The train was already waiting on the platform when they left the bakery. The locomotive released puffs of steam that spread through the cold morning air, and the metallic sound of the cars being adjusted on the tracks echoed through the yard.
Juvia was walking beside Natsu while people boarded and disembarked from the train in hurried steps.
"Let's find a spot near the window..." he commented casually.
"Sure..."
They climbed the steps, walked down the narrow corridor, and settled into two empty seats. Juvia naturally chose the window side, and Natsu sat next to her, stretching his legs.
The locomotive's whistle blew, and the train began to move with a gentle jolt.
It was then that Juvia turned her face toward him, almost as if she were about to see a cat jump through the window.
"Natsu-sama...?"
"Hmm?"
"You... aren't... green."
Natsu blinked twice, confused. "What?"
"Juvia means... you're not feeling sick! But the train is already moving!" She leaned forward, as if trying to find some hidden sign of nausea in him: "Natsu-sama always... always gets motion sickness."
"Ah." He shrugged, crossing his arms behind his head with exaggerated nonchalance. "I think your lap cured me."
For an instant, the world stopped.
Juvia froze. Literally. Her expression locked like someone who had received a shock, and her face took on a color so intense it seemed capable of boiling water.
"C-cured... Juvia...?"
Her voice came out in a thread, almost inaudible, as if her soul had escaped for a second.
Natsu bit his lip to hold back laughter.
"Yeah. It was really comfortable. I think it got rid of my motion sickness for good."
She widened her eyes, bringing her hands to her mouth.
"Juvia's l-lap... has that kind of power...?"
"It does."
He replied with all the seriousness in the universe just to see her reaction.
Hearing his response, Juvia was truly surprised, not to mention embarrassed—more than she let on—with the idea that something as simple as her own lap could "cure" Natsu's motion sickness. To her, that made no sense at all within the world she knew. She had always been someone who saw value in small kindnesses, but she never imagined they could have such a direct, immediate effect on someone...
Was that even possible?
Part of that surprise came from the fact that, throughout practically the entire history of the guild, Natsu's transportation sickness was treated as something immutable, almost an inevitable joke in Fairy Tail's daily life. It was one of those constant details, as natural as Mira's smile or Laxus's grumpiness. Something that simply was part of him, with no chance of change. And for that reason, to Juvia, the sudden improvement seemed impossible.
Moreover, she herself had a very humble and almost insecure perception of her own worth. Even after years in the guild, she still carried that internal view that her actions rarely had such a direct positive impact on people, especially on the men she felt affection for. Therefore, the idea that a gesture from her could bring about a real change left her confused, touched, and with a certain warmth in her chest that she struggled to disguise.
To her, it was as if Natsu were saying that she "did him good," that her presence had a positive effect on his body and heart—something simple, but profoundly meaningful. It was a type of validation she had rarely received so directly, and which, for that reason, left her both happy and completely unsure how to react.
Deep down, her surprise came from that mixture: the incredulity that his motion sickness could disappear like that; the astonishment that such an intimate gesture had resulted in something "real"; and the sweet sensation of being, for the first time, a comfort to someone in a way that no magic or skill could explain. For Juvia, who had always valued simple and honest feelings, the idea that "her lap" could have made any difference was something as unexpected as it was precious...
But more than that.
If Natsu believed, even for a second, that it had been her lap responsible for curing him, then for Juvia that was more than enough. She didn't need logic, nor confirmation, nor convincing explanations to accept that conclusion. It was enough to know that, in his eyes, she had done something good, something that helped him, that comforted him, that changed a detail of his life for the better...
She had always been someone who sought to offer affection through small gestures: caring, observing, supporting, being present. Even before joining Fairy Tail, Juvia had always felt that her value was hidden in these small actions, invisible to most. And over the years, no matter how strong and powerful she was as a mage, she still carried this deep need to be seen, to be welcomed, to feel that her feelings had some real impact on those she cared about.
