A/N: Good news and bad news. Good news! I'm almost done with the next chapter of Fallen Star. Bad news? I've decided I will update it July 1st just because May 1st was the last update, which I'm so sorry about D: Anyway, this story was inspired by the songs Cop Car by Keith Urban and Play It Again by Luke Bryan. And I've been itching to write something with these songs, whether it was Kodomo No Omocha or Fairy Tail. But Fairy Tail was the pick so wha la! Kind of long, around 25 pages, so be prepared for that! But it was fun to write :) I hope you enjoy :)
I don't own Fairy Tail. It all belongs to Hiro Mashima.
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Dream Sequence/Flashback"
Summer Nights
-O-
"You were so innocent,
but you were stealing my heart
I fell in love in the back of a cop car."
- Cop Car, Keith Urban
-O-
The bright, orange fire burned brightly, as it's fiery shadow illuminated the shore of the lake side. People were dancing and singing, alcohol in their hands, celebrating the warm summer night. The music was playing loudly, absorbing the voices around the campfire.
Eighteen year old Natsu Dragneel sat solemnly, his arms crossed over his chest, a pout settling on his lips. He was clad in a tight, red long sleeved shirt with a few buttons at the top and dark jeans, with a white scarf wrapped around his neck. His strange and unusual pink haired danced with the light breeze as his onyx colored eyes screamed boredom.
The students of Fairy Tail Academy were hosting one last lake trip before they all went their separate ways for college and life. The host, their class president for four years: Erza Scarlet, organized the event, all Fairy Tail students, current and former, invited for the celebration.
The young Dragneel was going to skip out on the celebration, not really in the mood to be around drunken friends and also heartbroken, but was dragged by his rival/best friend, Gray Fullbuster.
"Oh flame for brains! Get the hell up! Stop your damn sulking and live a little , you damn pyro!" The pout that was etched on his face turned into a glare as the pink haired teenager snarled.
"Shut the hell up, droopy eyes! I'll get up when I want too, you damn snow cone!"
Gray had grown up in the snow before transferring to Fairy Tail Academy, therefor making him immune to the cold. He also had a weird habit of stripping since he was young. Natsu was always a heat person, loving everything about fire and the way heat worked. It was the only time in the pyro's science classes that he ever paid attention. Their differences in preferences was why the two had been bitter rivals since their first encounter.
"You wanna fight, pinky? I'm always ready for a brawl!"
"Come at me, ice princess! And why don't you put some damn clothes on!" Natsu referring to the shirt that was now settled on the floor next to them.
Both teenagers locked heads, glaring daggers at each other as they both made fist, ready to attack one another. Though Gray had always been one of Natsu's closest friends, just the presence of the dark, raven haired boy irritated the pink haired boy to no end.
"Enough."
Natsu and Gray immediately stilled, chills crawling down their spines. When she got involved, both teenagers wouldn't dare to continue fighting, not if they wanted to live a long, healthy life.
"This is most likely the last time we will all be gathered together until who knows how long and you two are fighting? How does that make sense, Natsu? Gray?"
"Erza! Erza! Hi, Erza!" Gray stuttered as sweat rolled down his face. "We're not fighting, right Natsu? We're getting along just fine! Just having another conversation, like best buds do!" The ice loving teenager hooked an arm around Natsu's neck, who put on the biggest grin as the fright of Erza loomed over him.
"Aye sir!"
That was enough for the former, scarlet class president as a smile graced her delicate, but strong face. "Good, good. I know it's natural of course, for good friends to fight every so often. But at times like these, we must cherish the time we have left together! Understood?"
"Aye sir!" They replied simultaneously.
"Perfect. Now go have fun, you two." With that, the fearless Titania, Erza Scarlet walked away towards the school bookworm Levy McGarden, who was sitting with someone Natsu had never seen before; at least not at the academy.
Once Erza was a reasonable distance away, the rival teenagers unhooked themselves from each other and growled. They stared each other down, Natsu not wanting to give in to the stripping freak. Both infamous teenagers kept at their staring contest until someone called over at Gray.
"Gray-sama~!"
Natsu watched as the called boy froze immediately, his countenance changing from irritation to annoyance as his four year stalker, Juvia Lockser, who also talked in third person, came running at him.
"There you are, Gray-sama! Juvia has been looking for you everywhere!"
Natsu snickered, thinking that this was definitely the best revenge. "Hello, Natsu-kun! Do you mind if Juvia borrows Gray-sama for the night?"
"Wha- No! Natsu don't you dare answer tha-"
"Of course you can! Keep him forever if ya want!" Gray shot daggers at his oldest friend, Natsu throwing his head back, his hands behind his head. Juvia literally had hearts in her eyes as she squealed with excitement, wrapping her arms around the bare chest of the dark haired boy.
"Damn it! Juvia! Stop- Natsu! You stupid ass, candle stick! I'll get you back for this!" The droopy eyed boy protested as the insults left his mouth. The blue haired teenager dragged him away, where Natsu, with a smirk at his lips, waved tauntingly, his laughter loud as day.
"You're an ass, Salamander."
Responding to his nickname, Natsu turned to see his old rival and close friend, Gajeel Redfox walk up to him with two drinks in his hand. The fire shadowed him, as his dark mane was kept in place thanks to the green headband wrapped around his head. His dark, red eyes shone brightly despite the dark night and his piercings shone brightly in the moon light.
His grin fell, his eyes narrowing at the boy in front of him. "He deserved it! Besides, she's your friend, metal face! Shouldn't you be defendin' her or something like that?"
A vein appeared at the corner of the dark haired boy's forehead. "Yeah, but Juvia's fuckin' crazy. At least for the damn stripper she is."
