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the spa was peaceful, filled with warm, golden light that reflected off the smooth, steamy water. lanterns hung overhead, casting delicate shadows across the wooden floor. the air smelled of herbs and warmth, an almost dreamlike atmosphere that seemed to remove everyone’s cares. the guild members, dressed in yukatas, sat and relaxed in the pools, their conversations hushed and full of laughter, a brief escape from the intensity of their lives.
lucy, though, couldn’t find any peace.
her eyes were constantly drawn to natsu. he sat with his legs in the water, his pink hair wild and messy. his yukata was practically hanging off him, his carefree attitude making him seem even more out of place in such a serene setting. he was laughing, tossing fruit to happy, the two of them having a private moment of joy that made lucy’s heart twist.
why couldn’t she be more like him? calm, at ease, free from all worries. everything felt heavy for lucy, but natsu never seemed to feel that weight.
the alcohol wasn’t helping.
with each sip, the warmth spread through her, blurring her senses, making her thoughts more intense. the way natsu looked—so comfortable, so completely unaware of her gaze—only seemed to make her feelings grow stronger.
before lucy could think twice, she stood up and began walking toward him. her heart raced with anticipation as her feet carried her closer to natsu, and a sudden, mischievous idea popped into her head. she was too far gone to care about anything else now.
“nya~” she purred, voice playful and teasing as she knelt beside him. “i’m a cat~ nya nya, pet me, natsu.”
natsu blinked, his face instantly contorting into one of confusion. “huh?! lucy? what the hell are you—?”
lucy gave him an exaggerated pout, tilting her head with a soft, feigned whine. “come onnnn~ i’m a cat, so pet me.” she swished an imaginary tail behind her, the soft giggles escaping her lips as she looked up at him. “don’t leave a poor cat hanging, nya.”
for a moment, natsu just stared at her, frozen, unsure of how to react. his brain was struggling to process what was happening. lucy, the girl he’d known for so long, was sitting there in front of him, looking up with wide, innocent eyes, but acting so... well, weird. he nervously scratched the back of his head, his cheeks flushing.
“w-wait, what?!” he stammered, his voice almost a little panicked. “lucy, what are you even talking about? why—why are you acting like a cat right now?!”
lucy just smiled up at him, completely unbothered by his confusion, continuing her teasing. “don’t tell me you're too shy to pet a cute cat,” she said, her voice now dripping with a playful innocence that made it impossible for natsu to stop the growing heat in his cheeks.
natsu’s heart rate picked up, his gaze flicking nervously between her and the ground. he knew they'd gotten closer over the past few weeks, but this? this felt different—unexpected, and something in him was already melting, even if he didn’t fully understand it.
“i-i’m not shy, i’m just—” his words trailed off as he looked at her, unsure whether to laugh, scream, or just run away. lucy’s grin was growing wider, and it was clear she wasn’t going to let him off the hook that easily. he scratched his head awkwardly. “uh… you really want me to... pet you, huh?”
lucy nodded, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “uh-huh, nya~” she teased again, clearly enjoying the way he was flustered.
natsu let out an exasperated sigh, looking absolutely red in the face now, but there was no way out. he slowly lifted his hand and, with a hesitance that made it obvious how out of his element he was, gently patted her head, just like one might pet a cat. lucy leaned into the touch, purring happily.
his heart skipped a beat at how natural it felt, despite how silly it was.
the silence between them was thick, charged with something unspoken, as natsu awkwardly ruffled her hair a bit more, not knowing whether to smile or run away. “you’re... uh, really something else, lucy.”
lucy, pleased with the result, finally stopped her teasing and leaned back slightly, giving him a soft, teasing smile. “you’re the one acting all shy. you’d make a terrible cat owner, natsu.”
natsu could only stare at her, his face still flushed, feeling like his heart was about to explode from both the tenderness and the ridiculousness of the situation.
natsu, still flustered, cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to act casual even though his heart was racing. he glanced at her, unsure whether to laugh or just bury his face in his hands.
“you’re way too much, lucy,” he mumbled, but the corners of his mouth twitched into a small smile despite himself. she had this way of making him forget everything around him, making everything feel... different. his hand was still hovering in the air, unsure whether to retreat or stay close, lingering in that odd space between something playful and something more intimate.
lucy, however, wasn’t ready to let him off the hook just yet. with a sly grin, she leaned in a little closer, her breath warm against his cheek. “you’re cute when you blush, natsu~” she teased, her voice soft, almost a whisper.
natsu froze, his eyes widening. he wasn’t used to being on the receiving end of such blatant attention, especially not from lucy. the way she was looking at him now made his breath catch in his throat, and he could feel his heart thumping erratically.
