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Natsu, he’s a pink haired, dragon loving, maniac. He can be mischievous, a bit of an air head, and sometimes a little too blunt. But what makes him the most annoying is his lack of knocking.
Natsu has this bad habit of breaking and entering, yeah you heard that right. Breaking and entering! Right into his friend's apartment.
He didn’t just break in through the door, he also had a habit of sneaking in through her window. A window she gave up locking a while ago.
At this point Lucy was used to his antics. She would fall asleep and wake up the next morning and he’d be in her bed. Or when she’s busy doing work on her novel, he just lets himself into her house like he owns the place. Keep in mind he also eats her food and doesn’t pitch in for groceries or rent. He might as well pay her since he sleeps in her bed every night.
So to shorten it, you could say he’s not aware of boundaries. Especially Lucy’s boundaries, he loves to cross those.
Lucy has grown fond of him over the years though, as much as he annoys her, purposely makes her mad, or acts oblivious, part of it makes her happy? More happy than she’d like to admit.
Knowing he feels comfortable enough to stay with her, and feels comfortable in her home. Which she wants for all her friends. Is what makes her the happiest. So she couldn’t complain too much.
Ugh why was Natsu in her thoughts right now of all people?! She was supposed to be writing for the new chapter of her novel where the male love interest is introduced. But she was stuck, stuck on not knowing how to write his character. Every time she thought of his characteristics a certain pink haired boy popped into her mind.
~thud~
Lucy’s body jolted, startled by the sudden sound. She quickly turns to see the culprit. Just as she suspected. Natsu had broken into her room through the window.
“NATSU!” Lucy yells at him.
He fully steps into the room, straightening his body as he turns to Lucy, giving her a sly smirk. His lips were parted just enough on one side to see the sharp edge of his canine.
Usually he annoys her, usually he’s what makes her frustrated, but in this moment Lucy felt something swirling in her stomach. The tips of her ears turned red and she could feel the sensation of her cheeks getting just as warm.
She quickly turned away, crossing her arms, trying to look annoyed. Even though her heart was pounding so loud she could hear it beating in her ears.
“Writing again? Come on Lucy, let’s go have some fun.~” He says as he makes his way over to her. He stops at the back of her chair, resting his hands on her shoulders
Her body twitches at the sudden touch. His skin was warm, which wasn’t unusual. But it was enough to give her the shivers.
“Luce?” He asked as he started rubbing small circles on the back of her shoulders with his thumb. That made Lucy sit upright. Her face now completely flushed. If she looks at him, he will surely make fun of her. She was super thankful her hair was down, so it was enough to cover her face from his view.
“What? I’m busy.” Lucy said, trying to sound irritated. She then reached back over to pick up her pen. She brought it to where she had left off, hovering the pen over the blank space on the paper. Her mind was drawing blanks. She was too nervous, the way he was rubbing her back was having her mind everywhere but on the book she needed to finish.
She suddenly froze as Natsu leaned down, his head hovering above her shoulder as he used his right hand to slowly reach over and pull the pen out of her hand. Lucy watched as her pen was being taken away, completely paralyzed with shock.
He slid the pen from her grip with ease and set it just out of reach, his hand came back and made its way to her hair, which was covering her face. He took it upon himself to slide her silky golden locks away, trying to get her attention . Tucking it behind her ear.
Oh, and did she mention he also has a habit of disregarding her personal space?
Lucy quickly turned her head away from him. “Can you leave me alone?”
He leaned his head in a little closer. “No, you’re being so weird today.”
“I am not! Now what do you want?!” She came off as more frantic than frustrated or mad. Her heart was racing so fast she really didn’t know what was wrong with her. Usually being friends with this hot head felt like having a thorn stuck to her side, but recently that thorn was giving her butterflies and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
“Geese, what’s gotten into you? I wanted to go to the new bar tonight. You said you were going to come.”
This threw her out of her impassioned state as she turned to look at him.
“I never said that.”
He was staring deeply into her eyes. This immediately made her feel nervous. He had a somewhat serious look to him. Realizing how close he was to her face made her panic.
“Why are you staring?”
He took a step back as he pulled his phone from his back pocket. He entered his password and pulled up a message and turned it to her. Sure enough he was right.
Natsu: “Want to check out the new bar tomorrow night?”
Lucy: “No, I have papers to write :/“
Natsu: “You’re so boring:p”
Lucy: “I’m surprised you used the right you’re.”