They mutually came to an understand, which was a rarity for the two boys. They locked heads just as much as Natsu and Gray did. But for once, they decided for tonight, they'd avoid the quarreling, though it wouldn't be Fairy Tail if a random fight didn't break out.
"I thought Levy didn't like beer?" Natsu noted, eyeing the two cups of alcohol in Gajeel's hands.
"She doesn't. But Bunny Girl wanted a cup, so I got her one."
"Bunny… girl?" Clear confusion crossed the onyx eyed boy's face.
"Yeah, Shorty's best friend. The blonde one sittin' next to her?" Gajeel gestured over towards Levy as Natsu turned around to see Levy, Erza, and this mysterious blonde that he noticed earlier sitting down around the wooden bench.
"Who is she? Never seen her around Fairy Tail before." Natsu didn't know if it was just him, but there was something about the way her blonde hair was shining in the orange glow from the fire in front of her. Or the way her brown(?) eyes gleamed in the dark.
"Her name's Lucy. And that's cause' she didn't go to Fairy Tail, you dumb ass. Her and the squirt met a while ago, both huge book nerds apparently."
Natsu didn't know what it was, but he found himself following Gajeel as they made their way back over towards the group of girls who were sitting around the campfire. As they grew closer, Natsu couldn't keep his eyes off of her.
She had shimmering blonde hair that radiated in the bask of the flames in front of her and these delicate, but bright, brown eyes that danced with fire. He felt his face heating up, something that never usually happened to the pink haired boy.
When Gajeel and Natsu arrived, the girl known as Lucy stood up as the dark haired boy offered her the drink. That's when the pyro got a good look at her. She was wearing a simple, strapless white dress with a tiny brown belt tied around the waist. Her blonde hair was curled at the bottom and she adorned these nifty looking cowgirl boots. And the pink haired boy couldn't help but notice how big her chest was. He wasn't a pervert or anything of the sorts, but when something that… big stood out in front of you like that, it was hard not to look.
She smiled and thanked Gajeel, making Natsu's heart race.
He concluded then that she had a beautiful smile.
"Oh! Natsu! I didn't see you there! Hi!" Levy McGarden, always top in the class behind Erza, greeted him, a delighted smile on her lips. Natsu broke away from his stare over at the blonde and shifted his gaze towards the bluenette.
"Hey Levy!" He replied with a grin splitting his face in half.
"Lu-chan!" Natsu watched as she called the blonde hair maiden, who was talking to Erza, and latch onto her arm. She whipped her head back towards Levy, a brow arched. "This is Natsu! He was the most well known person at Fairy Tail! Everyone knew and loved him!"
It was true, what Levy said. He was the most popular guy in school, but not in the typical high school stereotype way. He was known for his infamous boasting and his carefree attitude and his love for his friends and Fairy Tail. But most of all, he was known for the undying loyalty he had for his school and the devotion to his friends. Natsu was many things, but selfish and inconsiderate we're not any of them.
The mysterious blonde, Lucy, turned towards him, her brown eyes locking with his onyx ones. Natsu, being the carefree, charismatic, spit fire type of guy he was, grinned, his hands behind his head.
"Natsu! This is Lu-chan! She's my best friend! I've known her since like… forever." The blue haired girl giggled, the blonde, Lucy, giggled along with her.
"Levy-chan! Only you call me Lu-chan!" She turned towards the pink haired boy, her hands clasped behind her back. "My name is Lucy Heartfilia. Natsu, was it?"
Not trying to be distracted by her sweet voice, he nodded with his spit fire grin. "Natsu Dragneel. But Natsu works just as good." He gave her the thumbs up and she laughed, making his heart race again.
Throughout the years, Natsu had only really loved one girl. And that girl was his now ex-girlfriend, Lisanna Strauss. Lisanna Strauss was his childhood best friend, growing up together to fall in love as they got older. It was obvious that he and the white haired girl were bound to end up together. They were the "power couple," the couple everyone wanted to be. Her older siblings, Mirajane and Elfman Strauss, we're well known around Fairy Tail too. Mira for her motherly touch and Elfman for his tendency to shout "If you're a man!" at every corner.
"Natsu."
Called boy gulped, the grin disappearing from his face as Erza walked up to him. He gave her a nervous smile, hoping the firm Titania didn't see the after quarrel of he and the perverted stripper.
"Aye sir!"
"You should stick by Lucy's side. Since you are most well known, it would be easier for her to meet the others with you by her side."
"Aye! Whatever you say, Erza!" He wouldn't dare defy Erza's order.
Normally, he wasn't afraid or frightened by the likes of anyone, even taking on Laxus, the school champion in martial arts. The pyro faced everyone head on, not cowering to any opponent. Except for Erza Scarlet. Erza was a monster. She was firm, strong. The scarlet class president didn't put up with any bull. Even the headmaster of Fairy Tail himself would look to Erza to handle some business.
"Great. I will see you all later then! It was nice meeting you, Lucy. I'd like to see you again in the future."
"Yes, of course, Erza! That'd be great!"
The two teenagers shared a hug and Natsu remained still with the forced smile on his face until Erza had walked away again. A sigh of relief left his lips as his head hung low.
"She's still got you by the balls, Salamander!" Gajeel snickered as he slapped Natsu on his back shoulder. The pink haired boy growled, barking back at his long time friend.
"I don't see you talkin' back to Erza! Not that you ever would!"
"Are you fuckin' crazy?! I would never mess with Titania. Not if I want to live to see tomorrow, anyway! She's fuckin' crazy, just like Mira. Fuckin' demons!"
Both boys shuttered as they imagined a very angry Erza and Mirajane coming after them.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Lucy whispering something to Levy, who laughed nervously, waving her off.
"Stop making Erza and Mira to be monsters, you two!" Levy reprimanded, as if she was reassuring Lucy.
