The Heat Between Us (Part 2)

by Relyct

Summary:

“Okay!” Lucy said suddenly, springing back with a little bounce in her voice that felt forced even to her own ears.
“Guess we found your limit. Four minutes and fifty-eight seconds. Not bad.”

A silly game pushes Natsu and Lucy too close to a line they’ve been dancing around for years.

Notes:

I had a lot of fun with their dynamic in this chapter, though I won’t lie, coming up with new ideas for each round of the drinking game was harder than expected! If you’re wondering what Lucy’s referring to at the beginning, Part 1 of my NaLu Week entry is linked above.

Day Two: Casual Intimacy/Cozy Mornings – Part 2 

Lucy still hadn’t written a word. Her pen hovered over the notebook, page blank beneath it, thoughts completely obliterated by the way her very platonic, very oblivious partner had seen her underwear and called her hot in the span of two minutes. And then just…moved on? She hated him. Hated how he did that: dropped a bomb into her bloodstream and then went right back to lounging like he hadn’t just lit her on fire.

Behind her, he yawned. 

“Food?” he mumbled into her pillow. “I’m starvin’.” 

She turned a little. “You always are.” 

“Yeah, but like extra today. I sweat out my lunch.” He flopped dramatically. “I’m dying.” 

“You’re not dying,” she said, standing up and making her way over to the kitchen, carefully not looking at the way his black shorts clung like second skin. 

“Lucy,” he groaned, dragging himself across the floor. “Have mercy.” 

She rolled her eyes and started pulling out ingredients. “You eat more here than you do at your own place.” 

He was already at the counter, leaning against it on his forearms, chin propped in one hand as he watched her. 

She felt it. His eyes, the attention. Familiar and too much all at once. With one hand, she dropped a spoonful of butter into the pan. With the other, she handed him the egg carton. 

“Watch the heat,” she muttered. 

“Watchin’ something more interestin',” he mumbled under his breath. 

Her hand froze mid-air. His expression was unreadable. Lazy smile. Eyes too focused on her and not the eggs she handed to him. 

“Crack them, idiot.” 

“Ayy, sir.” 

He did. Messy but passable. She finished mixing the rest of the ingredients: milk, cinnamon, sugar. Then she soaked the bread, and slid it into the pan. Flip. Stack. Repeat. 

It was quiet for a while, except for the sizzle and the sound of him sneaking bites.

---

They ate on the couch like always. Plates in their laps. Shoulders nearly touching. Close, because there wasn’t enough space not to be. 

“So,” Natsu said, mouth full. “Games?” 

Lucy raised a brow. “What kind of games?” 

“Cards.” 

“No way. Last time you flipped the table.” 

“Accident.” 

“You flipped it with Happy on it .” 

“He landed fine!” 

“That’s not the point.” 

“Alright, alright.” He leaned back on one hand. “Truth or dare?” 

She blinked. “What are we, twelve?” 

He grinned. “You scared?” 

“Of you ? Please.” 

“Then pick.” 

She hesitated. Bad idea. Terrible idea. 

“…Truth,” she said, swallowing. “But if you ask me something dumb, I swear—” 

“Do you sleep in the spicy underwear?” he asked, deadpan. 

Her brain short-circuited.  

“I hate you.” 

“You picked truth.” 

“That’s not a normal truth question!” 

“Totally normal.” 

Lucy took a long, steadying breath. “No. I don’t.” 

He looked up. “So you save ‘em for special occasions, then?” 

She nearly choked. “You don’t get to ask a follow-up!” 

His grin was shark-like now. “I didn’t. Just thinking out loud.” 

“Okay, pervert. Your turn.” Her eyes narrowed. 

“Dare.” He leaned back. Still smug. “Hit me.” 

Lucy grinned wickedly. “I dare you to go five minutes without touching me.” 

The silence that followed was loud.

Natsu blinked. “That’s it?” 

“Yep.” She leaned forward, placing his empty plate aside. “Five minutes. No touching. No nudging. No poking. No casual flinging an arm around me. Nothing.” 

His brows furrowed. “I don’t do that.” 

She stared. 

He opened his mouth to argue. Paused. “Wait, I really do that?” 

“All the time.” 

“Oh.” He blinked, genuinely surprised. “Huh.” 

“Timer starts now.” 

For a full five seconds, he didn’t move. Then he shifted, his hand twitching toward her shoulder, instinctive. She tilted her head. He dropped his hand like it burned him. 

One minute in, he drummed his fingers on his thigh and muttered, “This is stupid.” 

“You’re doing great,” Lucy cooed.

He glared.

At minute three, she stretched, arms up, back arched. Her shirt lifted just enough to flash a sliver of skin.

He made a strangled noise in the back of his throat.

“Hot in here, huh?” she said innocently.

“You’re evil.”

“Thanks.”

At minute four fifty-eight, he snapped. 

He grabbed her waist, yanked her halfway into his lap with a victorious growl. 

