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lune-hime · 4 years ago

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Garden of Tulips (Levi/Reader) Tea Time #6

~Click me for more chapters~

“What did it look like?”

“Hmm?” Levi looked up from his place next to your sleeping form. “The titan that tried to snack on my darling granddaughter.” “Ugly as fuck.” “Aren’t they all?”

Levi recounts memories of the reader and their shared life together while she recovers from a serious injury.

!!WARNINGS!! - Violence, gore, smut, wholesome content ;)

So these little Tea Times were written as little filler-memory chapters to place in between the main story line.

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Short and Sweet

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“Hey shorty have you finished signing off on these release forms?” Hange asked as she tapped into Levi’s office. Her question garnered crickets as he remained focused on his menial duties.

“Shortyyyy~?” She sang with a spring in her step as she entered and shut the large door. Levi paid as much attention to her as he did a fly perched upon his windowsill. He flipped over the last document and signed it.

“Captain short-stacks?” She prodded with an intricate skill at pressing his buttons.

“Fuck off shitty glasses.” He finally piped up aridly, his exhale ruffling the corners of his papers.

“I see you responded to the second one. I now endow you with this title-” Hange declared with a booming voice when a pen was thrown directly at her forehead. She barely caught it before impact and cackled at their childish antics.

“Oh come on, Levi. It’s a cute nickname for such a cutie patootie captain~” She cooed in an insanely sweet voice that made Levi feel like he was overdosing on rotten corn syrup.

“Coming from you, using me and cute in the same sentence is revolting. It would be a shame if I were to vomit on these documents.” He gagged in unamusement as he flicked his wrist which held the folder towards her. She gladly accepted it with a shit-eating grin.

“Well that wouldn’t hurt anyone other than yourself would it, shortkins?” She countered playfully. With the swiftness of a veteran scout, Hange poked Levi in the head with his pen and dodged out of range of any punches he could have thrown.

“Thanks Levi Shortyman, see you at breakfast!” She yelled over her shoulder as she skipped out of the room. Levi released his broiling irritation like a simmering kettle with a deep breath and attempted to rub the pet names out of his temple.

After a strenuous day of training the new batch of cadets that ran from the crack of dawn to a little over an hour ago, you found yourself in the kitchen babysitting a kettle of hot water. Leaning against the counter, you rested your head in your hands as the gentle humming of the stove sang you a lullaby.

“There you are.” A low voice dragged you out of your temporary humid home. Turning your head, you lazily smiled at Levi and gave him a languid wave.

“Tired?” He asked rhetorically as he approached. You nodded once and picked your head up out of your palms.

“Who knew training 30 inexperienced teenagers would be this taxing.” You exhaled. He tutted his tongue and came to lean against the counter next to you, his lower back resting against the cool surface. He regarded you as what little vigor you had left drained out of your body and into the wiggling kettle. A part of him desired to uncross his arms, scoop up your deflated form, and let his shoulder support your sleeping head. Much to his frustration, not even your exchange of fresh confessions could not fully decimate his wall of, dare he admit, awkwardness.

Of course he was experienced in fleeting romances; physical indulgences that ended with snips of threads. But he was a virgin to this type of love. Every touch to you was precious and he felt himself overcalculating his motions.

“Now you know how tiresome it was to train your group of brats.” The jest within his tone warmed his otherwise impassed features.

“I guess everyone is a brat until they capture your heart, Levi.” You pouted slyly and gave his arm a weak poke.

“No one has but you, idiot.” The casual nature of his tone even surprised him with how fluidly it slipped out of his mouth. The strangeness of dewdrops on a newly bloomed petal curdled between the two of you. Thankfully the shrill whistling of the kettle overpowered any bumbling reply you could have generated.

“What kind are you making?” Levi cleared his throat as you doused the stove and moved the kettle off of the flame to cool.

“A batch of chamomile for Hange and I. English breakfast for Erwin and Mike-they still need the caffeine tonight-and of course earl gray for you.” You struggled to suppress a yawn as you recited the flavors. Levi felt his bones soften to jelly at your thoughtfulness.

“None of your special tea this evening.” He mused with disappointment in his tone. You admired the scrunch of his nose that you knew he was oblivious to.

“Nah, I ran out a few nights ago.” You hummed as you began laying out five cups on the counter.

“You didn’t grab the tea bags yet.” Levi stated. With a spry push-off, he strode over to one of the many cabinets that overhung the counter. You smiled in appreciation and turned back to the hot water.

A clanking followed by a dull thump brought your attention back to him. The scene unfolding next to you caused you to inhale sharply and inflate your cheeks with your impending laughter.

Tiptoes propelled him upward just short of firmly grasping the tea tins. Two out of the 3 tins had been acquired in the lower cabinets but the remaining one was perched on the highest one on the shelf. Levi bounced on his heels once in an attempt to stretch his spine longer but he gained only enough height to allow his fingers to brush the bottom of the wooden chamber.

