not wanting Gajeel to hear. Wendy's eyes flashed with shock. "And because she did what she did, she died. When I told Natsu, I guess he saw it as his father being the reason my mom is dead. He didn't really know how to react."

Erza nodded thoughtfully. "He's never really had reason to worry about the feelings of others when it comes to his actions." Tucking a lock of scarlet hair behind her ear, she said with a sigh, "We'll keep an eye on him while you work with Cobra."

Lucy gave her a long look. "Mira told everyone."

"Of course."

The blonde moaned, and then looked over when Charle suddenly gasped, her eyes going blank and searching the empty air. "Charle?" Wendy said anxiously, her eyes filling with concern when she recognized what was happening.

For some reason, Jellal recognized it, too. He set his cup down and studied Charle closely. "...a vision."

When Charle snapped out of it after a good moment or so, her gaze found Lucy's first.

Her paw lifted and covered her mouth, tears filling her eyes.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered. "The blood...it was...oh, no…"

No way to turn… There was smoke everywhere, filling her mouth, her eyes, her throat. A scream left her lips as she sobbed over the crumpled body beneath her, its eyes staring blankly at nothing as blood pooled around it. A shift of imagery, and a woman appeared. Her soft skin was slicked with her own blood, one arm gone. An agonized scream from a man as he fell to his knees beside the woman who knelt there in shock. A woman with her head thrown back, hair fluttering around her as magic rushed through her veins, burning her from the inside out...a flurry of panic as people fought for their lives...a dark smile...the roaring of creatures that no longer walked the earth…

The look on a black-haired man's face as something new emerged from the white light.

Lucy's face, soaked in tears as she sang a song of defeat.

A man of black and white rising from among the ashes, a blank-looking girl at his side.

The scent of death on the air.

The next few words that Charle uttered chilled each and every one of them to the bone:

"We're all going to die."

#fairy tail #fanfiction #au #between the lines #riverofmemoriesft #nalu #natsu x lucy #natsu dragneel #lucy heartfilia #happy #gray fullbuster #erza scarlet #wendy marvell #charle #jellal fernandes #cobra #mirajane strauss #levy mcgarden

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