Natsu : “Shut up, come with me PLEAASE LUSHI.”
Lucy: “Fine, but I’m going to complain about it :|”
Natsu: “Fine by me ;)”
Lucy sighed as she realized he was right. She didn’t want to go, but I guess some time out with her best friend would be ok.
She put the papers away in a folder.
“Fine, let me change.”
A wide grin grew on his face. “Ok, but you better hurry.”
She rolled her eyes slightly at his comment and she walked down the hall to her room. Closing the door behind her. She leaned against the door as she took a deep breath. A single night out will be fine. Once she has a few drinks it will help her relax. The past few weeks have been weird, seeing Natsu has been making her feel nervous. His smile alone was enough to make her feel weak in the knees, which was so odd for her.
They grew up together as kids. Now they are both in college and he’s never made her feel like this before.
She shook her head at the crazy thoughts. “This night will be different.” She said softly to herself and she made her way to her closest to change.
_______________
After what felt like forever Lucy finally came out of her room. At this point Natsu made himself comfortable. Laying on her couch, holding his phone scrolling through social media.
He heard her footsteps.
“Finally, you took forever. Thought I was about to fall asl-“ he got cut off as he turned to look at her.
She had definitely put on makeup, but she was wearing a strapless thigh length black dress with a slit in the side. It was doing wonders for her thighs. She paired it with some black heels and gold jewelry. He always liked the gold, it looked good on her. Natsu did a quick scan of her outfit and looked up at her.
“What?” Lucy asked, she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. A faint redness grew on her cheeks
“You look stupid, let’s go.” He said as he sat up and got off the couch.
Normally Lucy would be mad at that comment, but this is the first time Lucy was getting a good look at him. He was wearing dark black jeans with a silver chain wrapping from his front pocket to his back pocket. He had a white long sleeve under shirt that was covered by a black tee with some logo on it. Along with a black pair of sneakers, his usual.
But what really got her was the sleeves on his white tee were rolled up to his elbows. For some reason he looked really good like that. She quickly started walking, following behind him, before he noticed she was staring. They walk out and she locks her apartment behind her.
_______________
They made their way down the street. The city was coming alive as the sunset was coming down. The lights of all the shops and restaurants lit up the streets, the people walking, eating, having fun. It was a standard Friday night. Not too busy, but you could feel the energy.
They could spot the new bar, by the shiny new lit up sign. It read ‘The Fairy Grill: Food & Bar’
They made their way inside, finding two seats at the bar. Natsu turned to look at her. “We should do a shot.” He says as he sits in the stool.
Lucy thinks for a moment as she takes her seat and sets her purse on the bar top.
“Perhaps, what did you have in mind?”
Natsu smirks. “Fireball obviously.”
Damn that smirk. She sighs. “Fine.”
The bartender makes her way over to the two of them. She was wearing a standard uniform. Her hair was long and white as snow. Her eyes were even more amazing, blue like the ocean. Her nametag read ‘Mirajane’
“Hey, welcome to Fairy Grill, what can I get started for you two?”
“Two fireball shots please.”
“Are we cashing out? Or starting a tab?”
Natsu slides his card over. “Tab please…” he quickly reads her name tag. “Mirajane, thank you.”
She nods. Taking his card and walking away.
He then turns to look at Lucy.
“Thanks Natsu.”
He smiles. “Don’t mention it.”
The bartender brings the shots over. Natsu takes them and hands one to Lucy.
“To us?” He says with a slight grin. She returns the smile. “To us!” She says. They clink the shot glasses and shoot it.
Natsu puts his shot glass down and immediately reaches for a menu.
“Hungry already?”
“I heard the food is really good here. We have to get something!”
Natsu slid the menu over slightly so Lucy could see it too. He even went as far as scooting his chair over. His shoulder was lightly brushing hers. The touch was so simple, but enough to make the butterflies in Lucy’s stomach come back.
They got a few things to share, and obviously ordered more drinks.
She had a cute cocktail. It was a celestial cosmo,. Natsu had his Dragon Slayer draft beer. So far so good. Lucy felt like she had her feelings under control for the night.
That was until Natsu’s knee kept softly brushing against hers. One thing about Natsu is with his lack of personal space, he also likes to be touchy. Not in a weird or creepy way. But it’s something he’s always done. He’s always just close enough, within reach.
She looks down at their knees then takes a glance up at his face. He’s focused, he was looking around the bar. He then turns to look at her. He’s quick to smile.
