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The summer festival was one, if not the best event of the year in Magnolia, hands down. After all, this was when Natsu would stuff his mouth for free in the best stalls of the town. Lucy (alongside Happy… mostly, until he decided that Carla needed some fish) would just run after him, making sure he wasn’t making himself sick- though “Dragons stomachs can handle anything” she recalled him saying, to which she replied “well motion sickness.” and his face turned green at the thought. She chuckled at his helplessness, before letting him guide her
Natsu really moved like a full on rainstorm most of the time, but this time it was even worse. They moved through the crowded streets with unease, but humour as they were trying to try every attraction possible and then join their fellow teammates on the hills, not too far away from the festivities to watch the fireworks.
This was the part she was always the most excited about during the event because of how ethereal the whole thing appeared. And she got to share some quality time with her friends and favourite flame for brains so, you wouldn’t find her complaining. Until Natsu dragged her around and blew her sanity away like a house of cards.
“Natsu, stop running and gripping my arm !”
The celestial mage whined as she almost tripped due to her shoes.
“Nah, yer way too slow, we gotta hurry up if we don’t wanna miss the fireworks either. I know how much you like”
His reply had an excitement, a spark that she wasn’t being insensitive to.
She was shushed on the spot. It was true. If they wanted to try the maximum amount of things out in the short amount of time they had, hurrying was the only option. She was still pissed about that though, so she pouted trying to repress the growing flush on her cheeks, but forced her legs to run faster, despite the restrictions her pink yukata, and sandals gave. Honestly, it should be impressive that he managed to run so fast despite wearing one of his own. Emphasis on the should because there was nothing about him that shocked her at this point, except when he was oddly thoughtful and self aware around her every once in a while. This was such an instance.
She stored those thoughts away, to try not to get in her delusions so much, and focused herself on the short amount of time they had.
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In their quest to find something fun to do in the wait of the fireworks, they encountered different stands with games. They tried a few like a duck fishing game that- to no one’s surprise Natsu won and smirked as the blonde sank her disappointment and sudden urge to Lucy-kick him straight up to the moon because he very quickly became obnoxious about it.
Or archery. Lucy won and the dragon slayer claimed she cheated because she used Saggitarius’ star dress. Well it wasn’t her fault the use of magic wasn’t prohibited. She just used her brain after all, unlike Natsu who was known to sheer brute force into everything… That was a debatable take though, he was pretty smart when it came to strategising against enemies on the fly but she digressed. Point was, since they were so competitive about everything, they were keeping scores, and so far, it was even.
Obviously they wouldn’t stop there. Far from it. In fact, Natsu was still salty about losing this challenge.
“Well I think I should be given points on archery.”
The blonde rose to the bait.
“Obviously not mister ! You did not score a single mark.”
Natsu stuck his tongue out like a baby- this man had just turned 21, how can he act like that?
“You used magic ! That’s cheating !
Lucy took mild offense to the false accusation.
“The man who held the stand said it was allowed, stop being such a cry baby and accept defeat”
Natsu was clearly not done spitting his venom into her ear.
“Well at least I won the fishing”
Lucy cocked an eyebrow. She really couldn’t believe he was still bragging about that. What a stupid and lame guy.
“I’m not being obnoxious about my win unlike you were, idiot”
He got pissed and decided to use his brain like she did apparently, to challenge her even more.
“Well since yer so salty about me callin’ ya out on cheatin’ let’s just do one last thing and the winner takes it all, cuz we only have time left for one”
She was driven back to rationality when he mentioned the time. It was only a short while until they got to that point.
“That’s not how it works you- ugh it’s even, it’s just a way to settle the score, but yeah let’s do this so that you quit saying I’m a cheater, you sore loser. ”
It was her turn to stick her tongue out in mockery and disdain. Natsu grimaced and rolled his eyes.
“Yer such a mad’ weirdo Luce”
She decided that peace was no longer an option.
“I’m actually going to slime you alive.”
The duo was bickering out in the public while still walking, and deciding on a way to solve their very minor issue. They were still in a loving shouting match when Lucy’s eyes saw a prize on a shooting game stand. Her eyes widened and shone bright without her knowledge, and without the knowledge that her friend noticed. She saw a jewellery set, a necklace, that had a peculiar pendant : it was a star.. But it was surrounded by a beautiful flame, in the shape of a halo, with earrings in the shape of the same luminary, and a flame. She couldn’t help but to get a fuzzy feeling in her heart as the butterflies flew in a frenzy in her stomach at the sight. It matched Natsu and her.
His eyes followed hers and he understood what she wanted.
“Wanna try this one out?”
He asked, humour and something a bit deeper, calmer, warmer in his tone. Lucy was snapped out of her trance and she blushed this time around.
“U-uh yeah sure thing.”