"But they are monsters!" Natsu argued, his arms crossed in front of him. "Erza is scary!"
Again, Natsu's head hung low, thinking back to all the times Erza had punished him for doing all the wrong things. And Natsu definitely didn't want to be punished by the scarlet girl again.
"Got that right." Gajeel muttered.
The pink haired boy watched as Levy wagged a finger at him, to which he just grabbed, giving the petite girl a teasing smirk. The bluenette struggled against his powerful hold and whined at Gajeel. Natsu could remember a time when he had something like that.
"It's odd, because you'd never think a brute like Gajeel or a bookworm like Levy-chan would end up together. But they did, and they're good together."
The pyro shifted his gaze towards the blonde, her eyes watching the pair in front softly, a small smile plastered on her lips.
"Screw for brains had always like Levy. Just never had the balls to ask her out till last year." He replied, grabbing at his scarf. She giggled.
"It's weird, you know? I met Levy-chan at this book convention we held at my private school when I was 10 and we became friends instantly. We exchanged phone numbers and kept in contact for the last eight years. But..." Natsu arched a brow as she stopped, "Seeing her around you all, it makes me feel like I didn't really know her, you know?"
Natsu laughed, making Lucy blush slightly. "Wha-what are you laughing at?!"
"You're weird, Lucy!" Her eyes went wide, "Of course you know Levy! Just cause' she had this life you didn't know much about doesn't mean you knew her any less! There's just more to get to know! She's still your best friend! That doesn't change anything!"
Her mouth was parted open slightly, as if Natsu had said something she didn't comprehend. He stood there, a smile adorning his tanned face. Then, slowly, her parted mouth closed and a smile formed at her lips.
"I can see why people like you. You're an assuring guy, Natsu." She said, making Natsu blush a bit. He flashed her a smile and stared at her brown eyes for as long as she allowed him.
"By the way, you don't have to stick around me like Erza said. I think I can manage on my own. And I don't want to ruin your night by baby sitting."
Natsu waved her off. "Don't worry about it, Luigi! I don't mind! You're better company than the damn stripper or metal face anyway!"
"It's Lucy!" She shouted, a blush appearing on her face as she pouted. The pink haired boy laughed as he sat down, signaling her to follow after him.
"Ah! Sorry, sorry! I'm not really all that good at remembering things, honestly! I wasn't all that smart in school." Natsu offered her an apologetic smile as she stood in front of him. The pink haired boy noticed the glow around her body as her perfect skin gleamed in the presence of the bright flames behind her.
She sighed, a forgiving smile settling on her pale lips. Lucy took a seat next to him, grabbing her cup in the process and taking a sip. "I guess all's forgiven. But Natsu!"
Called boy, who was now stuffing a melted marshmallow into his face, turned towards her with an arched brow. Lucy's face shifted to one of disgust.
"Wak?" He questioned, his mouth full of marshmallow goo.
"Lucy. The name is Lucy, okay?"
The pink haired boy nodded with a grin. He swallowed the sweet substance and burped loudly, disgusting the blonde haired girl next to him.
"Lucy! Weirdo Lucy!"
"If anyone is weird, it's definitely you!"
"Then we can be weird together!"
Natsu watched as a crimson hue adorned the blonde's cheeks. She sputtered slightly, her next words jumbled a bit. She squirmed around slightly, as if she didn't know what her next move would be. For a few moments, the brown eyed girl sat quietly. But eventually, Lucy gave him a smile.
"Alright then. We can be weird together."
-O-
"Wait, so you went to private school for 12 years!?" Natsu asked, his eyes growing wide as he and his new friend, Lucy Heartfilia sat by the campfire, talking away the night.
She nodded, sighing roughly. "Yep. I wanted to get out of that crummy private school, but papa refused. Papa declared public school to be beneath me and scum." While he glowered, Natsu also noticed the glare on Lucy's face. "Papa always dictated my life. He always told me what I should and shouldn't do, what I was allowed to wear, who I should talk to, who my friends were. He never let me decide for myself!"
Lucy took a big gulp of her now third beer as Natsu listened. He frowned, thinking how hard it must have been on Lucy to live such a tyrannical life.
They had been sitting by the smaller camp fire, getting to know each other for what seemed for hours, but in reality, only two had passed. Lucy had talked to him about her life as the daughter of a wealthy millionaire who ran a successful railroad company. She told him stories of her childhood and her memories of attending Magnolia's School of Young Women.
While Natsu listened for the latter part, he told her about some of his more fun and daring adventures and memories, retelling them as if they had happened just yesterday.
"Your dad sounds like a dick, no offense."
She laughed, shaking her head. "When my mama died, my papa sold himself to work. It was like he forgot he had a daughter. And because he was so controlling over me, I never had any real friends besides the maids, cooks, tutors, at whatnot at our house. But even then, they were more family to me than he ever was."
Natsu watched as her eyes fell, crestfallen, her shoulders slumping.
"I'm sorry about your mom." Natsu offered his condolences, taking a drink of his beer.
"Neh, Natsu?"
The boy turned towards Lucy. She was sporting a pink hue, which he figured was from the alcohol intake rather than the heat from the fire in front of them.
"What was going to school at Fairy Tail like?"
Natsu grinned, his favorite question that any person could ask him.
"It was great! We were the best. Our sports kicked ass, always making it to finals and what not! And our teachers we're great, except for mean ol' Porly-Grandma. She hated kids, but still worked at a school, which makes no sense right? And gramps, the headmaster at Fairy Tail, never treated us like we some sort of burden or anything like that. He treated us like family and even though we bumped heads, still had our backs! And the people there were great! Some were assholes, like the stupid stripper!" Natsu gestured to Gray, who had somehow gotten away from Juvia at the moment and was talking to Cana Alberona, a drunk who graduated the same year as Mira and Laxus.
