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Natsu likes Lucy's hair, even more when she just lets it down. The fact that she grows out her hair in the year of his absence also made him impressed all over again. That golden locks, flowing and swaying in the wind, will never go unnoticed even at a distance.
Lucy loves the stars. That's a fact he learned long ago, when they just met. Back then, Natsu didn't pay much attention to that. But now after years going on many adventures together as teammates, Natsu only realizes more that Lucy and the stars are a match made in heaven.
Not just once or twice Lucy had asked him to go stargazing with him. Even if it was unplanned, and at uncanny time such as 2 a.m, Natsu just didn't have the heart to turn and say no to her. Not to his Lucy.
He usually spend the time listening to her rambling about the specks of light in the vast sky above them, occasionally replying here and there to let her know he is with her. And all the time, Lucy's brown eyes would gaze lovingly at the stars, so bright and full of sparkles that Natsu had to make sure Lucy herself is in fact, just a human and not some celestial being that descents the heaven only to make his earth blooms into paradise itself.
Lucy.. As a celestial.
Natsu ponders again as he sees Lucy's golden hair sways softly in the cool air of midnight. He describe it as gold, but it's nowhere as blinding as the word implies. In the blanket of night, the only light comes from the countless stars far away from the earth, her hair seems to glow in such dim light, mesmerizing enough for Natsu to not look away from it. Right. Maybe strands of soft gold silks is more suitable to describe her hair.
Without even realizing, Natsu's hand already reached to the crown of Lucy's head. It's soft, like silks. He threads his fingers down until the tip of her hair, trying to fully feel the way each strands against the rough skin of his palm.
The wind blows. Natsu is sure around the ground they had sat on has no flowers, and yet the faint scent of flowers and sweet vanilla made its way to his nose. A familiar scent from Lucy's shampoo she had used few hours ago.
Natsu had never thought much about which kind of smell he likes, but these days he found that he tends to relax more around Lucy. Even when she is in the far end from him, just a light waft idly brought by soft winds can calm him down as long as it brought along Lucy's. He already declared that he likes her scent, but somehow now it strectches even longer to whatever products she uses.
Lucy seems to be good at picking which smell compliments hers, enhancing it more without being too much to his nose. Or maybe it was his nose that adjusted itself to whatever Lucy picked.
Whether it's the former or the latter doesn't really matter though. Natsu just likes it if it is Lucy.
Natsu smiles.
"Hm? What is it?" Lucy asked, turning her head to face Natsu. Her cheeks brushes slightly with the tip of Natsu's fingers, still lingering there from admiring her hair earlier. His fingers trembled, just a little.
".. Nothin', " Natsu breathes. He paused, and then decides to just do it.
He reaches for Lucy's cheeks, slightly pulling her to him. Lucy obliges, more than welcome for his palm radiates warmth in the midst of cool, night air.
"What is it, Natsu? You're unusually quiet," Lucy mumbles between his palm. Her own hand come to rest on his, keeping it there.
Silence.
The next second, Natsu pinches Lucy's cheeks.
"Hey! What was that for?!" Lucy yelped in surprise while Natsu laughing his heart out.
"Nah, ur cheeks looks as soft as fresh buns it made me hungry," Natsu replied in between laughs while he squishes more of Lucy's cheeks. Lucy immediately swats away his hand, puffs with a pout.
"Remind you, the one who gobbled up my last batch of bakeries was you and Happy!"
"Can't help it, you were still busy with Levy about books and we were already starvin',"
"Not an excuse to finish them all though, now we only have eggs and bacon for breakfast. I'm enough with that, but I don't want you and Happy demolish my eggs and bacon stocks too! You're buying breads the first thing you wake up later!" Lucy huffs, standing up and starts the walk back to her apartment.
"Hey! Wait, Luce!"
"Buy extra milk and spices too, you got it? You keep whining about my food not spicy enough, so help yourself with some spices," Lucy continues. Natsu already matched her pace, still with a wide grin across his face.
"Why the extra milk though?" Natsu teases, stifling back a laugh.
"For me, obviously! I can never match up to your spice tolerance, but you always dump a whole lot whenever it's your turn to cook," Lucy's brows furrowed, her tone still rough yet Natsu doesn't feel the bite of it. He circles his right arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. Lucy reaches her left hands to his hips.
"'Right, my next menu will be curry then!" Natsu decides with a big smile, snuggling to his side until he is cheeks on cheeks with Lucy. In return, Natsu gets a pinch on his nose from Lucy's right hand.
"No! I just told you to tone down the spices!"