“what… what are you doing?” he stuttered, his voice barely above a whisper. his hands were still frozen at his sides, unsure what to do with themselves. it was strange—he’d always been able to joke around with lucy, but right now, everything felt... different. the air between them felt thick, like something was about to change, and he didn’t know if he was ready for it.
lucy, still with that playful, mischievous look in her eyes, tilted her head to the side, almost too innocently. “what do you mean? i’m just having fun with my favorite fire dragon,” she said, her voice teasing but soft, as if daring him to take the next step.
natsu’s heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, he couldn’t find the words. instead, he found himself leaning just a bit closer to her, his mind racing. was this really happening? was lucy actually flirting with him? or was this just another one of her playful moments that made him go crazy in ways he couldn’t explain?
without thinking, his hand moved toward her, gently cupping her cheek, his thumb brushing the soft skin there. lucy’s eyes softened at the touch, and for a split second, everything around them disappeared. the warm glow of the lanterns, the sounds of their guildmates laughing in the background—all of it faded away, leaving just the two of them, suspended in this quiet moment.
“natsu…” lucy’s voice was barely above a whisper, her breath shaky as she looked up at him, her eyes shining in the soft light.
his heart pounded in his chest as he leaned in just a fraction, his lips brushing against hers in the lightest of touches. it was hesitant at first, unsure, but when lucy responded, her lips soft and warm against his, he couldn’t hold back. the kiss deepened, slow and tentative at first, like both of them were testing the waters.
but then, it felt like all the pieces fell into place. everything about the way they fit together, the way they moved in sync, the way their hearts beat in time with one another—suddenly, it felt so... natural. so right.
natsu’s hand slid to the back of her neck, pulling her closer, his body flush against hers. lucy’s fingers tangled in his yukata, tugging him closer, deepening the kiss with a softness that was everything natsu hadn’t expected but couldn’t seem to get enough of. the warmth of the water, the softness of the air, the sweetness of the moment—it was all so overwhelming, so much more than he had imagined.
as the kiss deepened, lucy’s movements became more playful, like a cat pawing at a toy. she nipped at his lip, her fingers curling into the fabric of his yukata as she pressed herself closer. a small, giddy laugh escaped her lips, her body leaning into him with a confidence that was both endearing and utterly intoxicating. she was drunk, no doubt about that, but the way she was acting made everything feel too real to be just a playful act.
natsu, on the other hand, still had a grip on his senses, his mind sharp enough to feel the weight of what was happening. lucy, as usual, could always pull him into her whirlwind of moments—moments that were chaotic and unpredictable, but always so full of life. her hands roamed to his chest, pulling him even closer as she giggled softly against his lips.
but a moment of clarity hit him, and his hand froze on her back as guilt quickly set in. this wasn’t just a playful moment, not when lucy was acting like this. *was she really sober enough for this?*
he pulled back just a little, his forehead resting gently against hers as he tried to collect his thoughts. lucy, drunk and oblivious, looked up at him with a smile that made his heart ache. there was something too tender in her gaze, something that made him feel guilty for letting it go this far.
“hey, lucy,” he said, his voice low and unsure. “maybe we should... stop for now. you’re not in your right mind.”
lucy pouted, her eyes flicking from his lips to his face, confused by his sudden hesitation. “what do you mean, natsu?” she slurred, voice barely above a whisper, her fingers still lightly caressing his yukata as if she didn’t want to let go.
natsu sighed softly, guilt weighing on him. *this wasn’t how it should happen*. “you’re drunk,” he said gently, his thumb brushing her cheek in a soft, almost apologetic way. “i’m gonna take you to bed, okay? you need to sleep this off.”
her lips parted in protest, but there was a glimmer of understanding behind her hazy gaze. the reality of the situation seemed to slowly break through the fog of alcohol, and she gave him a small nod. “okay...” she whispered, a soft, almost sleepy smile tugging at her lips.
without another word, natsu gently pulled her into his arms, wrapping his yukata tighter around her as he stood up. he could feel her body relax into his chest, and it reminded him of just how much responsibility he held for her, even in moments like this. *she trusted him,* and that trust made him want to protect her more than anything else.
with a tender smile, he made his way back toward the rooms, careful not to jostle her too much. “i’ll make sure you’re comfortable,” he said softly, more to himself than her. the world outside of them felt so distant now, and all he could focus on was making sure she was okay.
lucy, now resting against him, let out a soft yawn and mumbled, “thanks, natsu... you’re really nice.”
natsu just smiled softly, adjusting his grip around her. “anything for you, lucy.” he gently kissed the top of her head before continuing his path to their room, feeling that strange mix of relief and something deeper—a feeling he didn’t quite understand but didn’t need to, not right now.