You silently observed him struggle with guilty amusement. In candid moments like these he was just so… adorable . When he stretched again, the hem of his crisply ironed shirt rode up and the downy smooth skin of his hip peeked out. His raven locks bounced with his body and just barely shielded his deeply furrowed brow.

“Which one of those lanky ass trees put them up so high?” He grumbled under his breath.

You really tried to spare his dignity. You really did. But you couldn't keep away any longer as he wiggled upward.

As you padded over to the little ball of anger you comically frowned deeply to continue to quell your impending giggle. Honestly you couldn't blame him for not being able to reach. That cabinet was placed so annoyingly high that even you were only barely able to grasp its contents.

Levi immediately halted his movements when he noticed your presence at his side. His head swiveled sideways and met your gaze with a childish frustration.

Holy fuck don't laugh.

Your gentle nudge pushed Levi to the side with a stiffness in his form. He eyed you as nabbed the tea tin in a single hop.

“Shorty.” You teased with a fond smile that was devoid of anything but kitten-like affection. Leaning down, you pecked him on the lips just before your giggle broke free from its imprisonment. Then you snatched the tins and returned to your brewing station.

Levi remained camped out on the other side of the kitchen. He felt a bubbling warmth swarm his cheeks as his mind replayed your honeyed voice saying the nickname he could care less for.

But when you said it, so sweetly and lovely... walls he felt whipped.

"Aww-why does she not get sass for calling you shorty?" Hange whined from the doorway. Her sudden appearance only fueled your laughter as you placed the tea leaves in their respective cups and began showering them in a hot bath.

Levi scowled at the woman and brought a hand to rub his jawline, masquerading his rosy cheeks from her pointed view.

“Your fucking off time has not expired yet, Hange.” His warning was muffled as you handed your old squad leader her tea.

Levi learned an important lesson that day: he didn't mind being teased if it was by you.

Honorifics

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“I’ll make sure he reads through these, Armin.” You smiled sweetly at the boy and he nodded with a grin of his own. Levi’s eyes flitted from you to Armin in a wordless manifestation of ~is that all~ from his desk.

“Thank you, sir.” Armin saluted and politely slipped out of the door to Levi’s office. You sighed peacefully as silence fell between you two.

“I’ll admit there tends to be interesting plans that come out of that coconut hair.” Levi commented and placed the papers aside.

“Thank you for giving his ideas an extra look, Captain.” You said, masking your fledgling slyness with nonchalant innocence.

Levi suddenly felt like he was being waterboarded when that single word left your lips. His eyes narrowed as you rounded the corner of his desk and idly began flipping through Armin's plans.

"What did you just call me?" He pressed, feeling frozen as an alluring blend of bewilderment and desire swam through the ice of his surprise.

“What do you mean, sir?" You responded with a shrug. Your thumb preoccupied itself with the smoothness of the paper while your mind indulged itself in your fantasized musings.

“That.” He emphasized his speech with a crispness of a seasoned officer.

“I don’t know what you’re referring to, captain. Maybe you misheard me.” You continued with an added layer of heated sultriness. Levi's initial shock had dulled to a buzzing hum as the atmosphere between you switched from feigned innocence to dripping in lust.

You hadn’t addressed him with honorifics since you had been promoted to a squad leader. The double entendre and impish aura had his head swirling with an exhilarating dizziness of lust and vigor. Levi bit the inside of his cheek as he watched you discreetly press your thighs together, trying to keep yourself from seeming just as needy as he was beginning to feel.

And walls the way your eyelashes fluttered like a doe’s to the bashfulness of your posture was all so very- submissive. It excited Levi’s nerves and stirred his legs to twitch in anticipation of contact.

“Then why don’t you come over here and repeat yourself so I can hear you clearly.”

He pushed off the desk and swiveled in his chair to leave his lap exposed to you. You greeted his invitation with a smirk and painstakingly slowly made your way over to him. You grasped the arms of his chair and swung your legs over his, hovering over his lap for a moment to deprive him of his much desired contact. He almost let out a noise of frustration when you finally settled into him, smugly rocking your hips forward as you scooched into his chest.

“Can you hear me now, sir?” You cooed at the shell of his ear and gently nibbled on the soft flesh of his earlobe. He exhaled as your mouth moved southward.

Levi gulped. Your syrupy words and steamy breath began heating his insides from the nape of his neck. He felt himself twitch upward as your plush thighs once again rubbed against his straining erection.

A wave of satisfaction rushed through you when you felt how hard he was already. He wasn’t always very vocal in his desires as a lover. But with each passing day you became more intimate with what made him tick and could instantly tell he was beginning to enjoy this power play. He had been powerless over many things in his life, and in the most primal yet nurturing way, the thought of lording over you with pleasure drove him wild.

Levi felt like his body was screaming with this invigorating rush of arousal. It was a sensation you had given him countless times before. But the feeling of power that you were inflating into him blanketed him in a new rush of exhilaration that had butterflies flitting against his chest.