So, hearing that something as intimate as her lap "cured" Natsu touched exactly that sensitive spot inside her: finally, someone for whom she harbored genuine affection was saying—even in a light, almost playful tone—that she made a difference.
And that was enough to warm her heart in a way that no compliment about her strength or magic ever would.
If he believed it, she had no reason to doubt.
If he smiled because of it, then it was true enough.
And if, in the end, that gesture made Natsu-sama more comfortable by her side... then Juvia could almost feel the happiness overflowing.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked in his direction.
On the other hand, Natsu seemed to be pondering something deeply.
The train advanced faster, the world passing by the window in greenish blurs, but she was completely distracted.
When he turned back to look at her, he found Juvia staring at her own lap with a level of concentration that would make even Erza ask if she was training some new type of magic.
"Juvia..."
"Hm?"
"Is everything okay?"
She lifted her gaze slowly, her voice coming out muffled:
"Juvia... didn't know she could heal things like that... with her lap..."
"Well, yeah," he replied casually, resting his elbow on the armrest. "You're full of talents."
Her face seemed to turn even redder.
The train went around a curve, rocking a bit. Juvia instinctively grabbed his arm to steady herself—a gesture so natural that she herself seemed not to notice. Natsu, on the other hand, noticed it very well.
He let out a light, amused "hm" and supported her hand for a moment, just enough for her to realize... but not enough to make her uncomfortable.
She blinked, surprised, but didn't pull her hand away.
The wind came in through the half-open window, messing up his pink hair and lifting some of her blue strands. For a few seconds, everything seemed simple.
Juvia composed herself, fixed her hair, and tried to seem calm—an attempt that was completely futile.
"Juvia... Juvia is very happy that Natsu-sama won't get motion sick on trains anymore."
"Happy enough to lend me your lap again?"
"E-EH?!"
He laughed softly, turning his face to the window before she could respond with anything.
The train continued steadily along the tracks, leaving the landscape behind while the car rocked gently.
After the small explosion of embarrassment and Natsu's teasing, the atmosphere between them settled into something calmer, almost comfortable.
Soon, Natsu broke that silence naturally, starting conversations about random things: different foods he had found in small towns, rumors of bizarre monsters in the northern caves, stories he had heard during old missions that he had forgotten to tell. Juvia listened to everything with genuine attention, laughing softly when he exaggerated a part or when he gestured with more energy than necessary, almost hitting the back of the seat in front.
And the more they talked, the more evident it became that Natsu was... light. In good spirits. Strangely at ease.
At some point, he turned to her with an expression that mixed curiosity and decision.
"By the way... I was thinking."
Juvia tilted her head, waiting.
"It was cool doing this mission with you. Really cool. It's been a while since I had real fun on a job. But I think you already know that, after all, I said it several times..."
Her reaction was immediate; her eyes shone brightly, as if a small flame had been lit inside them. But at the same time, a hint of hesitation appeared, almost imperceptible.
She fidgeted with her fingers, looking away for a moment.
"Juvia... would be very happy to do more missions with Natsu-sama, but... Juvia doesn't know if... if it would be right. Natsu-sama used to do missions with Lucy-san, Gray-san, and Erza-san. Juvia thought that... that it would continue like that."
Natsu stayed silent for two or three seconds, staring at the train corridor as if searching for the right words. When he finally responded, his voice came out lower, but firm.
"No. That's over."
Juvia lifted her eyes slowly, surprised.
He rested his arm on the back of the seat, looking out the window before continuing, as if he needed something stable to organize his thoughts.
"Since Happy died... I've thought a lot about it. One of the reasons I took this mission alone is because I decided to stop doing big missions with the team. I don't like going in large groups anymore. It gets too noisy... too complicated." He paused briefly, his gaze slightly distant: "And, to be honest, I just... prefer it this way now. I think this way I'm freer to train and do things my way without Erza wanting to give me orders or wasting time with childish fights with Gray..."