- -
natsu sat beside lucy’s sleeping form, his eyes lingering on her relaxed expression. the soft, rhythmic rise and fall of her chest was soothing, the only sound in the room besides the gentle hum of the air. her hair, usually tied up in some practical style, now fell around her shoulders in loose, messy waves. the strands framed her face so softly, and for the first time, natsu really noticed how much he loved the way her hair looked when it was like this—untamed, free.
his fingers hovered over her locks, and before he even thought about it, he gently tugged a small strand between his fingers. the heat of his touch made her hair curl in a way that made his breath catch. “whoa,” he muttered under his breath, eyes widening in surprise. “i can curl her hair... that’s... that’s cool.”
he absentmindedly continued to twirl the strand around his finger, fascinated by the way it reacted to the warmth of his hand. “frick you, cancer,” he grumbled quietly, his lips quirking into a small grin. “i’m a better barber than you’ll ever be.”
the thought made him chuckle, but the amusement didn’t last long. as his fingers continued to play with her hair, his mind drifted to everything that had happened earlier. the kiss, the way she had looked at him with those playful, innocent eyes—everything felt so real, and yet so out of place, like he had stepped into a moment he wasn’t ready for.
it wasn’t until recently that he had truly started to realize how he felt about lucy. she had always been there, always beside him through everything, but it wasn’t until now that the weight of what he felt for her truly hit him. it wasn’t just about being close friends anymore. no, there was something deeper—something more intimate.
she was his soulmate, he thought, almost as if the realization had finally dawned on him. but tonight? tonight, it all felt off. not because of lucy, not at all—she was everything he could ever want, and more—but because of how it had all happened. the alcohol, the teasing, the way she had looked at him with such trust and innocence. he had never wanted to hurt her, and yet here he was, in this strange, vulnerable moment, feeling like he had done something wrong.
he sighed, shifting slightly on the edge of the bed. this wasn’t how he wanted it to happen, he thought, fingers still twisting the loose strands of lucy’s hair. he didn’t want it to be a drunken mistake. he didn’t want her to wake up and feel confused or embarrassed by what had happened. no, he wanted it to be something pure, something they could both look back on and smile about.
but that would have to wait. in the morning, things would be clearer. everything would settle, and they would figure it out, together. he couldn’t change what had happened tonight, but he could be there for her when she woke up, supporting her no matter what.
beside lucy, happy was curled up on the bed, snoring lightly. the little cat’s presence was oddly calming, as if everything in the room was at peace, even if natsu’s mind wasn’t. he kept his gaze on lucy, watching her peaceful sleep, his heart filled with warmth and uncertainty.
“i’ll be here when you wake up,” he murmured, almost to himself. “we’ll figure this out.”
for now, though, he would let her sleep. he would let her dream, unaware of the weight of the unspoken things between them. and when she awoke, everything would be clearer. everything would be okay.
but, for tonight, natsu stayed at her side, fingers still lightly playing with her hair, watching over her as the quiet night stretched on.
the night lingered, slow and quiet, as natsu continued to sit beside lucy, his hand gently brushing through her hair. he had long since stopped playing with it, fingers now resting lightly on the soft strands, tracing the delicate pattern of her curls as though trying to memorize the feel of them. the room was dim, with only the soft glow of the lanterns casting flickering shadows against the walls.
he hadn’t realized how much time had passed, lost in the quiet, until a soft shift from lucy caught his attention. her face scrunched slightly, and she let out a soft sigh in her sleep, her hand reaching out to instinctively find his. natsu’s breath caught in his throat as her fingers brushed against his, and for a moment, he felt a flood of warmth rush through him, something deeper than the familiar bond they shared.
why did everything feel so different now?
he closed his eyes, his heart heavy with the question. he had always known how important lucy was to him, but now? now, the way his heart raced when he looked at her, the way the small moments felt like they meant more—he couldn’t ignore it anymore. he could no longer deny that he wanted more than just friendship. much more.
natsu gently squeezed her hand, his thumb tracing over the back of it as if reassuring himself that she was here, that she was safe beside him. everything was quiet now, just the two of them in this peaceful, fragile moment. but deep down, there was this tension he couldn’t shake off—this fear of what would happen once lucy woke up and the haze of the night lifted.
he didn’t want things to change, not in the way he feared they might. he didn’t want to hurt her or make things awkward. they had always been so easy together, so effortless in their closeness, and he didn’t want to ruin that.
but, at the same time, he couldn’t deny what had grown between them. it had been building for a while, slow and steady, just like the warmth in his chest that always seemed to bloom when she was around. tonight had only brought it all to the surface, and no matter how much he tried to deny it, the truth was undeniable.