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The rules were simple.
No use of magic was allowed- Natsu gave her his toothy grin when the owner reviewed the orders, and to win a prize, each participant had to make it fall, using the toy guns at their disposal, only using three shots for each attempt.
Lucy was the first one to give it a try. And she failed miserably. She aimed for the set but it just didn’t work out, the bullets were simply too weak to make something that heavy fall. She sighed in disappointment. Not only didn’t she get what she wanted, but Natsu was totally going to tease her about not being able to make anything fall, and that her winning so far had only been because she was allowed to use magic. Her shoulders slumped.
Then Natsu’s turn came. He walked towards the gun with confidence, as he had a plan to guarantee winning the prize his friend wanted. He shot once, letting the cork hit the object. Nothing happened. Then, he warmed his hand to trigger a more explosive reaction with the powder in the chamber- which caused the box Lucy laid her eyes on a few minutes ago to fall.
Lucy gasped in astonishment.
Did he just-
The lady picked the box up and gave it to the smiling man, who was way too proud of his plan, even if the owner gave him a suspicious look. But considering she didn’t see anything, and he seemingly played by the rules, she brushed it off.
The young man walked towards his friend, the box underneath one arm, before giving it to her. Lucy’s heart fluttered against her ribcage and she felt her soul quitting her body. That’s the thing about Natsu- he could always go and piss her off and then make her feel putty with his affections, which is why she absolutely hated him ! Yeah, she hated him so much ! though her sudden envy to launch in his arms proved otherwise. He stood there in front of her, just close enough to touch. She restrained herself though, still feeling too self conscious to try anything. She hoped he couldn’t guess what she was thinking of.
“Thank you.”
The smile she wore after uttering these words, had a similar effect on him it seemed like.
“Ah- no problem Luce.”
He looked away a bit shy, before grabbing her hand to divert her attention from the awkwardness that would settle in.
“Well- let’s join the others, the fireworks are gonna start soon. You’ll put these on once we’re there”
And then he turned, his back facing her as he started bolting in the direction of the hills. Lucy couldn’t help the small chuckle to leave her mouth.
“Okay !”
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When they arrived at the meeting spot, they found out that none of their friends had made it yet. Honestly what was there to expect from Fairy Tail members.
Well, too bad for them, they would miss out on the beginning of the show !
Natsu let go of Lucy’s hand and looked at the horizon, nose in the air to try and pick up the scent of powder. On the other hand, Lucy opened the box to admire the precious artifact she’s just acquired.
It’s literally made for him and I.
She grinned, still flustered by his kind action, until she felt his gaze piercing her skin.
“What’s wrong?”
Instead of a verbal reply, he walked closer to her, took the accessories- the necklace specifically and tied it around her neck without so much as a warning. Her body went very still- at least in the first place as a delicious shiver that soon turned into a spark ran down her spine, before spreading to her being as a whole.
“There we go ! It looks good on you too!”
What the actual heck?!?
Not only had he been nice, and now he just- this man would be the end of her. She was a blushing mess now, and she stared at the ground, refusing to peer at him for now and be hit with those green eyes of his. Her thoughts were going at a hundred miles per minute, trying to excuse, summarise his behaviour as Natsu being Natsu and all but it gradually became harder and harder to find an excuse. He had been having behaviours out of his usual realm towards her in particular and she was only grasping this concept now, where she should be watching the-
“Luce ! Look !”
She heard them. The fireworks. Her eyes lit up even more than when she saw the box. She jogged next to him to see the lights go down.
It’s beautiful.
Lucy started reflecting on how joyful those fireworks made her- as her father stopped taking her to see them after her mother died, leaving her to admire them from the cold window in her bedroom, dreaming about the life she wished she had. Now she had it, and she could see them from so close. She huffed her relief and gratefulness as the most beautiful grin adorned her features.
She had no idea how angelic she looked. But the dragon slayer who stood by her side did. He had only eyes for her, as soon as she started watching the fireworks. He was the one to enter a daze, captivated by her, instead of the grand spectacle before him- well to hell fireworks- Lucy beaming, with an ornament that reminded him of them both like this was the most enchanting thing he’d seen in his whole life.
She seemed to notice his insistent stare as her eyes met his. He blushed a bit, but refused to look away. Neither did she. In fact, she took a deep breath, swallowing her previous shyness, convinced that she wouldn’t get any other chance to open her heart to him and let her fingers run through his hair as the lights went wild. He just kept on keeping his eyes on her and she absolutely relished in the feeling? Maybe it was wrong, as the fireworks were an annual event, but it felt wrong enough to make it feel right.
Both of them leaned in, impossibly closer and then-
The surrounding noise was shut off, relayed to a second plan as their lips met for the very first time.
On that summer night, sparks flew for the town of Magnolia, and between the two of them.