Quickly catching onto your plan to tease him, he was not going to let you get away with it. He was your captain , after all. He suddenly clasped your hips with a force that made you whimper. He adjusted you so that your hot core was pressed intoxicatingly close to the taught muscles of his thigh.

He regarded you, pupils dilated, as his hands forced you along the expanse of his thigh. Your hips instantly responded to his actions, rolling yourself against him as sparks began flying through you.

“Hmm. Is this what you wanted your captain to do?” Levi hummed lowly, bouncing his leg upward as he ground your hips harder onto him. Your lips detached from his neck as your head fell to his shoulder, the sweet friction making it hard to focus on anything else.

“I-dammit Levi I was the one who was supposed to seduce you.” You moaned breathily; a mixture of defeat and excitement as his movements further ignited your bundle of nerves.

“I’d say you were pretty successful.” Levi praised, leaning in to capture your wanton lips with his own. The kiss deepened to match the fervedity that glued you to one another. The sinfulness of the way your body gave into his guidance and the lingering awareness that the two of you had forgotten to lock the damn office door only fueled his rough touches.

“I still haven’t gotten an answer to my question, brat.” He reluctantly broke away, humming with a hungry gravel as he squeezed your ass with passionate intent.

When you didn’t answer, Levi tightened his hold and rocked his hip so fluidly that you felt like you were caught in a current of bliss. Both of you were drowning in the heavy petting; you relishing in the pleasurable friction that his muscular thigh brought your clothed core and him feeling your wetness through his trousers as he brought you teetering over the edge with just a flick of his leg and a roll of his hips.

Your plan had instantly backfired, and although you were the antithesis of complaining, it felt lewd to express your desires aloud. But by the way his eyes bore into yours, dripping with metallic lust and silently commanding you to tell him made you whimper and grind against him with even more desperation.

“Tell me.” Levi huskily instructed, immediately halting his flow and keeping you agonizingly still. Your legs were softly shaking at the loss of contact, hands balling the fabric at his shoulders.

Electric tendrils bounced freely in the space between you as you looked down at him, your chest heaving and panting.

Wordlessly your hand reached for his. Your intertwined palms moved up your torso, brushed over your breasts, and stopped at your neck. Levi felt your rapid pulse point under his thumb and his own heartbeat became erratic. His eyes widened at your bold move.

His grip lay loose, hesitant against the sensitive area. Hurting you, especially accidentally, was the last thing he wanted to do. As a child he saw how his mother was mistreated, cast aside and abused by hungry men. But the way your teeth toyed with your plush lips and your eagerness to retake your spot on his thigh caused blood to rush from his head down to his cock. You gave him a willing smirk. If you wanted him like this he would gladly give it to you.

“Make me cum.” Your voice oozed with silken demand while your neck craned to expose the smooth flesh to his palm.

And just like that, the electricity crackled.

Levi slammed you back down onto him and guided you at a heavenly pace while his other hand applied pressure to your neck. He almost came himself as he watched you unfold on the precipice of your ecstasy; writhing in pleasure under his control and using him to chase your orgasm beneath his grip.

You didn’t need to vocalize with words that you were close for Levi to know. The nectarous moans of his name and the erratic nature of your thrusts were sensory overload for him as he unbuttoned your pants.

In exchange for slowing his pace a bit, he slipped his free hand into your underwear. He reveled in your high-pitched gasp when his coarse fingertips made contact with your clit. The combined warmth and pressure from Levi's hands on opposite ends of your body catapulted you into your orgasm as you rutted against his thigh. Your vocal cords vibrated in sensuous moans against his constraint.

As you recovered from being perched on your high, he brushed his thumb lightly up your neck and let it rest along your cheek. He peered at you dazed in the afterglow of want and appreciation. Teasingly, he wiggled his fingers over your over-sensitive clit and chuckled in amusement when you squirmed in place. With a delicate sweep that would put a painter to shame, he drew his hand out of your pants. The velvety knot recoiled in your stomach when Levi brought his slick fingers to his lips and sighed in contentment.

Oh you were so ready to wipe that beautiful smirk off of his face and reclaim what you rightfully started.

Your arms drew along the expanse of his arms, sliding you down and out of his lap until your knees pressed onto the chilled wood floor. Levi’s eyes trailed yours as you slithered downward, argent orbs darkening when you palmed his straining crotch.

You wasted no time in unbuttoning his pants and releasing his cock from its confines. His eagar member was glossy with precum, revealing just how much you had riled him up. Your tongue started at the base, licking a hot streak languidly up his shaft and swirling your strokes when you reached the tip.

Levi released a heavy breath when your mouth took him fully. As your head bobbed along his length, not once did he drop his head back as the pleasure began to build. Through his panting, lip-toying, nostril flaring, and eventual groan of euphoria, the molten silver within his eyes occupied your gaze. You watched as his brow knitted and features contorted in rhapsody all while his commanding focus lay unwavered. The forge fire raging in them held your head to him and made you flush under their intensity as you swallowed and released him from your mouth.