That touched Juvia in a deep way, both for the sincerity and for the silent pain hidden between the lines.
But then Natsu took a deep breath and turned back to face her. There was something else there now: unpretentious honesty, without frills.
"And also... you're not the worst company in the world, Juvia. I enjoyed the trip by your side..." He gave a half-smile, small but genuine: "So, if you want to go on others with me... I want that too."
For a second, Juvia froze like before, but this time not from embarrassment, but from pure sudden happiness. It was as if her heart had skipped an entire beat.
The truth is that, until that moment on the train, neither of them had really touched on the subject of doing other missions together. It wasn't for lack of desire; it was for lack of timing, courage, and, in Juvia's case, something even deeper: the silent fear of being rejected.
Since the mission in Lunareth, Juvia had carried within her a discreet, almost shy desire to repeat the experience. Working alongside Natsu had been something light, natural, almost surprisingly harmonious. She felt useful, seen, included—not just as an occasional ally of Fairy Tail, but as someone he truly trusted. Still, despite all that joy, she never found the strength to verbalize what she wanted.
The fear of hearing a "no," especially from someone she liked, paralyzed her. And with Natsu, that fear took on an even greater proportion: he was impulsive, direct, and sincere to the extreme, even if he had changed a lot, he still possessed those personality traits. If he said he didn't want to do missions with her, Juvia knew he wouldn't hide it. And that possibility was something she simply didn't want to face.
Moreover, there was an assumption she never dared to question: the idea that Natsu had his own team, even with the passing years. Gray, Lucy, Erza... that trio formed around him seemed, in her eyes, to be a place to which she didn't belong—not for lack of strength, but for dynamics, for history, for bonds that came from long before her.
How could she, Juvia Lockser, place herself at the center of that kind of balance?
It was easier to assume that Natsu would return to his usual routine, that the adventure they shared had been the exception, not the rule. For that reason, every time the urge arose—to propose another mission, suggest they team up again, ask if he would like to repeat the partnership—she simply retreated, keeping the words in her chest before they even reached her mouth.
On the other hand, Natsu also said nothing. Not because he didn't want to; but because, for him, everything was always simpler. He followed the natural flow of things, thinking that when a good mission came up, he would call whoever was around... and this time, the one he would remember would be her.
If he felt good about something, he would repeat it. If he liked working with someone, he would call them again. That's how it had been in his past life, and it would be in this one too. But since no opportunity had arisen yet, nothing had been said.
Thus, this involuntary silence was created between the two.
And that was why, when he spoke on the train, when he made it clear that he wanted to repeat the partnership, that he enjoyed the mission with her, that he preferred working alone but would make an exception exactly for Juvia, something inside her dismantled and rebuilt itself at the same time.
It was as if a door she thought was locked had always been open, just waiting for someone to push it.
And in that instant, she realized: her fear had never been based on reality, but on old insecurities. The silence between them didn't exist because Natsu didn't want it... but because Juvia had never given herself the chance to believe that he might want it.
Now, with his words echoing in her chest, that uncomfortable feeling transformed into relief, surprise, and mainly, a gentle happiness—the kind from knowing that, this time, she didn't need to step back or diminish herself.
Natsu wanted to repeat the partnership.
And that, in itself, was already worth more than any courage Juvia thought she didn't have.
She took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure, although she was visibly struggling not to explode with excitement.
"J-Juvia... Juvia would love..." Her voice faltered a bit, and she started again, more firmly: "Juvia would love to do many other missions with Natsu-sama. As many as he wants."
His smile grew from the corner, relaxed, satisfied.
"Then it's a deal."
And from there, the conversation flowed naturally to future plans, jobs they could do together, places they wanted to visit, challenges they could face as a duo.
It was a long, light conversation full of small laughs, as if they were building something new without realizing it.
When the train finally began to slow down as it approached Magnolia, the two were still talking, as if the world outside the window could wait a little longer.
But unfortunately, that wasn't possible, since they arrive in Magnolia.
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