midnightstar | DA KIDLETS because i miss them so

Now that the weather was warmer, the kids were no longer so restless (not that they could be too restless with Natsu around to play with) and were eager to go out and on adventures of their own, both with their older sis/bro/not parents and without. Regine was kept busy helping to tend the guild in their absence, though occasionally she got dragged off by the children for adventures, on days that Natsu and Lucy had work to do.

Although lately there'd been a lot of jobs, so Lucy, at least, hadn't had time to spend with the kids quite so much. Which was why she had suggested taking the kids to the beach for fun, sun, fishing, and whatever else they wanted to do. Good plan, yes? Yes! Nev'd been up since the crack of dawn, full of excitement, and vigor, like a tiny fire-less Natsu. Justyne, on the other hand, had slept in a little more. Lucy just had to put a few final touches on her appearance - since her hair had gotten much longer in the last few months. "Twenty jewels say that Neveren will be knocking on the door in five minutes." She called over to Natsu with a grin.

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Totally worth it. The pout the whine. All of it only had the opposite effect of what Lucy might have tried to trigger. He didn't miss the way her lips quirked faintly in amusement though.

"Somewhere people wouldn't see eh? Well that would have to be below the waist wouldn't it?" Since his fashion sense showed plenty of skin. Still when she said she couldn't help it, the smirk and look on his face got cocky as all hell.

"So the queen can't resist claiming her dragon hmmm~?"

Oh she just walked into that one. His question sent her imagination into overdrive. Below the waist. Oh. God. It wasn't that the thought hadn't occurred to her, mind, but thought was different from act. "T.. That.." Ahem. Cool down Lucy! That look on his face was totally not helping. "W-well..."

She cleared her throat, "An.. And I suppose you could?" She countered in her own defense. Cocky bastard, but not without reason. "I think you and I both know that's not true."

Yup she made it so easy it was priceless. Not that Natsu wanted her to get any wiser to this mischievous tricks like that. The look on her face though. Totally worth it.

"Oh I don't deny it. You have no idea how many times I've done things to you in my mind in the middle of the day~"

He was so brazenly up front about things, it STILL flustered her. "Things..?" She chuckled, "You'll have to share that with me one day." Oh wait a second. Her lips quirked upwards, "Come to think of it, I feel like I did catch you giving me looks now and again." More often now, actually. It would be mean and cruel to tease him when she caught those glances, wouldn't it?

Which is a thing she would probably do just to get him riled up. It was like a new game of hers. And it was totally fair, considering how he got her riled up all the time!

"Ohoho really? Well since you asked I'll take you up on that whenever you feel up to it~" Natsu grinned shamelessly. She could taunt and tease all she wanted, Natsu would relish the opportunity and if she actually managed to rile him up well then things would get interesting at that point.

Lucy chuckled, shaking her head, bringing her arms up to pull him down closer to her, "I swear Natsu, ever since we got together like this, you've gotten worse." More incorrigible and shameless -- and she loved it, despite how flustered he made her.

"Not that I'd change anything for all the world." Not even their weirdly subtle ...er, courtship, she supposed she could call it. She nuzzled against him, leaning up to steal a kiss. One of these days she'd catch him by surprise, and probably while he was giving her one of those looks. Maybe.

"Worse hmmm? You never really complain about it though? Actually I think you like it quite a bit when I'm this way. WHen I play the big protective dragon out to claim his queen for the rest of his life~" Natsu growled deep and playful in his throat.

"I never said it was a bad thing," Lucy laughed, "I was just making an observation." She reached up to fluff his hair lightly, "Hmmm, I can't say I dislike hearing that though. Or seeing you play my protective dragon. Just as I'd play a possessive Queen that would take everything her dragon has to offer and never let him go." To emphasize her words, she squeezed her arms around his waist, giggling.

"Even this Queen would give up everything, even her Kingdom to be by her dragon's side."

"Such a weirdo queen~ But then that's why the dragon loves her more than anything." Natsu added with a growl as he leaned in closer to briefly capture Lucy's lips in a quick peck before looking down at his golden haired queen with nothing but adoration.

Lucy grinned up at him, her smile widening, "And the Queen love her dragon more than anything too," she murmured, tilting her head up. She'd lean up to chase him in that brief peck, but pouted instead. "Even if he is so much taller now." Hmph. It wasn't as easy to steal kisses from him - but boy was he more manly now. "Hey, how would you like a massage?" She offered, surprisingly randomly.

On the one hand, she'd be able to feel and massage out all the muscles in his body. On the other, she wanted to be able to make him feel comfortable. It was in no way a veiled attempt for sneakiness.

