NaLu Week: The Week of Love Chapter 1: Gifts, a fairy tail fanfic

NaLu Week: The Week of Love

Chapter 1:

Gifts

He stared down at the small object in his hands. It seemed to burn through his fingers, to his stomach and out his toes (odd, considering his magic was that of fire).

He was never one to stop and think things through. But, for some reason unbeknownst to him, when it came to her, he couldn't seem to stop second-guessing himself. Should he really give this to her?

He didn't even understand why, or perhaps more accurately, what he was feeling, though. Don't get him wrong; he knew of love. He knew it was where two people cared deeply for each other, like best friends.

But that was the thing.

It didn't feel like they were "best friends" anymore. It was different, awkward.

Was that love?

And every time she saw him she'd blush and stammer with her words. He'd smile and rub the back of his neck sheepishly, silently thinking how cute she was and then abruptedly stop because since when had Lucy been cute? Lucy was weird, and funny, and really, really weird. Not cute.

But the thought would still cross his mind every time he looked at her, along with how kind she was and how scary she could be, and just that she was such a wonderful person. She was selfless and didn't like to burden people with her problems (something that lately really irritated him because if she had any problems he would burn them to a crisp whether she asked or not just because when she was happy he was happy) and had such a tough-girl disposition about her. Sure, she freaked out on missions more times than anyone could really count and dressed really girly but she could be tough when she wanted to.

And she had so much faith and loyalty to her guild mates it was ridiculous. She didn't doubt anyone even for a second. Yes, she'd worry constantly about their well-beings, especially if they were fighting an enemy, but she never thought even for a second that they wouldn't be alright.

She wasn't very physically strong but she'd still jump in and get her hands dirty, maybe break a few bones here and there. She was so willing to do anything to help; it didn't matter to her if she was hurt in the process. She never ran away no matter how many times he'd scream at her to do so. She believed in them, in him.

So in short she was smart, thoughtful, crazy, loyal, and really weird.

But most of all she was beautiful. Not just in a physical sense, either, because her personality was one of the fiercest ones he'd ever met. She was so different compared to other girls.

And all of that, all of her, was his dilemma.

Best friends didn't think these things about each other, did they? He didn't think so. All he knew was that he felt something unexplainable whenever she was near, whenever he thought about her (which was more often than he'd like to admit), whenever she looked at him and smiled that bright smile of hers as if saying, "I'm right where I belong."

But here he was, standing in front of her apartment at two in the morning. The small trinket in his clenched, clammy hands seemed to be mocking him: Seriously, you can't even give a boring ol' gift like me to your best friend? Lame!

Heaving a frustrated sigh, he knew the object was right. It's not as if Lucy would reject the gift (she was too nice to say if she didn't like it), so what was he so worried about?

And so he stuffed the gift in his pocket and started climb the vines up to her window, thinking for a fleeting second before his mind went blank, Do what you do best: don't think.

He didn't bother knocking, instead just pushing the window up, taking his sandals off and climbing in. (If she doesn't want me to come in then why doesn't she lock it?)

Lucy's soft, fluffy (and magical, in his opinion) bed came in contact with the soles of his feet, immediately relaxing him. Her apartment smelled, well, like her; cherry blossoms, nutmeg and strawberry shampoo.

She wasn't in bed and from the angle of said bed he could tell she wasn't in the bathroom, either. She wasn't sitting at her desk fretting over her novel. The only place that was left was his favorite area (aside from her bed), the kitchen.

He was right. There she was, sitting at the breakfast bar with a cup of hot chocolate in hand. She was staring dazedly at something in front of her, as if deep in thought.

When he cleared his throat she nearly jumped out of her skin, making him want to laugh. He watched in amusement (terror) as she swung around in his direction with the intent of murder.

After she got in a few good (painful) Lucy Kick's, she finally put her hands on her hips and glared at him, although her cheeks were red and just as he expected she stammered, "D-don't scare me like that!"

That was his cue to grin and rub the back of his neck sheepishly while silently thinking about how cute she was.

But he wasn't thinking right now so forget about going on stage and reciting his lines and just get to the fucking chase.

"I think I love you, Lucy."

A quiet gasp spilled out of mouth and she covered it with her hands in shock. Her face burned and she looked ready to keel over. "W-what?" she choked.

Was that not the right thing to say? Shit, shit, shit. He didn't really know much about this "love" crap but maybe that was his mistake? Was saying he loved her too much? Not enough?

Not knowing what he should say and too embarrassed to really say anything at all, he stayed silent.

Lucy's eyes widened, seeing the sad and confused look on his face. She seemed to calm down a little and a soft smile graced her lips.

She stepped closer to him one step at a time until she was merely a few inches away. And then she wrapped her arms around his torso, pulling him close.