"And metal face, but we're like family at Fairy Tail. You mess with one, you mess with everyone. We stick together and take care of our own. Because that's what being a Fairy was all about you know? I know, fairies are lame or whatever, but we always kicked ass and had each other's back."
When he finished, Natsu shifted his gaze towards Lucy, who was staring in the dying fire. Her face was invisible of any emotion, making the pink haired boy frown. Lucy looked better with a smile on her face.
"Lucy?"
"It sounds wonderful." The blonde spoke, turning towards him. "I wish I could have attended Fairy Tail."
"Just cause' you didn't go to Fairy Tail, it doesn't mean that you can't be a Fairy! Anybody who has the heart of a Fairy, can be a Fairy!" He stood up abruptly, pointing at himself with his thumb.
Lucy giggled. "Do you realize how silly that sounds?"
"A little, but who cares! Be a Fairy, Lucy! You fit right in with the rest of us!" He shone her his infamous and signature grin as Natsu stared at her with a confident stare.
"Just like that?" The brown haired maiden asked.
"Just like that!" The pink haired pyro pounded on his chest and with a mischievous glint in his onyx eyes, turned towards the crowd of people around them. Lucy stared at him in confusion.
"HEY EVERYBODY!"
All eyes turned towards Natsu, Lucy blushing furiously.
"Whataya want, Salamander!?" Gajeel, who was currently intoxicated, grabbing onto a very red Levy, shouted.
"Shut the hell up, metal face! And let me talk!" He then looked around to see friends from over the years staring at him.
"What's this about, Natsu? I got drinking to do!" Cana Alberona shouted as she hugged a barrel of alcohol.
"You're already doing that, you damn drunk!" He growled, pointing a finger at her.
"Get on with it, squinty eyes!" GrayFullbuster was next to comment and while Natsu wanted nothing more than to shove something down his rival's throat, he had an announcement to make.
"Everybody! This is Lucy!" Grabbing her hand, the pyro hoisted her up, to which she yelped slightly, her face as red as the fire next to them. "Lucy..." He turned to her and stretched out a hand. "This is everybody!"
"Lucy's part of Fairy Tail now, got it ya assholes! So make her feel welcomed!" His boisterous laughter echoed throughout the campsite, a numerous amount of cheers and "Welcomes!" chorused throughout the lake side.
"Welcome party for Lucy!" Gray commented as he stripped down to his boxers, beer in his hand.
"HELL YEAH!" All of Fairy Tail chorused in a cheer as the music was raised higher until everyone's laughter was encased in the melody.
Natsu laughed as he watched some of his closest friends gather around and enjoy the summer night, causing mischief and engaging in all out brawls that never held malice. He was surely going to miss all this when it came time to leaving for college.
"You didn't have to do all that, Natsu."
He turned towards her and put a hand on her head. "Now you're part of Fairy Tail! Let's go celebrate!" He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the dancing and the drinking.
Lucy smiled and complied, letting herself be dragged by this strange, but friendly, new boy that had introduced her to this world of unpredictability and fun.
-O-
"I'M ALL FIRED UP! LAXUS! FIGHT ME!"
Laxus Dreyar, grandchild to Fairy Tail's headmaster sighed, arms crossed in front of him as the oldest of the Strauss siblings sat next to him.
"No, Natsu. I will not fight you." The older blonde commented in his surly voice. Mirajane Strauss giggled next to him.
"Is he always like this?" Lucy whispered, nudging the snow white haired woman slightly as they watched Natsu attempt to fight the blonde haired, scarred man.
Mira giggled once more. "Definitely. It's one of Natsu's many traits."
"Yosh! Watch Lucy! I'm going to take Laxus down! Then I'll definitely be the strongest in all Fairy Tail!" Lucy couldn't help but laugh as fire danced in his onyx eyes and a confident smirk laid on his lips.
"Don't be so arrogant, Natsu!" A new, husky voice joined the fray as Mira's younger brother, Elfman Strauss joined the mix. "You have to be man enough to beat me first before you can even touch Laxus!"
"Bring it on, Elf boy!" Natsu pumped his fist in his hand and with a confident smirk, charged at Elfman.
"Oh dear, it looks like they're overdoing it." The snow white haired maiden commented. Laxus shrugged his shoulders.
"You know how Natsu gets once he's committed. Unless someone pulls him away, he'd never back away from a fight."
Mira put a finger to her lips, thinking of how to get her younger brother and the pink haired boy to stop fighting. And when her eyes stopped on Lucy, her eyes widened, her face glowing.
"Lucy!" Called girl jumped as she almost choked on the beer she was drinking.
"Ye-Yes!"
"Why don't you stop Natsu, hmm? He seems to really like you and Kami knows he'll cause a ruckus if he continues." Lucy blushed, her first reaction to deny Mira's request.
"Bu-But I hardly know him! And you want me to get in the middle of… that?" The blonde inquired, pointing a finger at Natsu and Elfman, who were currently on the floor, their hands and feet entangled in one another, as if they were wrestling.
"He's taken a great liking to you, I know. Besides, it doesn't hurt to get to know him a little better, doesn't it?"
Lucy blushed, her face feeling hot. She muttered something about falling for Mira's puppy dog eyes and stood up. She fixed herself and walked over towards the two boys rolling around in the dirt. The blonde sighed as she heard the scuffle and grunts of the quarreling boys.
"He-Hey! Natsu!" She shouted.
Both boys stopped, Natsu looking up at the blonde. He smiled instantly. "What's up, Lucy?"
"You should stop fighting you know? You're going to hurt yourself or Elfman and then complain about it later. So why not just come with me to get a drink and finish this up later?"
The pink haired boy frowned slightly, not liking the idea of leaving this fight on stand still, but he liked Lucy. And if she was requesting for him to accompany her, he wouldn't refuse the offer.