“I wish I had called you captain earlier.” You winked up at him, a blissful half smile forming on his features.

“Be careful what you wish for.” He chuckled and leant you his hand to help you up off of the ground.

#levi #levi x reader #drabble #LEVI ACKERMAN #AoT #aot imagine #aot x reader #aot fluff #snk #snk x reader #attack on titan #attack on titan fanfiction #shingeki no kyojin #hange zoe #jean kirschstein #bisexual jean #levi/reader

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petri808 · 5 years ago

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Underneath the Same Starry Sky

My piece for the @fairytailcharityfanzine 💜 we can now share it, please enjoy!

Nalu Reflective piece that takes place during the one year hiatus, focusing on Natsu’s feeling during his training, and Lucy.

Every single muscle in Natsu’s body ached worse than being electrocuted by one of Laxus’ lightning bolts. His joints screamed like a banshee if he even thought about moving an inch for the rest of the night and he prayed that come morning’s light he could get up to do it all again. The training routine he’d carved out for himself was ten times harder than anything he’d ever attempted before, but it’s a necessary evil and one that numbed his mind to the reasons behind its mission. Tartaros was a wake-up call. A proverbial slap to the ego that brought the mighty Fairytail guild to its knees. Sure, they won the battle, but at a substantial cost.

He couldn’t afford to lose like that again. Not when there were so many things at stake.

But tonight, there’s nothing more he can do except lie on his bedroll staring up at the sky. If someone attacked him now in such a vulnerable state, they might win. He doubted it. Even the locals steered clear of the mountain he’d chosen. Too afraid of the rumors of a crazy fire wielding man who could shake the very bedrock beneath their feet. No, tonight it’s just him, Happy, and that sky. A beautiful expanse of darkened heavens with no clouds to dampen its effects.

Ugh! Nights like this were the hardest. Each time he opened his eyes and gazed upon those twinkling stars his partner would drift into his mind and throw it back into chaos. Lucy…. The golden queen who reigns over the celestial world, adored by her spirits, loved by her friends, and treasured by his truly.

Everything he did was to protect the ones he loved. And above all, her.

Just thinking about the attractive blonde sent a strange flutter through his core. Natsu wasn’t immune to the desires created in any hot-blooded male when seeing such an attractive female. But she’s different, special, not something treated like arm-candy or tied down by anyone unless of her own choosing. Besides, he didn’t feel worthy of her attention. Not yet. Maybe one day, but not until he could truly safeguard her future, even from his own demons. Besides, there’s still much to do. It’s only his second month and already the drain on his mind, body, and soul pushed him to his limits. But Natsu’s no quitter. Once he set his heart on something, he would move all of Earthland to see it through. Things would get easier over time as his body adapts to the training, so until then, no pain, no gain, and a blonde waiting at the end of this goal.

‘I really wish you were here Igneel…. Too many questions I never got the answer to…. Even new ones on things I don’t quite know what to do with.’ Natsu lets out an audible exhale. ‘I miss you…. It’s like a huge part of me’s gone and I know I’ll never get it back. Will that empty feeling ever go away?’ His eyes close for a moment as he remembers the pain of watching the fight between Igneel and Acnologia. He’d held out so much hope that Igneel would win, only to have that faith dashed against the rocks like a ship, wrecking along the shore. It was at that point, when Natsu felt like the small child again, alone and lost in the forest before Makarov had found and taken him to Fairytail. He’d promised Igneel to keep growing, to keep looking towards the future, and he will. He will get stronger! But such pain and sense of initial loss from his childhood had never fully gone away, just sidetracked once he’d met Lucy.

Again, with Lucy. That day in Hargeon was the last time Natsu’d gone off on his own in search of Igneel. Was that meaningful? It had to be. How else could one person, who he’d just met, unconsciously change his course in life if it didn’t have some major significance? What would Igneel have said about her? ‘Who am I kidding, he would love Lucy! I bet he would tease me about her if he were here…. I know she would have liked him too….’ She would never be a replacement for his adoptive dragon father, but… ‘Lucy fills some void.’ A concept he couldn’t deny any longer.

This training mission was the longest they’d been apart since, well, the day they met. It’s a little weird, Natsu would admit, and he missed her along with all of his friends. He wondered what they’re up to. Are they rebuilding the guild hall right now? Probably to be even bigger or better than before. ‘Yeah…. It’s gonna be so nice to see it again!’ He should have stayed to help them rebuild, but this is more important. ‘So, we don’t lose the next time!’ Did Gray miss their fighting, because he kind of did. He loved to rile that ice queen up! ‘I’m sure they’re all doing fine.’

But to take the power left to him by Igneel, he needed to strengthen his reserves and that took time. He really didn’t understand how long he would be away for. It could be months or even years; hopefully not the latter. Mastering this new secret art is his primary focus and he couldn’t go back until he’d attained it. It was his hidden weapon against his brother and it just needed to be perfect.