That smile was his greatest treasure and Natsu would do anything for it. An amused chuckle rumbled out when she pouted at their height difference now. He leaned in for her regardless and kissed Lucy again before answering cheekily.

"Well the dragon is generous with his queen~"

AT the offer of a massage he had to tilt his head a little bit. Was that really all she wanted to do or was it a scheme. Well either way it would be fun.

"Well since you're offering I don't see why I'd say no."

As long as she stayed at his side that smile would never go away. It only increased by the second. Pleased when he leaned in for her, she chuckled softly at that cheeky answer. "Good. His Queen is as greedy as her dragon is." She purred.

Pulling away as he agreed to the massage, she smiled brightly, "Okay then, come and sit~!" She hopped onto the bed and scooted back, patting the mattress with both hands, playfully. Well technically he could sit or lie on his stomach. Either way she could massage him. Or enact any evil plans.

"Her dragon would expect no less~" Natsu answered again with a small peck to her lips again before he pulled back.

Natsu chuckled seeing how enthusiastically she patted him over but he followed her call anyway and sat down in front of Lucy not lying on his back just yet. Though if she gave hijm a good push he wouldn't resist to the idea.

What an obedient dragon! She has him so well trained. Of course she'd say it only in jest, if she ever said anything like that out loud, but once he sat down, she leaned against him to drape her arms around his neck. This isn't the massage, of course, she just wanted to hug him for a few minutes, nuzzling against the back of his neck.

Once she'd gotten her fill for at least a little while, she leaned back again, resting her hands over his shoulders, her fingers skimming over the muscles and massaging with a firm, gentle grip.

Natsu had absolutely nothing against being hugged and held like that. Made him feel awfully happy really just feeling Lucy hold onto him so dearly.

When her hands started with his shoulders he let out a gently pleased hum of approval. Lucy's touch was just as magical as the rest of her after all.

Good, because it was hard not to hold him in her arms like that. Though as she proceeded to work his shoulders, she grinned at the sound of that hum, chuckling softly.

"I don't think I'll ever get enough of hearing that. It's like you're putty under my little fingers this way too." Without being as intimately physical. "And your skin is nice and warm too." She added with a giggle.

"Well that's cause your hands are magic too. They just make me all tingly and relaxed~" Natsu pointed out with a matter of fact kind of tone.

"Hnnn, that so?" She grinned, her hands moving like muscle seeking missiles, drifting lower. "Well this is good for me too."

He can't retaliate, for example, when she innocently puffed a breath of air at the back of his neck.

What? She's only breathing.

Yes just breathing. And making his posture stand to attention as straight as a tree trunk would with how tantalizing that sensation felt coursing in his nerves.

Interesting. She couldn't help but grin a little, feeling him straighten again like that. Somehow, she managed to keep from giggling. Clearing her throat instead, humming softly.

She did nothing! Although it was a perfect position for her to tease hm, and he had such wonderful reactions to even the littlest thing. But she left him alone for a second, waiting for him to relax again.

Oh yes she was about as innocent as an angel wasn't she? Natsu smirked to himself a little as he felt Lucy's hands working away at his slowly relaxing body. The humming also served only to relax even more, his eyes drifting closed bit by bit.

Yes, yes she was! Especially when she was teasing him. Feeling his body relaxing again, she leaned a little to the side, seeing his eyes drifting closed. Aww, he looked so peaceful. So serene~!

She -ALMOST- felt bad about teasing him so. Because this time when she leaned back behind him, she sent another puff of air at his ear, blowing gently as she rubbed his shoulders. MY it's drafty in the room isn't it?

Natsu flinched away before tucking his head in a little bit to endure the overwhelming sensation spreading from his ear throughout to his whole body and then all the way up to his ears.

That was no draft but Lucy was going to claim it was to blame no doubt. On the other hand Natsu had to wonder what would come next.

Awww, tucking his head in was cheating. She had to bite her lip to keep from giggling. With such a broad canvas to play with, so to speak, she took her time deciding on what manner of torment to use next.

Her hands slid lower against his sides, in perfect position to tickle him, and she even leaned forward a little as if she were going to do just that. Except instead of tickling him, she leaned forward just enough to utter a low purr against the opposite ear, her lips just slightly brushing against it.

A very incriminating shudder would ripple through Natsu's body when Lucy's rumbling purr went down his ear and into his mind in record time. She was not massaging and yet he couldn't bring himself to point that out. Why when already feeling her so close and even hearing that noise was playing havoc with his mind.