She immediately blushes and takes a large sip of her drink.
“Woah, slow down there. You seem on edge today… what’s up?”
“Nothing Natsu, I’m fine.”
He rolls his eyes playfully, taking another sip of his drink.
“You expect me to believe that?”
She takes a deep breath, not knowing exactly how to respond. “I just haven’t been feeling myself…”
“Just relax. We’re having fun. Having some drinks. Chillin~”
She giggles softly.
“I need another drink.”
As she says this, Natsu is already trying to get the bartender’s attention. She notices and comes over with a smile.
“Can I get another celestial cosmo please? Another beer as well.”
She nods. “But of course!”
“Thanks Mirajane!”
The bartender walks away to enter in the drinks at the system.
Natsu turns back to his blonde friend. He gives her a playful wink, followed by his usual smirk.
She finishes off the last of her drink. Her cheeks red. What is happening right now?!
She is quickly pulled from her thoughts as the bartender comes back, but with a shot. She slides it over to Natsu.
He looks at her confused. “I don’t mind a shot and all, but I didn’t order that.”
She smiles back at him. “This is from the group of girls over there.” She says, nodding towards the women.
Natsu turns to look at them and they are all winking and waving at him. He scratches the back of his head, a small blush on his cheeks. They put their shots up. He smiles sheepishly as he takes the shot raising it up, the girls do the same with their shots and they shoot it. He puts the shot glass down on the bar top and then turns back to the bartender.
She puts their new round of drinks down and Natsu is quick to grab his beer and takes a big gulp. Lucy grabs hers as well. Her butterflies have now turned into something else. Something she couldn’t name.
Oh no, he probably likes one of those girls. Lucy shakes her head.
“I need to use the restroom. I’ll be back.” She says and gets up before Natsu has the chance to say anything.
Her mind is flooded with what if’s and different scenarios as she makes her way to the bathroom. She stops at the mirror staring at herself.
Why does she even care if he likes someone else? Or if another girl likes him? Why is this making her feel like this? What is wrong with her?! It’s not like she has a crush on her annoying friend or something… that would be absurd. She would never… it’s not like his smile is nice, or his eyes are pretty, or if he’s funny and makes her laugh…
She shakes her head and pats her cheeks. “You don’t like him.” She says trying to convince herself.
She takes a deep breath before stepping back out of the bathroom. She turns the corner to make her way back to the bar, but she stops in her tracks. Her eyes widen and she feels her chest tighten. One of the pretty girls who bought Natsu a drink was talking to him. She had wasted no time and made sure to get next to him. She had her hand on his arm, she was rubbing up and down making sure to feel his whole arm and making comments on his biceps.
God this alcohol is making her go crazy. It was supposed to help calm her nerves.
It’s not like he’s her boyfriend, so this really shouldn’t bother her as much as she’d like to admit. She takes another deep breath and makes her way over. She walks up to him and stops at his side.
“Hey Lu-“ he stops once he sees the look on her face.
“Lucy? What happened?” She barely turned to look at him. His expression concerned.
“It’s nothing, I see you're busy and I don’t want to get in the way of you flirting with that girl. So I’m just going to go home ok? I’ll see you some other time.”
His eyes widened slightly at her comment. What happened in the bathroom?
She then started to walk away. Natsu stood up and reached for her wrist, he brushed her hand, but it slipped away. She didn’t even turn around, she just kept walking.
“Luce?!” He called out, he went to take a step and the woman who had been trying to flirt with him grabbed his arm to stop him. He turned his head to look at her.
“Don’t worry, she wants us to get to know each other, stay for another drink? On me!”
_______________
Lucy walked home, the once alive streets were now slow, the moon was out and people had gone home. A slight breeze in the air.
Lucy wrapped her arms around her torso in an attempt to keep herself warm. She couldn’t help the sting in her eyes. She blinked to try to fight it, but the tears eventually trickled down.
She couldn’t believe it, a few drinks and a shot in and she was crying over her best friend. Feelings she had been fighting were feeling too real at this moment. She felt so vulnerable and fragile.
Something so small like watching Natsu get hit on was enough to make her cry. What was wrong with her? He’s her best friend anyway, he doesn’t want to date her. He doesn’t want her.
Her thoughts swirled in her brain. The alcohol wasn’t helping. But maybe it could help her in the end.