Long blistering days had turned into weeks. Laborious weeks dragged into months and as each one passed the physical pain had morphed into an emotional toll. Now five months into his training, Natsu sometimes lost track of time itself, and it was only with Happy’s help that he knew how long he’d been at this. The cheerleading Exceed made sure they had food or other provisions because the slayer would forget. Even his hair was now past his shoulder blades, but he tied it back when it got in his way.

Though it wasn’t all that bad, he’d made a lot of progress and was sure that it wouldn’t be too much longer till he could return home. So, after another long day and a meal of roasted wild bird, Natsu submerges himself up to his neck in a nearby hot pond. It was one of the few reasons he’d chosen this semi-isolated location. The broiling waters were a bit too hot for any normal humans, but for a fire dragon slayer, something perfectly suited to soothe away his aches, and maybe some of his anguish. Lately a few of Zeref’s parting words, “to kill or let live,” were toying with his mind. “The one to reach me will be you or END…” He still didn’t fully understand it. Igneel also told him not to look at the END book. But why not? Who is this END person?! “And what the hell did Zeref mean by passing to me, an even greater despair?!” Regardless of not understanding, the message was clear. Trouble was coming.

The steaming waters were making him sleepy, but he wasn’t ready to let it take him yet. He just need to hash out these thoughts so he could move on because if he couldn’t, then he wouldn’t be able to focus on his training. To concentrate the residual power, he needed a clear mind. A long exhale escapes and Natsu closes his eyes. Killing wasn’t the Fairytail way, so that wasn’t something Natsu even wanted to consider. There had to be another solution, but it was difficult to figure out what that could be since he didn’t even know who or what this enemy was. From the scant information they’d given him, END was the most powerful demon Zeref had ever created, one that not even Igneel could defeat. That meant END could be his most formidable opponent to date, aside from maybe Acnologia.

Acnologia… all the hairs along his arm tingle. The evil dragon born of a by-gone slayer era, is another problem that needed solving. How were they supposed to defeat a dragon that other dragons were afraid of? He remembered the quaking fear that all the slayers and dragons felt when Acnologia showed up. Everyone’s panic and trembling emotions were palpable. That vile creature had disappeared once more, but he’ll no doubt, show up at the worst time. “Argh!” Another beautiful part of being in the middle of nowhere, Natsu could scream all he wanted to. He relaxes his eyelids, letting the feeling of the steam envelop his senses.

Words unspoken passed between them as he hung his head whilst the tears flowed, and snot dripped. Lucy held on tight, her arms wrapped around his middle, her face buried in the crook of his back like she’d done the night they’d defeated future Rogue. Despite his promises to Igneel, Natsu’s heart had shattered and needed to fit back together like a jigsaw puzzle. He was thankful that Lucy didn’t prod, just allowed him to feel, to process, like she just knew he would come out of this. Her silent support meant so much to him, and she didn’t even know it.

“Can we just go home?” he whispers under his breath. “I’m tired.”

Lucy nods and moves to let go, but Natsu places his hand on her arm. “To your apartment, just for tonight? I’d… rather not be alone right now.”

“Sure, Natsu.”

It was one of the rare occasions that Lucy didn’t kick him out of bed. Maybe she was too tired. After a shower, Natsu crawls under the covers. Her calming scent of strawberry cream providing him some satisfaction, a reassurance that he wasn’t alone, and reminded him he still had a lot to live for. And as his eyes close, the vision of her sleeping form, so peaceful, sends him off into a dreamless, yet fitful slumber.

When light filtered through his closed lids the following morning, Natsu opens them to a fully awakened mind despite the pitiful amount of sleep he’d gained. Through the night, Lucy had latched onto his side, keeping him pinned to his back. She sighs, mumbling at his minute movements, before licking her lips and drifting away again clutched to his arm. He exhales, turning to his side to gaze upon her better. ‘Lucy…’ Natsu sweeps away some tendrils that had fallen over her eyes. ‘How am I to protect her when I couldn’t even save my father? How can I protect any of my friends from the dangers coming call?’ It wasn’t a matter of if he could, but a must. He places a kiss upon her slightly furrowed brow. ‘I promise you Lucy. I swear on Igneel I will protect you at any cost!’

Even though he’d decided that morning to leave on a training quest, he just couldn’t tell her, not in person knowing the pain it might stir back up for both of them. All he could hope for a week later when he clutched the letter in his hand, that she would understand. “Wait for me,” he whispers as he places the letter on her coffee table…

Natsu opens his eyes. Ugh, why was he dreaming about that now? He twists his body in the steaming waters to rest his head on his arms on the edge. How long had he fallen asleep for? Couldn’t have been long since the position of the moon had only shifted slightly. Maybe he was feeling a little guilty for leaving that letter the way he had. It was a copout. ‘Yeah…’ he sighs, ‘she deserved better from me, but I just couldn’t face her.’ Too late now to do anything about it.

