Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.

"Does it still hurt?" was the first thing Natsu asked as he came through Lucy's window. The girl in question was hobbling about the room as best she could with her knee brace on.

"I'll be fine," she evaded, shuffling laboriously from her vanity to the coffee table to reach for her fleuve d'étoiles. "At least I can walk on it now."

"Can she?" Happy pondered. "Lucy's walking like a penguin, right Natsu?"

The salmon haired boy stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I think you're right," he said after a moment. "That's definitely what you should cosplay as next, Luce."

"I don't have a hobby like that!" The celestial wizard began to stomp towards them in all her usual rage, momentarily forgetting her injury.

Before she could even release her pained hiss, Natsu picked her up and placed her back on top of her pink comforter.

After noticing the tears his partner was blinking back a great frustration rose within the dragon slayer. He looked down shamefully. How could he let this happen to her? "Lucy I'm-"

"It was just a misstep," she interrupted, attuned to his moods as ever. "It's really not as bad as it looks right now."

"Looks like you're in pain." He glanced at the blonde warily. "Why don't you have gramps' old girlfriend look at it?"

"You know Porlyusica-san doesn't like to be bothered. Besides, the injury isn't magic related. I just dislocated my knee. It's fine."

Natsu gave her a look that clearly conveyed how unconvinced he was, but otherwise let the topic go. "Do you want ice for it or something?"

Lucy knew from her experience over the last few days that telling him she could care for herself would be futile. "Maybe a hot towel?"

"I'll do you one better." Sitting at the edge of the bed he placed her legs in his lap and heated his hands.

"You better not burn me!" she warned. However, all the girl's worries drifted away as his comfortingly warm fingers began to massage her stiff muscles.

Lucy released a near inaudible sigh of contentment. If this was how he would treat her, she almost didn't mind the prospect of getting hurt from time to time. "You're kinda good at this, Natsu."

"Really? I'll do it for ya' any time." The guild wizard grinned at her with a mix of mischief and sweetness she constantly fought not to swoon over.

"Thanks," she exhaled when she felt the last of her soreness receding. "And same here, by the way."

The fire mage's eyes lit up at that. "Anytime?"

"Within reason." Lucy didn't even want to know what he had in mind with that. "I think I'm good to go now." With that she strapped her brace back on and got off the bed.

"Good to go where?" Natsu questioned.

"To the guild," she said. "I'm going to take a job."

"But you're not done healing yet," the dragon slayer pointed out.

"I'll manage." She waved his concern off and began her search for a pair of flat shoes.

"Luce, you can barely walk! You could hurt yourself more."

"I'll take the easiest one that pays well." she assured. "But I can't afford to keep laying around. My rent is due this week, and I have to buy groceries."

"We'll take care of it, right Happy?" he declared.

"Aye, sir!"

Lucy bit her lower lip pensively. "No, it wouldn't be right."

"How?" the exceed questioned. "We spend more time in here than you do."

"Don't just say it as though that's a normal arrangement!"

"Bear with it this one time, Lucy," the fire mage plead. "I can't let you get hurt again."

"You didn't," she told him for the umpteenth time. "I won't forgive you if you keep blaming yourself."

Still, the young dragon slayer couldn't make peace with the fact that she'd fallen from the sky and he hadn't been there to catch her.

Natsu shook his head. There was only one thing to do in a situation like this. "Alright. I'll pay your rent this month, you'll rest and get that weird sleeve off your leg and then we'll forget any of this ever happened."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "You say that like you won't forget it all anyway. But if it means that much to you," she half limped back to her bed and got beneath the covers. "I do need to catch up on my beauty sleep."

"Yeah, yeah." He knew her boundless vanity better than anyone. "Make a list of whatever you need from the market. I'll get it for you when I come back."

"Thanks you guys." Lucy nuzzled her face into the bedding which had already taken on the dragon slayer's scent. It never failed to soothe and excite her all at the same time.

Sometimes she didn't know what she would do without them.

Upon entering the guild, Natsu went straight for the board on which all the jobs were listed. After moment of deliberation he picked one. "200,000 jewels to subdue a clan of ogres."

"But Natsu, that's five hours away by train," Happy pointed out.

"It's for Lucy," he reasoned, more for himself than the exceed, even as his stomach began to churn at the thought. "Let's go, Happy."

"Aye sir!"

As the duo made their way out, Natsu was intercepted by none other than Gildarts.

"Gonna try and fight me again, Natsu?" the older man predicted.

"Not today. Rent's due. I have to go on a job."

Gildarts looked at the boy strangely. "I thought you built that house."

"It's Lucy's rent."

The orange haired wizard's eyebrows shot up. He never expected the little idiot to get that serious with someone. Few bonds in this world were deeper than those between men and money.

"That brings back memories. I never thought I'd live to see a girl get her hooks that deep in you."

"Wait, you've got it all wrong," Natsu said in all his obliviousness. "Lucy's a celestial wizard. She uses keys, not hooks. But I have to go now. The train is leaving in an hour."

Watching the boy go, Gildarts smirked incredulously. In addition to paying his lady friend's rent, the dragon slayer was taking a train to do so.

He'd heard the opinions of others around the guild regarding the nature of their relationship but today it was confirmed with his own eyes. Natsu Dragneel had actually fallen in love and he would be the very last to know it.

Author's Notes: Hey, everyone! This is likely going to be a compilation of the Nalu prompts I post on my tumblr. I'll probably revamp or expand on most of them before I post them here. Thanks for reading, guys! Reviews are much appreciated.