“Cheater!” she yelped. 

“You tricked me!” 

She laughed until she wheezed, trying to wriggle away from his relentless tickles. “There are rules!” 

He buried his face against her neck. “You tempted me! You weaponized your stretch!” 

She tried to protest, but the words dissolved into laughter, breathless and tangled. Their laughter died slowly in the space between them. His hand was still on her waist. Her legs were tangled around his. Their breaths matched in an unsteady rhythm. Their eyes met. Stillness bloomed between them. Not awkward, just…suspended. He wasn’t teasing. His mouth didn’t twitch. He was just watching her. And not the way a best friend was supposed to. She felt the shape of the air change. Her breath shallowed. His hand didn’t move. Neither did hers.

“Natsu…” she started. Too soft, too close. 

His eyes flicked to her lips. Just a second. Something in her chest clutched. And still, he didn’t pull away. Her heart pounded so loud she swore he could hear it. Maybe he could. He had better senses than anyone. Maybe he knew. Maybe he could feel it, the way she was trembling, just barely. She could feel the question radiating from him, silent and heavy. Waiting. She wanted to lean forward. Just an inch. But her body refused. She was too aware. Of everything. 

Which is why she had to break it. Now. 

“Okay!” Lucy said suddenly, springing back with a little bounce in her voice that felt forced even to her own ears. “Guess we found your limit. Four minutes and fifty-eight seconds. Not bad.” 

Natsu blinked, leaning back like nothing had happened. “Pfft. You cheated.” 

“Oh no,” she said airily, stacking their plates. “You cracked under pressure. I win.” 

“You set me up.” 

“You fell for it.” She turned, lifting her chin. “Amateur.” 

He grinned, the tension sliding off his shoulders, like it had never been there. “Tch.” 

She smirked and retreated into the kitchen. 

That was safe. Banter was always safe.

---

Ten minutes and two washed plates later, Lucy crouched near her game shelf, still drying her hands on a dish towel. “What’s that one?” she asked, watching Natsu tug a box free from the bottom corner. 

“No idea,” he said, brushing dust off the lid. “Cana’s name’s on it, though.” 

Lucy squinted. “That’s a red flag.” 

“Which is why I’m opening it.” 

Inside, in unmistakably Cana-scrawled handwriting, complete with wine stains and glittery hearts, were the rules: 

CANA’S HOUSE OF LIQUID HORRORS 

• Not a drinking game (out of respect for my favorite lightweight) 

• Each round = one question, challenge, or mini game 

• Loser drinks a mystery shot 

• Shots are unmarked and shuffled. Some are tasty (mango fizz, cherry pop), some are cursed (pickle soda, spoiled milk). 

• First to tap out = Wimp of the Century 

“Well,” Lucy said, raising a brow. “Sounds harmless.” 

“Cana wrote this.” 

“...Yeah, we’re gonna suffer.” 

---

Round One:

Rock-paper-scissors. Lucy lost. 

“Bottoms up,” Natsu said smugly, sliding a cloudy pink shot toward her. 

She sniffed it. “Smells like sugar and regret.” 

“Quit stalling.” 

She tossed it back in one gulp. “Ugh. Tastes like someone melted a dozen strawberry lollipops in soda.” 

“Sounds delicious,” Natsu declared, already laughing.

Round Two: 

Question card: “Guess the other person’s most embarrassing memory.” 

Lucy guessed something about a failed prank war with Gray. Wrong. 

Natsu grinned. “That time you walked into the men’s bath in Hargeon and didn’t notice for two whole minutes.” 

She groaned. “That was years ago!” 

“You looked traumatized.” 

She drank. Mango, thankfully.

Round Three: 

Natsu finally lost. 

He downed a shot without hesitation, then paused. “Wait. Was that…rum?” 

Lucy blinked. “There’s alcohol in these?” 

“You’ve had two already.” 

She hesitated. “They tasted like juice?” 

“Luce,” he said slowly, “you’re starting to grin like Cana.” 

“I’m not drunk,” she declared, a little too fast. “Just...loose-lipped.” 

“You’re tipsy.” 

“Tipsy Lucy is fun Lucy,” she said, swinging her feet.

Round Four: 

Card: “Who’s more likely to survive a zombie apocalypse?” 

They stared each other down. 

“I’d survive longer,” Natsu said confidently. 

Lucy snorted. “You’d blow up your own hideout by accident.” 

He shrugged. “Still more zombies beaten.” 

She scoffed. “Quantity doesn’t equal survival.” 

She lost the argument. And the round. Another cherry shot.

Round Five: 

Question: “If you could spend a whole day with anyone in Fairy Tail, who would it be?” 

Lucy raised a brow, then smirked. “You. I mean, we already do.” 

Natsu’s grin twitched, almost faltering. “Yeah. Guess that’s a given.”

Round Six: 

Speed round: Name as many guild members as possible in thirty seconds. 