It was almost over; he runs his hand over the new tattoo on his arm, reminiscing about the last 8 months. All the power condensed in his body thrummed like a child excited to play with their new toy. But it would have to wait and lay dormant for now. Until the time was right, behind the symbols it shall remain. This whole journey was one of self-recovery, through down-right struggles of the heart and mind. So, unleashing the full power of the Fire Dragon King too early would be a waste of all that he’d fought to attain. And that was okay, for through this self-discovery Natsu had become a lot stronger. The control over his element was down to pinpoint accuracy, and whether as a stream of fire or as a conflagration, it was all by his manipulation. He was giddy about showing this off and according to Happy, the perfect opportunity was coming up in just two months. All the more reason for him to buckle down and finish his training.

Lucy had hoped some of her friends would attend the games, even just to watch but no one did. It was sad to think, ‘I’ve been looking this entire year…’ she breaks down against the wall filled with all the information she’d dug up on her ex-guildmates. She knew where some were, while others… Sigh, ‘Still nothing on Natsu.’ There’d been wild rumors that could be him. Nothing concrete and they were always stories passed along from a friend of a friend. But it was enough to comfort her sometimes, to know they were still under the same starry skies. Ugh! Lucy missed them all so much. “Well, no point in crying about it tonight,” she laments to Plue. Tomorrow was the finals, and she needed her sleep. Lucy steals away to her bed and lets happier dreams bring her solace.

Ten grueling months has passed by, but they’d made it! The sun had yet to rise, but the pair arrived just in time to see the last day of the Grand Magic Games tournament. Natsu turns his nose to the wind, scenting from atop a hill overlooking the large city of Crocus. “Happy, I think Lucy is here!”

“But, why would she be here?” the Exceed queries. “Could she be here for the games?”

“Probably. We should look for her as soon as we can!”

“I thought you’re gonna challenge the winners?”

“Oh right,” Natsu smirks, “Imma go kick their asses and you look for her.”

“Aye sir!!”

Morning’s light came and Lucy already knew it wouldn’t be very exciting. The games only stirred up more pain from the loss of her friends and Fairytail, so it took a lot of self-motivation just to care. Sure, there were exciting moments during the tournament but nothing like the year they won. All the big guilds, their friends, no one took part this year saying it wasn’t worth it without Fairytail to compete against. Lucy couldn’t blame them. She takes one last longing glance at her wall and heads out the door.

‘Such a farce…’ Lucy stood there in the press box bored out of her mind. Sure, Jason was excited after she’d pointed out Scarmiglione’s plan not only to win but to rake it in with the brokers. Odds of 100 to 1 would pay out handsomely for anyone that bet on their win. To her it was cheating and a blight on the games. But no one had even noticed what they were doing. Sad. Then again, with none of the more powerful guilds in attendance, she guessed there wasn’t anyone around who could sense their true power levels except for her. Surprise, surprise, she rolls eyes. The crowds all jump to their feet when Scarmiglione’s last opponent falls, but Lucy is just happy it’s over.

But what’s this? A rumbling murmur filters through the crowds. She and Jason look over and see a heavily cloaked man walking into the arena. Who is that? What is this?! So much power! The hairs on her neck stand on edge. “Evacuate the arena….” She cries out, but… “Eh!” The power and heat radiating off of the figure is burning her top off! “Kiyah!” Her arms frantically wrap around her bust, forgetting all about the danger. As the smoke clears enough to see, she sees the culprit. Her eyes widen. “Natsu?!!!”

Screams of his name bounce around her. Everyone is excited to see the slayer!

“Long time no see, Lucy!!!”

She turns around to see the flying Exceed. “Happy?!! What are you doing here?”

The other participants rush out to challenge Natsu but when his power and heat spikes even higher, they turn tail and run, screaming monster. How hot does his power get?! This was a lot stronger than she remembered him to be!

The Exceed chuckles, “Natsu always tends to overdo things.”

But by then Lucy had stopped paying attention to the chaos going on around her. The stadium was melting, members of Scarmiglione were out cold on the arena floor. And all she could do was stare at the man she’d been wanting to see for so long. It was really him and not a figment of her imagination! A deluge of emotions floods her mind so quickly that there is no processing any of it. Happiness, sadness, anger, nothing. It was simply, in shock.

With the rest of the challengers running in fear, Natsu finally realizes something. He looks up and they lock eyes for a moment. So fired up from his entrance, he’d almost forgotten she was here.

“Yo!” his grin so wide it covers from ear to ear. “Been a while, huh? Lucy!”

Same old Natsu, she sighs, what had she expected? With a crinkle of her eyes and a softening of her expression. “How’ve you been?”

#nalu #natsu dragneel #Lucy heartfilia #one year apart #One Year Apart Zine #nalu fan fic #nalu fanfiction #fairytail #natsu x lucy #reflective piece #underneath the same starry sky #petri808

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nokia-group-1-blog · 7 years ago

Text

In the End, The Choice is Yours

The night was so deep the shadows seemed to bleed darkness. James glanced toward the hidden sky, searching for the moon that would not come. Not tonight. Even the brightest starlight was strangled in the canopy of trees. The temporary blindness was frightening, but it ensured that no one would notice him slipping away.