A grin appeared on his lips. "Okay!" Jumping off of Elfman, he dusted himself off. But not before throwing a dagger back to the older man. "This ain't over!"
"We wouldn't be a man if this wasn't settled!" The bulky, silver haired man shouted. "Lucy is man for knowing when enough is enough!"
"I'm not a man." She deadpanned and Natsu cackled as she narrowed her eyes.
After waving goodbye to Mira, Laxus, and Elfman, the pair walked over to the table where the drinks were being served; Fried and Bixlow, Laxus's best friends, were serving the alcohol.
"Can I have two more cups, please?" Lucy asked, the pink in her cheeks becoming more noticeable.
"Yes, milady." Fried answered, Natsu scoffing at his personality. Fried was openly gay, everyone knew. But he had a weakness to women, especially pretty women like Lucy. But he was also a polite gentlemen, one that a man would want for his daughter.
Bixlow, the man was the tattoo stamped on his forehead, was a complete different story. While also vulgar and perverted, the tattooed man's only goal was to see how many girls he could sleep with before the night ended. The pink haired boy had never like Bixlow, only tolerating him because he was part of Fairy Tail.
"Yo, Natsu! This girl lookin' fine tonight! Replacement for Lisanna, aye?" A cocky, patronizing smirk spreading on his disgusting face.
"Bixlow!" Fried hit his friend over the head, causing the older teenager to spill the drinks in his hand. Lucy yelped as the beer fell on her shoes.
"My shoes!"
Natsu's eyes darkened, a snarl forming at his lips. He clenched his fists and glared harshly at the dark haired man. Anger boiled in his stomach as Bixlow hit the wrong nerve. Lisanna was the last thing he wanted to be reminded of tonight. Just seeing Mira and Elfman was enough, but the mention of her was absolute taboo.
But Bixlow was always known for being an ass and he had just pulled a dick move; one that infuriated Natsu to no end.
"How about you piss off! Fucker!"
He then turned around and stalked off, leaving his new friend behind. Natsu was too infuriated, too enraged, too embittered to be around just about anyone at the moment. His need for violence and outrage came crawling back at him, wanting to hit something.
The pink haired boy could hear Lucy shouting after him, but he paid no attention to her. He was afraid that if she followed him, he might hurt her with his compulsive behavior that was problematic for him, always.
He ventured deep into the forest area, away from the music, the drinking, the laughter. Soon, the noises were all but faint whispers in the summer night as the forest came alive with it's nocturnal animals scurrying around.
Natsu's breathing was loud and heavy, his mind racing with Lisanna. She was everywhere with her silver, white hair and bright, blue eyes and loving smile that tore his heart apart. He hadn't meant to fall in love with her. It just happened. And he hated himself for it. Because now Lisanna had a part of him that he didn't think he could ever get back.
In the silence, the onyx eyed boy could hear a crunch and rustling of leaves and bushes behind him. He narrowed his eyes, on the defense for whatever wild animal came at him. And because it was so dark, he could hardly see.
There was another crunch and Natsu was ready to pounce.
"Natsu?"
Called boy went wide eyed as the same, sweet voice he met just hours ago rang to him.
"Lucy?"
Said girl stepped out of the brush in front of her, her face disgruntled and scared, most likely from the dark and eerie night.
"Thank goodness. There you are! I was afraid I lost you because you ran off so fast! I think I might have died if I got lost out here." The blonde shuttered, grabbing both her arms as her teeth clattered silently against each other. "Nature and I don't work well together, obviously."
"What are you doing out here? Don't you know it's dangerous?" Natsu crossed his arms in front of him, an eyebrow arched.
"I should be asking you that." She countered, Natsu taken aback a bit. He looked away and rubbed the back of his head.
"Erm, well, I just needed some fresh air. Everybody back there was gettin' on my damn nerves!"
"Well, you got your fresh air." Lucy gesturing to the forest around them. Natsu watched as her quizzical face fell, and her demeanor changed to one of worry.
While he was still visibly upset, it wasn't fair for Natsu to take his anger out on the blonde, especially after she followed him into the dark woods. Lucy had grown up in a mansion her entire life. Nature and outdoors were not in her vocabulary. Though, it was not entirely her fault for being sheltered from the world.
That's when the idea popped into his mind.
"Since we're already out here, wanna go explore?" The pyro asked, a small smile nestling on his thin lips. Lucy's countenance changed, from worry to horror in a matter of seconds.
"Explore!? Natsu! It's the middle of the night! There are animals out here! Animals that could eat us!" Natsu laughed as Lucy began to panic. Her hands were moving at her sides, a blush still intact at her cheeks, probably from all the alcohol consumption. And Natsu too, had several cups.
Two non sober teenagers in the woods at the middle of the night?
What could go wrong?
"Don't worry, Lucy! I'll protect ya! Besides, it can be our first adventure together!" The pink haired teenager grabbed the blonde's hand and pulled her after him, Lucy screeching once again. Though, Natsu failed to notice the dark, dark blush on Lucy's face the small smile that graced her pale complexion.
After a few moments of contemplation, Natsu felt the blonde's hand relax in his and took that as a sign she was in for their upcoming adventure. And while it was reckless and stupid, it was exactly what Natsu needed to get his mind off Lisanna. And Lucy wasn't bad company either.
-O-
The pair walked throughout the forest, sometimes in silence, sometimes in conversation.
Natsu learned some things about Lucy tonight that he wasn't sure anybody really knew about her. There was this thing the blonde did where she would wiggle her nose when she was cold or embarrassed. Or where she would play with her fingers when she didn't quite know the answer to a question. Or when the brown eyed maiden would bite down on her lip when she was deep in thought.