Lucy crushed him. Natsu blanked halfway through and accidentally named one twice. 

“Drink,” she said, smirking. 

He grabbed a shot, grimaced after. “That one had booze and sour milk.” 

“Truly tragic.”

Round Seven: 

Lucy pulled a question card. “Have you ever had a dirty dream?” 

Natsu blinked. “Seriously?” 

She raised an eyebrow, slow and deliberate. 

He hesitated. “Maybe. Can’t remember.” 

“Oh? Who was it about?” 

“I answered the question.” 

“You dodged it,” she said, teasing. “Do I know them?” 

He scoffed. “You’re pushing it, Luce.” 

She smiled sweetly. “Drink, then.” 

He stared at her. She stared right back. 

Then, with a groan, he grabbed two shots and downed them both. 

Lucy collapsed backward, wheezing with laughter. “That’s a yes!” 

“It’s not!” 

“Your face says it is.” 

“I’m not talking about my dreams with you!” 

She grinned. “You just did.” 

He slumped dramatically across the back of the couch. “You’re the worst.” 

“Just tipsy,” she said, nudging his leg with her foot. 

He muttered something under his breath, but his mouth was tugging up at the corners.

---

They ended up side-by-side on the couch, half-laying, half-slouched. The tray of mystery drinks sat mostly empty on the table. Lucy’s bun was coming undone, strands falling over her shoulder. Her tank top had shifted again. Natsu did his best to keep his eyes trained on the ceiling.

“You’re staring at the lamp,” she murmured. 

He didn’t deny it.

“You know,” she added, a little sleepily, “you should relax more when I’m tipsy. It’s not that bad. 

“Lies.” 

She hummed. “Maybe.” 

Her head tilted, just a little toward him. “I like when you don’t hold back so much.” 

“Please. You wish. ” 

Lucy hummed low in her throat and whispered, “Maybe I do.” 

Silence. 

Natsu glanced at her. “Wait, what? ” 

She gave him a faint smile. “Never mind."

The room had gone quiet, save for the hum of streetlight and distant chattering. Lucy’s eyes were mostly closed, her cheek resting against his shoulder, breath warm against his neck.

---

After a while, Natsu moved carefully, sliding one arm under her knees and lifting her with surprising ease. 

She stirred, mumbling, “You carry me around a lot lately.” 

“You nap a lot lately,” he said. 

“Mmm. Fair.” 

She curled closer as he walked toward her bed. 

“You’re warm,” she added, voice soft. 

“So are you,” he murmured. 

He lowered her gently onto the sheets, pulling the blanket up over her legs. Her eyes cracked open again, sleepy and amused. 

“Thanks,” she said. 

“For what?” 

“For carrying me like it’s nothing,” she mumbled. “I might just start thinking you like me.” 

Natsu smirked, eyes gleaming in the dim light. 

“Like you? I already do.” 

Her breath hitched just a little. 

She could feel the bed dip under his weight, the warmth of him settling close. Too drowsy to respond, she only hummed when his voice brushed her ear: “Get some sleep, Luce.”

---

Morning light spilled through the curtains. Lucy’s eyes cracked open. She was warm, cocooned in the softness of her bed and unmistakably aware of the solid weight of someone beside her. 

Her gaze landed on Natsu. Still asleep, pink hair tousled over his forehead, chest rising and falling in an easy rhythm. She smiled to herself, right up until a very familiar voice shattered the peace. 

"You liiike each other!" 

Happy's sing-song voice rang from the windowsill, his tail flicking with glee. “Ready for breakfast? Or should I give you two a moment to…collect yourselves?” 

Natsu groaned into the pillow, eyes barely cracking open. “Yeah, yeah… like I actually like her or something,” he mumbled, smirking into the fabric. 

Lucy froze. Her face heated up instantly. 

Happy's grin only widened. “Sure looks like Lucy does.” 

She bolted upright, hair a tangled mess, cheeks on fire. “Happy!” 

“Then I guess we’re both screwed,” Natsu muttered, still not lifting his head, just lazily slinging an arm across Lucy’s waist like it belonged there. 

Lucy opened her mouth to protest, then closed it again. 

With a groan, she flopped forward and buried her face in the blanket. “You guys are the worst,” she mumbled. “You shouldn’t encourage him, Natsu.” 

He smirked, this time looking at her, eyes still half-lidded. “Too late.” 

Notes:

Tipsy Lucy is my weakness. She’s just so bold and honest with her feelings. I love it! Normally, Natsu’s a little more reserved when it comes to drunk Lucy, but since she was only tipsy here (and not as handsy), I felt like he’d still try to play it cool, or at least pretend to.

I haven’t written the next prompt yet, but I’ve got an idea brewing. It’s a little too elaborate for now, so I’m hoping to scale it down a bit. Thanks for reading and see you next time!

12/08/25 update: NaLu sketches by me

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 2 of NaLu Week 2025