She made it up the stairs of her apartment in a hurry. She was quick to let herself in. She slid out of her heels and walked straight for the kitchen. In the kitchen was a cabinet where her alcohol was stored. She grabbed her favorite wine and went to grab a glass. Her hand stopped just before she reached it. No, no glass, the whole bottle.
She pulled the cork out and took a few sips from the bottle. She then stumbled her way to the couch and wasted no time making herself comfortable. She plopped down, grabbed the remote and turned the tv on.
She surfed through a few channels before finding some sort of romantic movie, which was one of her favorites. It was perfect timing as it seems it just started. She takes another swig out of the bottle.
It will be ok.
_______________
Natsu in the kindest way looked at the woman and turned her down. He was too worried about his friend to be stuck at a bar with a girl he didn’t know..
He turned to the bartender and kindly asked to tab out. As he waited for the check he pulled his phone out and dialed her number.
“Please Lucy, pick up.”
Her ringtone went off, he turned to see she had left her purse with her phone sitting on the bar top.
He sighed, now slightly worried. He just hoped she made it home okay.
He grabbed her belongings, paid for their food and drinks and then left the bar. He walked as fast as he could through the now deserted street.
He made his way to her apartment door. He knocked and no answer.
“Lucy?” He called as he put his ear against the door, hoping to hear her. He heard what sounded like the tv, which was a good sign. She probably had just fallen asleep. He tried the doorknob, which to his surprise actually turned.
He let himself in, closing the door behind him. He set her stuff down on the kitchen counter and then walked around the corner, hoping to spot her.
“Lucy?” He said as he saw her. She was sitting on the ground in front of the couch, with a bottle of wine in her hand. He wuickly made his way over to her.
“Hey Luce.” She was sort of swaying as she turned to look up at him.
“He-hey there~” she slurred.
He then took a quick scan of the area. It seems she was on her second bottle of wine and halfway through a bag of potato chips. He sat next to her.
“Hey, what happened?”
“Nothing happened, I’m just.” *hiccup* “just, relaxing.”
“Just relaxing huh?”
She nodded. He grabbed the open bottle of wine and took a large sip out of it.
“If you're just relaxing then why are you making that face?” He said as he fiddled with the wine bottle
“What face?” *hiccup*
“The face you make when you’re upset about something and won’t admit it.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re so stubborn.”
He took another sip as he leaned back against the couch.
“Listen Luce, I don’t know why you really left the bar. But I wasn’t interested in that girl.”
She looked at him shocked. “You weren’t?”
“No” he chuckled lightly. “You didn’t need to do that. I went to the bar with you, because I wanted to hang out with you. So next time just stay with me?”
She could feel her cheeks getting warmer.
“I only left because… because… because I like you…”
Her face was now more red than a tomato. Her heart was racing. She tried to read his face, he had to feel something for her right?
“I hope so.. I mean I like you too, if I didn’t we wouldn’t hang out? Or be friends?”
She face palmed
“No Natsu, I have a crush on you, I like you like you.”
Uh oh, the liquid courage really took over
His eyes immediately widened.
She turned to look away from him. “It’s ok, I know you don’t like me like that, bu-“
Before her brain could catch up, Natsu’s hand had cupped her cheek, forcing her face towards his, his lips landing on hers. Eager, like he’d been wanting to do this.
Her eyes closed as she deepened the kiss just a little bit more.
Natsu pulled away slowly, taking a deep shaky breath.
“I like you too, Lucy.” He said softly, his eyes half lidded.
“You do?”
He nodded. “I, I didn’t want to ruin what we had. But, I do really like you.”
She leaned up, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him into another kiss.
His eyes widened at first, but they slowly closed as he kissed her back. Resting his hand on her side.
She jolted lightly at the touch, She then ran her fingers through his hair, she made sure to take in the whole moment. How it felt. His lips were soft , and he tasted like fireball. She always associated the smell of fireball with Natsu, it was his favorite liquor. She didn’t mind it, it wasn’t her first choice of alcohol, but at this very moment she craved it.
Natsu pulled away from the kiss slowly, almost like he didn’t want to stop. Her heart was pounding, and her head was spinning.
He smirked slightly as he looked into her eyes. He looked at her like she was the most beautiful girl in the world.
“Let’s go to bed before this liquid courage convinces me to do anything else.” She said as she stood up.
He looked at her puzzled. “What does that mean?”
She laughed as she grabbed the wine they had forgotten about.
“Nothing Natsu, I think it’s time for bed.”