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Natsu learned a long time ago that there was no one like Lucy Heartfilia. No one who felt so deeply, no one who loved their spirits more. He knew what losing Aquarius’s key had done to her, even when he hadn’t seen it. He could smell the salty tears at night when she had her back to him because she didn’t want him to see her cry. Neither of them would speak; he’d just wrapped his arms around her tighter and kiss her shoulder, and wait for her to fall back asleep.
Natsu confided in her about Igneel sometimes because he wanted her to know that she could do the same, but she never did. She just wrapped her small, calloused hands around his and tell him that Igneel would be so proud of all that he’d accomplished. She’d smile in a way that killed him every time and take him into her arms, burry his nose in her hair where her rich vanilla scent was the strongest. Instead of being able to enjoy the moment, Natsu’s heart would drop because he knew that Lucy wanted to talk about it. It ate away at her knowing at Aquarius was somewhere she couldn’t reach. She kept herself closed tight, the same way Erza had when they were all but children.
The moon was settled high in the cloudless night, stars like salt against the black mass. Lucy kept her curtains and window open, resigned to the fact that there was nothing she could do to keep Natsu and Happy out. Happy was staying over at Wendy and Carla’s, and Natsu crept into her room silently, closing the window behind him until there was a slim crack, just enough for the night breeze to get in. Natsu settled under the covers behind her and, like a magnet, Lucy moved to him, still asleep. She tucked herself into his chest and breathed in like he was fresh air, and his chest felt tighter. Natsu Dragneel had been thoroughly domesticated.
Only when he was sure that Lucy would have no nightmares, did Natsu finally sleep. He always wondered what she dreamed of when she saw Aquarius. When Natsu saw Igneel, they were all good things: warm summer days cutting through the air of Igneel’s back, his hair whipped back, cold nights wrapped around Igneel’s warmth, even rainy days when they stayed covered in caves because Igneel didn’t trust Natsu to not get stuck in a mudslide and drown.
“Natsu?” Lucy’s voice was a soft whisper in the dead air.
“Hey, Luce.” Natsu pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“What are you doing here?” She asked.
“Couldn’t sleep.” He lied.
“Oh.” She didn’t say anything else and settled back into her pillow. Natsu combed his rough fingers through her long blond locks, a gentleness he was continuously practicing with her.
“Goodnight, Lucy.” He whispered. She hummed but didn’t move, and Natsu decided that was recognition enough. On nights like this, it didn’t take long for Natsu to fall asleep. Lucy’s heart was steady and strong in his ears, pumping life through her body in ways too complex for Natsu to ever understand. Lucy might know; she was smart like that. She seemed to have an answer to every single question Natsu threw her way.
“Where does rain come from?”
“Heavy clouds full of water.”
“Why were humans put here?”
“To be happy, I think.”
“Where do we go when we die?”
“That depends on what you believe.”
“Do you love me?”
“More than anything.”
Natsu had thought he was being smooth, but Lucy just smiled at him knowingly and Natsu decided that there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her. Nothing he wouldn’t protect her from. Anything she asked of him, it was her’s. If she wanted a house, he would build it. If she wanted the world to burn, he’d set the flame. If Lucy wanted his heart, he would bleed all over himself to give it to her. Mavis knows she already owned his soul.
Morbidly, Natsu knew he would be the one holding the blade if Lucy wanted him to drop dead, though that was mostly because he knew she would never want something like that.
In return, Lucy told him every day what he meant to her. Not just in her words, but her actions. Early on in their relationship, Mira sat him down and explained the different forms of love language. He still didn’t understand all of it, but he gathered that his love language was something along the lines of physical touch. When he asked Lucy what her’s was, she said it was gift giving and food.
When Natsu went on jobs by himself or with people who weren’t Lucy, she sent him on his way with snacks or lunch with the knowledge that he would never turn down a meal, and while everyone knew Natsu was a pretty minimalistic guy, he relished in the small gifts she gave him: short stories she’d written that she wanted his opinion on, little figures of different guild members he could pose in different embarrassing positions because she knew he thought it was funny.
In return, Natsu kissed her and held her like the world was ending because if it did, he didn’t want her to die thinking that he didn’t love her enough. He wouldn’t bare it.
“I can hear you thinking.” Lucy murmured into his skin. The vibration was a pleasant rumble that always made him feel like he was curled up with Igneel again. That reminiscent feel of home.
“I thought you were asleep.” Natsu said quietly.
“It’s impossible to sleep when your eyes are burning holes in my head.” Lucy rolled onto her back and stared up at him with earthy brown eyes that looked black in the dim light. “What are you thinking about? I didn’t think your brain could work so hard.”
In Natsu’s infinite patience, he rewarded the teasing jab with a poke to her stomach. Her muscles tensed as she squeaked.
“Mind your own business.” He said. Lucy laughed and rolled over again so her back was facing him.
“Just let me sleep.” She complained. “Not all of us wake up with boundless energy.”
“A thousand apologies, My Lady.” He said in a posh accent. Lucy snorted beautifully.
“I thank you for your words, Kind Sir.” She said sarcastically. “Now let me sleep.” Natsu rose up in his elbow and kissed her temple. Lucy leaned into his hand on her shoulder.
“Sleep well, Princess.” Nothing would hurt her while a dragon was near.