With each step he took, the silent crackles of the twigs and dried leaves will be heard. Finally, he reached his destination: an old house. As he opens the door and took a step inside the house, the floor rattles. He was welcomed by a dustless living room. Passing it, he walks toward the stairs. After reaching the end of the stairs, he took a turn to the right. Closing his eyes, he opened the door of the room located at the end of the hallway.

The darkness of the room welcomed James. Inside the room was his life’s work. Now is the time to test it and be able to obtain the reason why he created this machine. Many people said that he was mad of ever thinking that he can make one. Alas, they are wrong and now he finally made one, his very own time machine.

James started working on the mechanism of the machine and pressed different gears for finishing touches. He desperately wants the thing to work, to be able to go back and change the things that have to be changed. So engrossed with his work, he didn’t notice the shadow that lurks the house. Watching and observing him from a far.

Sleep swallowed him as he works. In his sleep, come the terrible nightmares.

A girl crying and begging.

A woman dead in the arms of his husband.

A boy who looks bewildered, clueless of what’s happening.

A pool of blood.

A cracked glass.

Three lifeless body lying on the floor.

Then, it stops. Now, emptiness filled his dreams, a short break for an antagonizing agony that will come next. Another dream appears the memory that keeps on resurfacing no matter how hard he suppresses.

He woke up sweating and in an uncomfortable position. He looks at the calendar, then at the machine. “Tonight will be the perfect time for you to function”, he said longingly.

The night came; the stars are showering the night sky with its twinkling lights. The shadow of the trees engulfs the old house. Inside, James was preparing for his time travel, packing everything that he might need when he arrived in the past. As he packed his things, he saw a family picture, his family picture. He remembers the bittersweet memories that come with it. A tear fell from his eye, but he never bothered to wipe it out. It’s a reminder of everything that he needed to do.

James seized the old pocket watch and turned the gears to the time that he yearns to go back. The watch starts to turn fast and as it turns, there’s a blinding light that engulf James. Then puff, James is nowhere to be found. The old house is once again empty. However, in the midst of the darkness, there’s someone who witnessed all the things that happen tonight.

Opening his eyes, a new place welcomed him. A place so familiar to him. Standing up, he feels wobbly, like a fast train that hit him. He can’t stand straight because of the awful headache that he is experiencing. Then a curious looking woman comes to his aid,

“Hello, Mister. Are you alright? You seem to be in a tight situation.”

“I’m alright, I just have a headache. I can still manage”, James said while looking at the ground and steadying his stance.

The voice seems familiar, it brought back memories. Curious of whom the woman is, he looked up to see. It’s like the heavens are singing right now, happiness field his heart. He finally did it. He is now on the right timeframe. After so many years of trials, he did it.

The happiness is overwhelming that he started to cry. Then he hugged the woman out of joy. The woman looked bewildered at his reaction and kind of uncomfortable. He didn’t know the man but he looks familiar to her and she feels like she knows him all her life. She just let the man cry on his shoulder.

“Are you okay now, Mister?” she asked as the man finally stops crying and distanced himself away from her. “I’m sorry, Ma’am. It’s just because you look so similar to the person I know”, he apologized to the lady.

“I’m Jason, by the way. Thank you for your concern”, James introduced himself to the woman while using a fake name, hoping that she will also give her name. “I’m Louisa. Are you a traveler? I haven’t seen you around here before and I know the entire person here in town”, the woman said looking intriguingly at James. James doesn’t know what to say, his mind went blank for a second. He forgot that he is a stranger in this timeframe.

A person with no identity and a nomad.

So he just said yes to Louisa and explained that he is from a town far away from here. “Is there any available place to stay here?” he said inquiring Louisa, hoping that she will let him stay at her house.

“You can stay in our house. There’s an extra room there that you can use.” The way to Louisa’s house is so familiar to him. The canopy of trees and the bumpy road. There are puddles of water around and the grass are still wet, it seems that rain has just passed by. They arrived at a small two story house. They were welcomed by the noisy squabble of a girl and a boy. A muscular man approached them, who hugged Louisa.

Their home is so lively. The sound of laughter filled the house. He can smell the delicious soup broiling in the caldron. The smell of the fresh flowers in the vases. The sight of the scenery in the balcony.

Louisa introduced him to her family. They whole heartedly accept James in their household. The one who hugged Louisa is his husband, Danny, a large muscular man. The girl who is arguing with her little brother is Lisa, a petite and brunette girl. Finally, James, who has a clean, cut hair, tanned skin, and a handsome young man.

The 13 years old version of him.

Seeing him feels nostalgic. It feels like he wants to take the life of the young James but he couldn’t, his time has already passed. The only thing that he can do is change the circumstances and save them. He will save his family. Maybe his present will also change and he will have his family back.