Natsu was happy that Lucy never pressed the subject from earlier, asking about Lisanna. Most people were nosy, trying to pry into business that didn't involve them, but not Lucy. She could tell it was a subject he wanted to avoid all together and was just fine with that. She respected his boundaries, his line.
Instead, they laughed and talked, sharing embarrassing stories and some of their favorite memories, like they had been earlier. When an ominous sound would appear, she was quick to grab his arm and dig her face into his chest. The pyro laughed and teased her, to which she would fight back, but it was fun.
It was fun being around Lucy. Though she grew up privileged, she was empathetic, kind, humorous, a little on the spoiled side, even a bit girly, but down to earth and bright. She smiled like a child on Christmas at his stories and wasn't afraid to be stern with him in the past few hours. And with the stories she shared about the fond memories with her housemaid and butler and tutor and even her bitchy swim instructor, the pink haired teenager could see how caring and devoted she was to those she loved. Natsu hadn't even known her that long, but he felt like he had known her his entire life.
She was everything Lisanna wasn't.
"How long have we've been walking for?" The blonde asked, her shivering noticeable.
"I dunno. An hour maybe?"
"I'm so stupid. I should have brought a jacket." Lucy muttered to herself as she rubbed her arms.
Natsu gazed down at his scarf, then back to the blonde. Though his most prized possession, Lucy needed it more than he did. The boy unwrapped the scarf from his neck and wrapped it around the brown eyed girl's neck.
"Opf!" She stopped walking, tangled in the mess that was Natsu's scarf. "Natsu?"
"You're cold, aren't ya?" A blush, clear as day, settled on his cheeks. He looked away, too embarrassed to look her in her eyes.
"But… your scarf?" Lucy questioned, knowing full well that this scarf meant the world to him. He had told her the story about his father, Igneel, who gave him the scarf, and had just disappeared from Natsu's life when he turned seven.
The squinty eyed boy shook his head, grinning down at the young Heartfilia.
"I have a long sleeve and have abnormal body temperature, so no big deal! Besides, I trust you. You wouldn't ruin it!"
He could see Lucy's features soften and her brown eyes fill with something he couldn't quite put his finger on. She snuggled into his scarf, gripping it tightly to her chest.
Natsu would be lying if he said that his scarf didn't look good on her.
"Thank you." And the boy grinned as they trudged into the forest.
"Hey, what's that?" Lucy was looking straight ahead, and Natsu followed her gaze.
In front of them was a caged off cabin, a gate nestled into the ground in the surrounding area. A Private Property sign was lodged onto the gate, along with a Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted sign next to it. As they walked closer to it, Natsu reached for the gate, gripping the metal in his hand. He tugged at it as it made a clicking noise.
"Now why would there be a locked up cabin in the woods?" Natsu pondered.
"Wanna find out?"
He whipped his head, his eyes wide as saucers, his mouth gaped. If Natsu had learned anything in the past few hours about the busty blonde that was Lucy Heartfilia, it was that she was not the kind of girl to break into private property and risk possible arrest, maybe even dirty that white dress that hugged her curves in all the right places.
She looked like she hardly lifted a finger her entire life. Did she even know how to climb a fence?
"Wh-What?" The pink haired teenager sputtered.
"Let's go find out!" She grabbed onto his hand, bending over a bit, his scarf hanging off her body because it was obviously too big for her. A playful, mischievous smile that reached from one end of her face to the other adorned her delicate features while her eyes screamed for freedom and fun.
"You wanna go in there?" He pressed on. While he was all for getting himself into some mischief and going on this adventure, he wanted to make sure this was what Lucy wanted.
She nodded her head vigorously.
"Lucy, while I'm for it, you've had a little too much to drink tonight and I don't want you to do something you're going to regret in the morning."
Normally, others like Erza or Mira, even Gray, we're the ones to talk Natsu out of doing something regrettably stupid; not the other way around. But this was Lucy. While the pink haired boy had only just met the blonde, he felt like he really connected with her, got to know her better than he had gotten to know anyone in a long time.
And he preferred not getting her mixed up in a mess that would cost him their fresh, new friendship that he particularly enjoyed very much.
Lucy ripped her hands away from his and clenched her fist at her side. her brown eyes narrowed dangerously as she glared at him with this fierce intensity that could quite possibly rival Erza's death stare. Her lips shifted into a disgruntled frown, and her brows creased together.
Natsu didn't know if it was him or the alcohol, but Lucy was looking mighty fierce and he found it wildly attractive.
"I am done taking orders from people, done letting people dictate my life, done not letting others enjoy my life. All of my life I've just sat down and let people order me around, control me and I'm done with it." She began, "I've sat, cooped up in my house not being allowed to do anything. I'm 18 years old, Natsu! You know what normal teenagers my age do? This! Going to lake parties! Drinking and being plain old stupid! Making stupid, stupid decisions that we regret the next morning, but laugh about it when we're old!"
"Normal teenagers went to public school, joined sports, clubs, went to parties, had sleepovers, went to the mall with their friends, we're able to throw fits and rebel against their parents, have fun. I wasn't! I was restricted to my home and my stupid private school filled with stuck up, snobby, girls who thought they were better than everybody else!" Lucy went silent, letting her words sink in. Natsu stared at her in shock, not realizing just how much Lucy was holding in. And when tiny tears fell from her eyes, the pyro stood frozen in place. "Papa was always, always trying to marry me off to the highest bidder, the one man who could offer him the most for his company. What kind of father does that, Natsu? Sell off his daughter for his company?"
That's when the boy glowered, a low growl humming in the back of his throat. What kind of father would sell of his daughter? Lucy wasn't property, a piece of land, or an item with a price tag. She was a live, human being with a soul, with feelings and emotions. The squinty eyed boy didn't have the words to comply a reply as his stomach churned with fury.