he was falling for lucy.
the thought sent a shiver down his spine, and he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. he glanced down at her sleeping form, the peaceful expression on her face making his heart ache. he was so sure, so certain now that she was the one—his soulmate, his partner. but he wasn’t sure if she felt the same.
natsu shook his head, forcing himself to focus on the present. he didn’t want to ruin this, didn’t want to jump ahead of himself. whatever happened, whatever lucy’s feelings were, he would figure it out. they would figure it out together. but for now, all he could do was stay by her side and wait.
he leaned back against the cool wooden wall, the weight of the night settling over him. with a quiet sigh, he closed his eyes, still holding her hand, still watching over her. happy let out a soft snore beside them, the faintest sound of comfort in the stillness.
and as the hours slipped by, natsu didn’t know what the future held, but for tonight, everything was as it should be. lucy was here. he was here. and in the morning, maybe things would make sense again.
but for now, in this peaceful, fragile moment, natsu let himself simply exist beside her, letting the quiet hum of the night wash over him.
- -
the first light of morning filtered through the sliding doors, casting soft beams across the room. natsu stirred, blinking groggily, his head resting against the wall. his hand was still entwined with lucy's, her soft breath steady in the quiet of the early hours.
he slowly shifted, careful not to wake her, but his mind was already racing. last night felt like a dream, a mix of warmth and confusion that now hung heavy in the air. he glanced at lucy, still peacefully asleep beside him, her hair spread out like a golden halo around her head. her face was serene, free from the playful teasing and mischievous glints she so often wore.
but even in her sleep, natsu couldn’t shake the feeling that things were different now. his heart had settled back into a slow, steady rhythm, but his thoughts were in turmoil. he wanted to talk to her, wanted to say something to make sense of everything that had happened, but... where would he even start?
his gaze dropped to their hands, still clasped together, and a sudden warmth spread across his chest. did she feel the same way?
as if on cue, lucy shifted beside him, her eyes fluttering open slowly. her gaze, a little hazy from sleep, met his, and for a moment, neither of them said anything. the silence between them was comfortable, yet there was an unspoken tension hanging in the air, an awareness of what had happened the night before.
lucy blinked a few times, the fog of sleep still clinging to her as she yawned softly, stretching. “natsu…” she mumbled, her voice low and soft from sleep. “what time is it?”
natsu swallowed, his throat dry. he rubbed the back of his neck, his thoughts scattered. “uh, it's still early. a little before sunrise.”
lucy let out another yawn and shifted, sitting up slightly. her hair, a bit tangled from the night, spilled across her shoulders in messy waves. she reached up to brush a lock of hair from her face, her hand freezing mid-motion when she noticed natsu’s intense gaze on her.
she blinked, confused. “what’s wrong, natsu?”
he opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat. how do you explain something like last night? how did he make sense of the feelings that had grown inside him, the way he couldn’t stop thinking about her now, about them? but nothing came. nothing but the quiet, uncomfortable shift of their positions, both of them still unsure of what to say or how to break the silence.
lucy’s brow furrowed slightly, sensing the change in the air. she felt it too, didn’t she? the way things seemed different, the way the space between them felt heavier than usual.
finally, natsu forced a small, awkward smile, trying to ease the tension that had crept in between them. “nothing, just... just making sure you're okay.”
lucy nodded, but she didn’t seem entirely convinced. she glanced at him for a long moment, as though trying to read him, before letting out a soft sigh. “i’m okay. just... a little confused, actually.”
natsu felt his heart sink at her words, but he didn’t let it show. confused... that was an understatement. he knew he should say something, should make things clearer between them, but it was hard. the truth was, he didn’t know how to start, and part of him was still afraid of what might happen once they talked about it.
he exhaled slowly, meeting her gaze, his voice barely above a whisper. “lucy... about last night... i didn’t mean for things to get like that.” he paused, his throat tightening. “i don’t want you to think... i’m confused or something. it’s just—”
lucy stopped him with a gentle touch on his arm. “natsu,” she said softly, her tone calm, though there was a glimmer of something in her eyes. “you don’t have to explain yourself. i think i understand. i don’t know what happened last night, but... i feel it too.”
his heart skipped, and he felt a mix of relief and uncertainty. lucy’s words hung in the air between them like a fragile thread, one they could both hold onto—or let snap. but for now, natsu was content to leave it at that.
the moment stretched on, neither of them saying anything more. there was still a lot left unsaid, a lot that needed to be figured out. but somehow, in this quiet morning light, with lucy beside him and the warmth of their shared space lingering, natsu felt like they’d take it one step at a time.
and that was enough for now.