"Natsu," she giggled, although there was something in her voice that irked him. "Natsu." A whisper.

She was scared.

Of him?

That thought snapped something inside of him and he pulled her so close that they both could barely breathe.

After a few minutes of awkward silence he finally found his voice, although it was weak and distant. The exact opposite of him. "I'm sorry for what I said. You know, earlier. I shouldn't have said it because I don't even really know the meaning of what I said and if it's what I'm feeling."

Lucy breathed out a shaky breath and pulled her head away from his shoulder to look at him in the eyes. Her face was flushed. "A-and what exactly are you... feeling?" she asked uncertainly, her blush broadening.

He shrugged, his own cheeks flushing slightly. "I don't know. All I do know is that I've never thought of anyone the way I think of you. You're just so... imperfectly perfect, y'know?"

She smiled, nodding her head. "Yeah, I do. And... Natsu... For the record, you don't have to be sorry. What you said wasn't wrong. I mean, I don't know anymore than you do whether or not you love me. But what I do know is that I don't think of anyone the way I think of you, either. So maybe you don't love me, but maybe you like me? As in, more than a friend?"

He tilted his head in confusion. "More than a friend?"

"You know when you see two people, um...—" She looked away, her face growing hotter if it were even humanly possible. "—...kissing? When people do that it usually means that they like somebody more than a friend, that they want to be their boyfriend or girlfriend, which means they want to be in a relationship and possibly get married one day."

He blinked. Two times. Three times.

And then all the sudden Lucy was up against the wall and he was kissing her.

It was weird because he didn't know what he was doing and just tried to do the same thing he'd seen random strangers on the street do but he didn't care because all that mattered was her and the way that her lips tasted and how her fingers curled around the material of his vest and the way her bangs brushed against his nose and how her lips were now smiling against his and—

But his train of thought was cut short when he found that he could no longer breathe. He reluctantly pulled away, immediately missing the way her body seemed to fit perfectly tucked into his.

The two breathed in heavily, never breaking eye contact.

"Does that mean I'm your boyfriend now?" he blurted.

A gorgeous smile lit up her entire face and she nodded eagerly. "Only if it makes me your girlfriend."

He grinned and kissed her again, this time slower, gentler. Neither of them were experienced so it was imperfectly perfect (better than Christmas in his opinion).

When they finally pulled away again he suddenly remembered why he was there in the first place.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small gift fiddling with it in his hands. "I, um, actually came here to give you this... I hope you um, like it?" Ugh. He sounded so lame. So un...him.

Lucy thought it was cute.

She looked down in the palm of his hand and resisted the urge to burst out laughing, instead going for a thankful smile and wrapping her arms around his neck into a hug. "Thank you, Natsu. I love it. And so will Plue!"

The gift was a small keychain plushie of the Canis Minor Nicola: one that looked just like Plue.

"Thank you," she said again, setting the keychain on the kitchen countertop. She glanced at the clock and nearly did a double take. "Crap, it's already three o'clock! Don't we have to get up at six for an early mission?"

He groaned. "Yes," he said.

"Alright then, let's get to sleep," she said, grabbing his hand and leading him down the hallway.

After Lucy changed into her pajamas, she hopped in her bed, right beside him, and shut the lamp off. He wondered for a moment why she didn't ask him whether he wanted to stay or not, but he guessed it was because he often stayed there without being invited anyway.

She snuggled her back closer into his chest and he hesitantly wrapped an arm around her waist. Was he allowed to do that now that they were in a... what was the word she used again? Relationship? Yeah, that was it.

"You're fine, Natsu," she giggled sleepily. He hummed and slowly began to nod off.

That was until there was a loud shout from the other side of the bedroom.

"You looooooooooove her!"

Lucy screeched.

Needless to say Happy wasn't going to be sneaking up on them anytime soon.

~ツ~

Ermaghersh this is my first FT story and I am so nervous! Please tell me I didn't fail, please! XD

but anyways HAPPY NALU WEEK! *bashes symbols* i will be posting one chapter everyday for each of the prompts: today was Gift, tomorrow is Vulnerable, day 3 is Ribbon, day 4 Promise, 5 is Dare (im so looking forward to that, omg!), 6 Effulgence, 7 Future, and as a bonus, day 8 High School. (all of these prompts are courteous of tumblr, so yay for the internet!)

On a side note I'd just like to say that each day is unrelated to the previous chapter. So tomorrow, Vulnerable, will be slightly similar to this only in Lucy's POV but it is completely unrelated to this first one. just thought id let you know :p

and if you read through all of that nonsense than youre awesome, thank you!

so sorry for any mistakes! feel free to point 'em out!

Thank you so much for reading and reviews would be very much appreciated. :3

~CeeCee~