"I snuck out tonight, you know?" Her voice low, "Levy texted me, asking me if I wanted to go to this lake party though she already knew how papa was. Papa had just gotten home from work and went to bed early. I was hesitant, really hesitant, but I decided that enough was enough and snuck out through my window."
A proud smile formed on her face. "That was the first time I had ever done anything like that. But you know what, Natsu?"
He arched a brow. "What?"
"I'm so happy I did because I got to know Levy so much better and I met all these wonderful people from Fairy Tail." She stopped for a minute, her cheeks still glowing red. "And I met you. And thanks to you, I've had so much fun."
Said boy could not stop the way his heart raced as Lucy leaned in closer to him, a silly, goofy, playful smile settled on her pale, pink lips. He could smell her as she came closer, a vanilla scent encased in his nostrils. There was so many things that could go wrong in this situation, but he didn't care.
If Lucy wanted to go on this adventure, he'd follow her.
"Would you like to go first?" A playful smirk played on his now darkened face.
The smile that spread on her lips made Natsu lose all sense of rationality as Lucy squealed with excitement.
"You gotta help me though, okay? And no peeking!" He laughed as she began climbing, the pink haired teenager trying to avoid staring at the obvious underwear plastered in his face.
"Always, Lucy. Always."
-O-
"There's nothing here."
Lucy deadpanned, disappointment written all over her face as Natsu managed to pick open the cabin only to find it empty, with the exception of an old, ragged couch, bottles scattered all over the floor, a dusty lamp table, and walls covered in graffiti.
Natsu walked in after Lucy, observing the abandoned cabin. "Let's go look around!"
"Wha- Natsu! Wait!"
The pyro ran in, curiosity like a cat crawling within him. The cabin was single room with the except of a small corner for the bathroom, that Natsu personally avoided, smelling the foul stench from the moment he opened the door. There was a broken down refrigerator at the end of the room, along with cobwebs and more dust. He turned back towards Lucy and shrugged, a pout on his lips.
"There's not much to look at. How lame! I was hoping for some secret government experimentation or maybe some hideout for a superhero who hasn't exposed himself yet." He put his hands behind his head and looked back to Lucy, who was still eying the cabin, but laughing at his imagination.
"While I find those suggestions completely impossible, I gave you this long, boring speech about wanting to rebel and nothing to come out of it!" She sighed.
"I wouldn't say it like that! We still got in right? That's being rebellious! Erza would kill me if she found out I did this!" Natsu immediately stilled as a very angry Erza popped into his mind.
"I guess you're right." Lucy laughed. "Based on how you and Gajeel acted earlier, you make it seem like Erza is a monster!"
"Because she is!"
Natsu trudged, his shoulders slumped, lip pouted. He really hoped Erza didn't find out about this because she would kill him. He heard Lucy giggle and say something about "how silly he was acting," and that Erza really wouldn't kill him.
'Lucy doesn't know anything.' The onyx eyed boy thought as an exasperated sighed.
Natsu's stomach growled which only meant one thing, he was hungry. And when Natsu was hungry, that could mean one of two things: he would either be grumpy as hell or sluggish and downright weak. The refrigerator was looking mighty appetizing.
"Natsu, please tell me that growl was your stomach." Lucy sounded frightened, and scared. Her eyes anxious, filled with horror, apprehension. She was shaking again, though not from the cold because it was musky and dense in the cabin.
The boy roared with laughter, clenching his stomach as light dabs of tears fell from his eyes.
"Wh-Why are you laughing?!"
"Man, you're such a scaredy cat! That was my stomach! I'm HUNGRY."
"That was your stomach!?" Lucy's jaw fell, her eyes wide as plates. The pink haired boy threw his head back, falling against the wall.
"I need something to eat!"
"Natsu! That's disgusting! Don't open that fridge! You don't know what's in there! For all we know, there could be body parts in there!"
He ignored her, opening the fridge anyway. But was heavily disappointed when he saw there was nothing in there but a six pack of beer.
"Is there anything… anything in there?" Lucy asked as she took small, light steps towards the pink haired boy.
"Just a six pack. Man, this sucks!" He sat on the floor, legs crossed, hands on his feet. "Not even a piece of candy or anything like that."
"Pass me one, will you?"
Natsu gave her an inconspicuous look, an eyebrow arched. She blushed immediately, almost as if she was embarrassed.
"Don't look at me like that! I'm never allowed to do anything, so screw me for wanting to enjoy my spare, rare nights of freedom!"
Natsu laughed, shaking his head. He pulled one of the cans from the plastic and threw it at the blonde. "I wasn't laughing at you for the beer thing! I was laughing at you because just a second ago you were totally disgusted with me for looking in this fridge and now you're asking me for a can that was inside? You're so weird, Lucy! So weird!"
The blonde bit down on her lip and huffed, turning her head away. The deep, red hue on her cheeks symbolized clear embarrassment.
"Like you aren't, Natsu! You down tabasco like if it's water!" Lucy recalling Natsu telling her how much he enjoyed eating hot and spicy food.
The boy cracked open a can and took a drink of his beer. "Because spicy food is the best! Anything cold is revolting! Just like the damn stripper!"
"You and Gray really don't get along huh?" The blonde asked as she took a seat next to Natsu.
"That prick is an asshole! Since day one, we never got a long! And don't forget about screw for brains! He's a dick too! And who the hell has that many piercings, huh? Makin' fun of my pink hair, that bastard! He's one to talk!"
"Is that why he calls you Salamander?" Lucy inquired.
"Something like that." He muttered.
"Personally, I like your pink hair. It's unique."
Natsu went red, for what was probably the nth time that night, as his heart jumped from his chest into his stomach. He could feel Lucy coming closer to him, her vanilla scent filling his nostrils again. Her shoulder was brushing against his and he could feel the heat radiate from her.