Night came, the meal was great as he expected. His mother was a great cook. While they were eating, the family members were talking to each other. James was staring at them as they joke with one another, laughing, and telling stories that make up their day. It’s a sight to behold. A memory surfaces, wherein he was the young James, he was the one laughing and telling funny stories. It’s all in his past; it’s here in their present.

It’s time to retire the night and go to sleep. Louisa approaches him and brought him some blanket, “Here, take these. You can use the room at the end of the hallway.” He took the blanket and thanked Louisa for letting him stay in their house. He entered the room and takes a look at the veranda of the room. The night was so beautiful, the moon filled the sky with its blinding light and the stars are exceptionally brighter tonight. Amidst, this beautiful night will be a terrifying event that changed James life forever.

In his room, James is laying in the bed staring at the ceiling. Remembering the things that will happen tonight. If memory serves right, there will be a big fire. It’s still painful to reminisce. He remembers it clearly, especially because he will be the cause of the fire and he will be the only survivor in that incident.

Then, James’ family was soundly sleeping. He, on the other hand, was still wide awake and seems anxious for a reason he don’t know. So, he got up and gets himself a glass of milk but there is no hot water. While boiling, James decided to take a stroll outside and watch the beautiful night sky. The sky was so clear and the blanket of stars envelops it. He can see so many constellations. So engrossed in star gazing, he forgot that he was boiling water.

After the stroll, he goes back to their house, but alas. The house is on fire, the hot red flower was consuming his house and his family, too.

They are trapped inside.

He tried to go inside and save them, yet the authority won’t allow him. He tried and tried and tried. But the fire is so big now that it’s impossible to go inside.

Despair consumed his heart. He hates himself for what he has done. He hates himself for being the only one alive. He hates himself that he killed his own family. That day he made a vow, he will do everything to turn back the time and these time he will definitely save them.

James went downstairs, to see if the young version of him had gone down. There he saw young James pouring water in the kettle.

“Can’t sleep?” he asked as he approached the young James. “Yes, so I’m getting myself a glass of milk. Want some?” young James asked while starting the fire. “No, thank you. Why can’t you sleep? Is there anything bothering you”, he asked even though he already knew the answer.

He is him after all.

“I just feel anxious, today, I can’t explain”, he answered James. The conversation between the two James continue until they become so sleepy and have to retire the night and go to sleep.

James was ecstatic when he woke up in the morning. He stopped the fire it means that he saves the lives of his family. It also means that they are alive in his timeframe now. He is eager to go back, so he said his farewell to Louisa and her family. He thanked them for their warm welcome. As they part, he saved the picture of his family in his memory and treasured it in his heart.

He put out his pocket watch and turned the gears to the time where he belongs. It’s another nauseating ride and amass headache. But it’s all worth it; just imagining that his family is in their house alive takes all the pain away.

When he arrives at his time, a new set of memories bombarded his mind. As the new memories come; he remembers the changes that happen. He starts to cry, “No, no, no. I save them. I change it. So why?! Why are they still not here?!” Then he laughs, he laughed really hard, ��It must be a joke. They are alive. My mind is just messing with me.”

He runs as fast as he could to his old house. When he was near the door, he stopped. It’s true, the memories are true. They are still dead; they never live past that date. He sat on the rung of the stairs, looking forlorn. Staring at the ground as if it has all the answer that he needed; he recalls all the changes that happen.

He saved them from the fire, but they didn’t die because of the fire. They died because someone else killed them. That’s what his dreams were all about.

The girl that was weeping and begging was Lisa.

The pool of blood.

The lifeless woman in the arms of his husband.

His father being tortured by a group of men.

He witnessed it all. He saw how they were killed. He saw all the gruesome things that they did to them. They were suffering, while he was hidden in the cabinet where his mother placed him. He saw everything in the fissure of the cabinet. He wants to erase them all.

He looks up at the dark sky and weep.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have changed anything. I should have just accepted the fact that you are dead. If I didn’t turn back the time, you won’t experience those things”.

The rain starts to pour, but he just stayed there soaking and crying silently. All of the things that he had built have gone astray. He can’t use the time machine now. The young James that he met never builds one, instead he sought after the murderers that killed his family.

James has no time left in making another time machine. He already consumed his life line and that would be the last time travel that he had done. He already gave his all and sacrificed his own life for changing the past.

He got up, drench in the rain, and slowly moved into the house. As he walks inside, droplets of water fall in the floor. The last essence of his life is slowly fading away. He walks past every room, remembering all the happy memories that he created with his family. The good and the bad, everything is essential and everything will always remain in his heart and mind.

As the last essence left, he thought “Maybe I should have just moved on and never gone back to the past. Maybe if I just accepted the truth, everything had gone well. Maybe I have my own family now. But, look what I have done. I made everything worse. I made them suffer more. I should have never fought with destiny. Mom. Dad. Lisa. I’m so sorry.”

James left the world with a heart full of regrets. Regrets can never redeem. Regrets that lick him up in his entire life.

...

This Story is Made by Claire Aubrey Altamera, Jackylyn Tibor and Argie Balingbing.

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