pairing: nalu

a/n: bet y'all weren't expecting back to back, were ya?

disclaimer: I own nothing

Natsu waited until the front door of her building was closed and that she'd made it safely inside, and then he jumped in the air. His feet smacked the pavement. His hood flopped in his face and his beanie slipped from his head; the action made the newest addition of his tattoo pull uncomfortably but he didn't care.

Lucy had stretched up on her tiptoes, gripped onto his shoulders for leverage, and kissed him.

Natsu laughed, taking off down the street in a light jog to work off the adrenaline that was coursing through his system.

Talk about a girl full of surprises, he mused, laughing again when he thought about the scene back at Saber when Lucy had surprised both him and Minerva by asking if the tattoo process hurt at all.

The two seasoned veterans of the craft had exchanged a brief look.

"Not really," Natsu had said slowly as Minerva was finishing up. "It's more uncomfortable than anything. Like scratching a sunburn."

Lucy had nodded at his words, and her eyes were still traveling up the length of his arm that was being laid in clear wrap.

"I want one."

Natsu stuffed his hands in his pockets as he slowed to a walk, enjoying the sound of his sneakers on the sidewalk as he walked back in the direction of downtown. He couldn't go home now. Not when the fire was coursing through his system hotter than it had been in months.

This was prime time for his paints.

She'd held his hand, squeezing tightly when Minerva's needle first pressed into her smooth, blank skin.

"How much do I owe you for it?" He'd asked the older woman later, after Lucy had slipped from the room to join the others out in the lobby area.

Minerva had that little grin going that drove Natsu and the guys around Saber crazy. It was the smirk that made it appear as though she knew something the rest of them didn't know. "Free of charge."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it was hardly any ink at all. It's less of a tattoo and more a new collection of freckles. Any idea why she wanted a constellation on her shoulder blade?"

Not a clue, he thought. He thanked Minerva and then followed Lucy out to where their friends had last been heard.

Natsu rounded the street corner of what would soon become his newest piece. He scooped up a fair-sized rock and had to refrain from adding a little skip to his step as he entered the mouth of the alleyway that he would soon be spending most of his time. Tossing the rock in the air, he let it fall back into his waiting palm and thanked the skies about for the moonlight that night.

He had offered to walk her home after that, once he noticed how heavy her eyes were becoming.

Natsu jumped up and caught one of the rings of the metal ladder. He took a deep breath and then hefted himself up so that he could get a good spot on the fire escape. The rock glided against the side of the brick as he began to sketch his newest piece.

Inspiration was fruitful that night.

They'd walked in companionable silence at first, and then Lucy had broken into a fit of giggles.

"What?" Natsu asked, unable to keep the grin from his voice. Her laugh sounded like the bells he'd once loved so much.

"Oh, it's nothing," she shook her head, trying to get ahold of herself. She tried to look at him with a straight face, but it only caused her to break into another fit. "It's just, I can feel it in my bones, ya know?" Her fingers reached up to brush across her shoulder. "My father will hate me when I get home."

"Why the constellation?"

"Why the sleeve?" she'd teased, turning the question around on him.

Maybe it was the fading effects of the alcohol that was still in his system, or maybe it was the pretty girl with the long blonde hair and big, doe eyes that had viewed his art and actually saw it. Whatever it was, it made him open his big mouth.

"My sister."

Her eyes had widened a bit in surprise. "Oh," she'd said softly. "I didn't know you had a sister."

That had struck a chord in Natsu-had made him frown. He'd always hated that response whenever he mentioned Wendy for the first time, but it wasn't Lucy's fault. He'd never mentioned her; rarely does anymore ever since the state had taken her away.

"Her name is Wendy," he said softly, staring straight ahead as they rounded the last corner leading to the address that she had told him. "She's a short little thing with long, blue hair. Been with my family ever since she was a baby." The corners of Natsu's mouth lifted as something dawned on him. "She'll be turning eight next week."

Lucy was silent beside him, and to his surprise, wordlessly slipped her arm through his.

"I'd love to meet her sometime."

Natsu felt the cold air around them settle into his bones at her words, and every breath that he let out felt as though he were losing a little more than just air in his system.

She's not around here anymore, he'd thought sadly. I don't know where she is. They won't tell me.

Lucy was looking up at him expectancy, but his response had just been an noncommittal hum.

It didn't seem to phase her, however, as they finally came to a stop outside her front door. "Thanks for tonight, Natsu."

He smirked, "Actually, I think we have Levy to thank for tonight's outing."

Lucy had laughed and then looked up him through her lashes. Perhaps it was the lingering effects of the alcohol that made the timid girl from class so brave, but regardless, her lips had pressed softly to his for a little more than just a fraction of a second.

Natsu wiped the cold sweat from his brow, finally getting the bright idea of shedding one of his many layers as he stared up at his finished sketch.

The Salamander had officially regained his touch.

talk about some angst coming up and a better, more in-depth Wendy story curtesy of one fiery redhead

Until Next Time...