It was the lack of electricity natsu had been worried about the other on. He was fine, being warm came natural to him. However, lucy's never done well in the cold. Like before, he snuck in through the living room window, sneaking as he opened her door lightly. She seemed to be asleep, but he could hear the shivering of her body. He didn't like seeing that, as he slowly crept inside and into her bed, wrapping his arms around her to warm her up. She smelled really nice, as he drifted to sleep.
she really shouldn’t complain ─ rent is non - existent, giving lucy more financial freedom than she’s had in a while( though, she’s gotta admit, there’s something she misses about frantically running about missions to make the monthly payment. something … nostalgic ). but she has to admit, the temporary lack of electricity and, by extension, heat has been very irritating! if they’re going to kidnap her and force her to live in the city, the least they could do is provide the basics! but it’s only temporary, so she tries to avoid thinking on it too much.
that doesn’t change the fact that it’s freezing in her room!
she’s bundled herself under all her blankets but they can’t fully protect her from the chilly winter air. it’s pretty difficult to relax but eventually and miraculously, exhaustion consumes her and she drifts off into an uncomfortable, light slumber. she finds herself waking up a few times, having to readjust her blankets to gather warmth. thankfully, she’s able to get comfortable and sleep undisturbed.
… the morning makes it very clear that there had been more than blankets at work overnight to create a peaceful sleeping setting.
somehow, she doesn’t panic. there’s another person in her bed and, any other time, her reaction would be a furious panic as she would have no second thoughts about attacking the intruder. but there’s no emotion akin to that ─ instead, lucy feels content and safe. she knows these arms well. the feeling that arises is familiar and warm; literally and figuratively. she feels as if she vaguely recalls being aware of him coming into her room in the middle of the night but since it’s natsu, there was no warrant for panic, and so she was immediately able to rest and drift back into a much - needed sleep. but that’s all a sleepy haze, perhaps, since he’s a presence of comfort …
but now that she’s woken up and becoming increasingly aware of what’s going on and how close they are, lucy feels her heart racing ─ strange, considering this isn’t the first time he’s broken in and it’s not the first time they’ve been this close. yet she finds herself completely flustered, red spreading to her cheeks. suddenly, she’s grateful that he seems to be sleeping as deeply and contently as she had been not too long ago, safe and secure and warm …
she wiggles a bit, testing to see if he’ll wake up from the slight jostling. once she’s confident he won’t be bothered, lucy slowly maneuvers herself out of his arms and out of the bed. oh, how she wants to stay. finally, she looks down upon his sleeping figure. the color in her cheeks has yet to leave and her heart still doesn’t seem to slow, yet a smile makes it’s way onto her expression as she begins to connect the dots. he really is always looking out for her.
❝ thank you, natsu. ❞ words spoken hardly above a whisper as she pulls the blankets back over him. tentatively, she’s still. things seem frozen as her mind whirls. slowly, she leans forward, closer … and quickly pulls back, gnawing her lips. instead, she brushes some bangs out of his face before quickly retreating out of the room and into the kitchen.
hopefully, the breakfast she begins to prepare will be done before he wakes up. it’s the least she can do as thanks for keeping her warm throughout the night.
