Day One - Cuddling/nightmare - Tumblr Posts

NALU WEEK - DAY #1

CUDDLING/NIGHTMARE

The first time it happened, Lucy was lazily reading a book, trying to distract herself from the summer heat. Natsu was napping right next to her. It had become a normal occurrence, him sleeping in her bed. She vaguely remembered a time when she had tried to fight that habit of his, but she had grown to accept it, even expect it sometimes. Granted, maybe he was partly at fault for the temperature in the room— that man was a walking oven— but life was just more fun with him around.

She was trying to progress with her reading, but his constant movements kept distracting her.

“Natsu, stop,” she complained, trying to find the last line she had read, but the boy had no intention of calming down. She raised the book to her face ready to ignore him, but that’s when she heard it: a whimper.

She looked down, her book suddenly forgotten. Natsu was fidgeting uneasily in his sleep, his face contorted in fear. His eyebrows were furrowed, and a thin veil of sweat covered his forehead. Low, distressed murmurs kept escaping his lips, growing louder and more desperate, but his eyes were closed shut, his mind lost in a world of its own.

On instinct, she raised her hand, ready to comfort him, but it froze in mid-air. His next terrified whimper made her forget any doubt. It didn’t matter if it was appropriate or not, Natsu needed her help. She reached for his hair and started caressing it sweetly, threading her fingers through the pink locks.

That touch alone worked like magic. His jaw slowly unclenched, and his forehead relaxed. He cuddled closer to her, pushing his head against her hand just like a cat, and Lucy had to adjust herself on the bed to allow him to rest on her chest. Finally, he let out a big, deep sigh, any trace of fear completely gone.

Lucy smiled, her hand still gently stroking his hair. Natsu was sleeping soundly, a dumb, relaxed smile on his face. His breath was back to its regular rhythm, warm against her skin, but she didn’t mind. She kept stroking his hair well after his nightmare had ended, cherishing that little moment of intimacy she alone would remember.

That was only the first of many nightmares Lucy had to secretly soothe. Natsu would always say he just slept better at Lucy’s, and she was the only one who knew why.