Springing Into Action - Pt. 2 (NaLu Two-Shot)

A/N: I suggest that you read this link first because it is the first part of this story made by a fantabulous friend of mine!  poke-lover88.deviantart.com/ar… And if you wish to have MUSIC while you read this story, I have some links down in the description. So, pick your choice and enjoy the story!

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     Two bodies, bound together in marriage, lay in a bed together.  The husband, a pink-spiky-haired, muscular man and the wife, a light blonde-haired, caring woman.  Their colorful hair rested on pillows and a blue blanket covered their forms from the light, chilly, night air.

     Soft snores came from the right side of the bed, behind Lucy’s, the wife’s, head.  Basically, telling her that her husband, Natsu, was peacefully sleeping.  Only, she couldn’t.  She lay awake on her side, facing away from Natsu, grimly thinking of that one time in the past where she had failed to do something she wanted to do.  The thoughts of it keeping sleep at bay.

     Lucy closed her eyes as she drew in a breath and released a quiet sigh.  She thought about how she had been close to losing the fight, the way when she was vulnerable that Natsu came rushing to save her, the way she froze in fear when he was about to be killed…  Lucy didn’t notice that a tear had rolled down her cheek until she felt its movement.  The guilt she had that day, and the day that Natsu had confronted her, still remained in her heart.  And it seemed to come back as almost a heavier weight than before, dulling her relationship bond with him.

     “Lucy?”  Natsu’s cheery voice, somewhat dulled with sleep, went through her ears.  “What’s wrong?”

     Surprised and knowing she hadn’t made a sound, Lucy quickly wiped her lone tear away and replied, “Sorry, I thought you were asleep, Natsu.  Don’t worry, I’m fine.”  She silently begged he would say nothing more and go back to sleep, but her gut feeling told her he wouldn’t.

     Her gut was right.

     Lucy heard the sheets rustle as Natsu propped up his elbow and held his head in his hand.  “Lucy,” he sang-song her name.  His voice had lost all hints of sleepiness and was replaced with curiosity, “I know you too well.  C’mon, what’s got’cha worried?”

     Lucy decided to try and trick him.  “Just remembering my promise to you about staying out of harm’s way.”

     Natsu seemed to sense the trick and avoided its clutches, “You’re still feeling guilty, aren’t you?”

     His words hit home-base.  It was exactly how she felt.  Lucy just didn’t want him to know that.  She knew that if she was forgiven, it would just make it worse.  Why can’t a feeling you despise just vanish in the instant when you wish it?

     After Lucy heard the sheets rustle once more, Natsu put his head back on his pillow then slowly and gently, draped his left arm over her stomach and gingerly pulled her toward him.  Silently, Lucy gasped as his toned chest and abdomen met her back; his lips touched her neck.  His skin radiated warmth and she felt it on her own skin beneath her nightgown.  Was his skin normally this warm?  She felt her heartbeat quicken by a fraction and she felt so… comfortable and safe in his arms.  She’d forgotten how warm his touch could be, since, after all, he was a Dragon-Slayer fire-wizard.  But did he know how she felt with his arms wrapped around her?

     Natsu answered her thoughtful question with his next words.

     “You don’t have to worry about that anymore, Luce.”  His voice was soft, gentle, and reassuring in every way possible.  “I’ll protect you from now on… you don’t have to be afraid.”  She felt his lips lightly graze her neck every time he spoke with his words, “I’ll always be by your side now, so don’t you worry your pretty, little head.”

     In that moment, Lucy remembered how Natsu appeared that day, speaking to her about her future self’s death…

     But by the pained look in his eyes and the simple words he'd spoken, she knew that that event had meant a lot more to him than he'd ever let on.

     Lucy could only imagine what he’d felt that day, bringing the subject that hurt him the most up and telling her about it.  Only that memory brought back more with it, like a chain reaction…

     He bit his lip, reaching up and placing a hand atop her head again. "I can't imagine a future without you, so even if that means something happens to me, don't jump in and get yourself hurt."

     Lucy broke down that sentence into multiply keywords.  Can’t, imagine, future, without, you, don’t, get, yourself, and hurt.  She realized what Natsu wanted her to understand.

     But her memories wouldn’t stop, not yet.  These next words from that moment they had together, in her apartment, seemed to resurface, as much as promises…

     "But just let it be known, Luce… that I don't care if I die in the process, but I want you safe. Watching you die that day… it showed me a glimpse of a future without you, and while it's hard to picture and hard to believe, and nothing I would've considered before then, it's…" His voice wavered for a second and he swallowed. "I can't. I just can't have a future like that. I trust you; you're one of tha strongest people I know but just promise me you won't go out of your way to protect me, when you could be protecting yourself."

     The way he cared for her welfare more than himself… it was all beyond words; except maybe a few.  Dedication.  Self-sacrifice.  Love.  Perhaps it was how they came together into their loving bond that led to their marriage.

     Lucy thought that Natsu knew she was going through her flashbacks.  Because he was silent until they all seemed to finish and go back into their rightful places within her mind.

     “I can fight off any kind o’ bad monsters that might try to hurt’cha.”  Natsu smirked, and gently wiggled his fingers on her side.

     Lucy jumped at the motion of his fingers, laughing, “Natsu!  Don’t tickle me, please!”

     Natsu only did that one, small tickle and then he tried to pull Lucy even closer to his body.  It was his way of showing that he cared… and that he would save her at any cost without thinking twice.

     Lucy settled down, after the tickle surprise, and smiled.  “Okay.  I understand, and… thank you, Natsu.” she whispered.

     The only gesture she could make, without having to turn around, was placing her forearm on top of his that was draped over her stomach.  Her fingers snuck between his and he held them in a gentle grasp.  The two rings on their fingers made a gentle contact sound as their fingers intertwined.  Natsu, smiling, kissed the back of her head in a reassuring gesture and when Lucy felt it, she smiled even wider.  After kissing her head, Natsu fell asleep to the sweet scent of strawberries filling his nostrils; the scent of Lucy’s shampoo.

     She remembered that she tried to make Natsu make the same promise, but it wasn’t possible for him to do that.  After all, how could he be able to save her life without endangering his own?  If a life is in danger, is jumping in front of them and taking the hit the only thing you can do?

     Lucy didn’t know the answer to those questions, but for some reason she felt her guilt lift, slowly.  Natsu had her now, forever and always, and he wasn’t going to let go; even if his life might be the one to be extinguished from this world.  Lucy knew she wouldn’t be able to live without him, but she shook her head lightly on her pillow at that thought.  No one’s life was endangered now, so why should she worry about it?  Natsu was there now, with her and still will be, and that was all that ever mattered.

     Lucy fell asleep to the peaceful thought of her guilt vanish from her heart and knowing that, Natsu, the man beside her would always, always, be by her side and protect her; no matter what came their way.