The last person to compliment his hair had been Lisanna, and that was years ago. The onyx eyed boy admitted that when Lisanna had told him, it made his head dizzy and gave him the butterflies. But with Lucy, it was a whole new feeling entirely.
"I can't believe you let me do this." Lucy giggled, her head resting against Natsu's shoulder. The boy responded with his own chuckle.
"Pft! Lisanna would have never been down for this! She would have dragged me all the way back to the campsite after ten minutes of wondering around!"
As soon as the words left the boys mouth, Natsu immediately froze. His shoulders went rigid, his heart in his throat. Lisanna was the last topic the pink haired teenager wanted to bring up in the conversation, especially to Lucy. And the subject was still sour. Even Lucy, who he only met just a few hours ago, sensed the air and avoided the topic altogether.
"You don't have to talk about it. Before you ran off, that guy with the green hair told me it wasn't something you talked about." Her head came off his shoulder and she hugged knees, laying her chin on her knees, his scarf still nestled comfortably around her neck. She hid her mouth in the white scarf as the ends fell over her shoulders.
Fried was who she was talking about, Natsu thought as he bit down on his lip.
"Though, that Bixlow guy was a real creep. He tried asking me to meet him later tonight. Ha! As if!"
"He what?!" Now that enraged Natsu.
Who the hell did Bixlow think he was?
"It was nothing really. He just said if I wanted company, I could meet him at his car later and gave me this nasty, perverted grin. That guy with the green hair hit him though and apologized for his brash behavior." Lucy shrugged as she explained nonchalantly how Bixlow basically insisted rape.
"Don't you even think about going anywhere near that guy! He's another asshole I can't stand! Always picking up girls and treating them like trash! That fucker!" Natsu took another swig of his beer as Bixlow's actions that he's witnessed came to my mind.
"I know how to handle myself with perverted guys, Natsu. My bodyguard, Loke, and delivery guy, Taurus, always make comments to me. Loke is always pestering me to go on dates with him, saying he 'loves' me, while Taurus makes comments to me about my body."
It was weird because Natsu was never really… possessive. With Lisanna, no one ever tried flirting with her; they all knew she belonged to Natsu. And even then, he wasn't ever really possessive over her. The pink haired boy was protective yes, always wanting to keep harm away from her. But the feeling of possession never occurred to him.
But as Lucy sat here and talked to him about the grabby hands and snide, lecherous comments she's heard over the past few years, something in him coiled. A feeling of possession overtook him; possession for someone that was clearly not his.
"But of course, nothing ever happens! I don't ever let them get too far."
Natsu grumbled under his breath, something about men being lecherous perverts. The blonde giggled, digging herself deeper into his scarf. He knew his scarf was warm, so when she sighed, the boy smiled.
The pair remained in silence as the two teens sat comfortably. Natsu had a feeling that Lucy quickly changed the conversation once again to avoid a topic he didn't want to talk about. And he appreciated that because anyone else would have poked holes in his wall. He looked over at her and watched as she stared, mindlessly into the unknown. He debated, whether to let Lucy in about Lisanna, to tell her what happened. The blonde deserved it, after all.
"Lisanna was my childhood best friend." He started, Lucy went wide eyed.
"You really don't hav-"
The onyx eyed boy threw her a pointed look and put a hand to her mouth, putting a finger to his lips. She squeaked, something he found extremely cute.
"Let me talk." The brown eyed teenager nodded slowly. The pink haired boy dropped his hand, and stared deep into her eyes. "So, Lisanna was my childhood best friend. We grew up together and eventually, got together in high school. We were the couple everybody wanted to be. You know Mira and Elfman?"
She nodded.
"They are her older brother and sister. Mira's the oldest of the three. Elfman after, then Lisanna."
"Lisanna must be beautiful because Mira is gorgeous." Lucy commented. Sure, Lisanna was pretty, but paled in comparison to Lucy. But Natsu wouldn't say that, not after drinking all night. His emotions were all over the place.
"Well, we broke up a few weeks ago." Natsu frowned, thinking back to that day.
"Why?" The pink haired boy looked back at Lucy with sad, sorrowful eyes. Eyes that shocked the blonde.
"Lisanna was leaving Fiore. She was going to school in Bosco. She said that distance was too much." Recalling the conversation in his head, Natsu snarled. His fist clenching.
Natsu didn't even realize it, but the love between he and Lisanna had deteriorated; on Lisanna's part at least. The pink haired pyro was known for his devotion to his friends and the utmost commitment and loyalty to those he cared about. So when Lisanna had told Natsu she didn't love him enough to stay in Fiore and was leaving the country for college, it tore him apart. He locked away his heart and decided from that point on that everyone would just be nakama to him.
"So she just left you?"
"Yeah.
A moment of silence. "Do you still love her?"
He opened his mouth to say yes, but instead, Natsu could not utter a single word. Did he still love Lisanna? Of course he did… right? Someone can't just get over another person within a few weeks; especially when someone was with that person for so long. So then why was it so hard to just say yes?
The pink haired boy looked at Lucy, who's brown eyes were filled with curiosity and worry. Her once curled hair was tangled in his white scarf and her cheeks still a little red from the alcohol.
Lucy was downright beautiful, he concluded. There was no arguing that statement. The blonde's complexion looked fragile, delicate. Lucy's skin looked so soft compared to his rough, scarred skin. Her lips were thin, but still attractive. And the blonde's eyes shone brightly, so full of wonder and eagerness for what the world had to offer her.
Natsu wasn't entirely sure if it was him or the alcohol putting these unreasonable thoughts in his mind, though he knew he was sober enough to understand the current situation.
"Natsu?"
Called boy broke out of his gaze as he realized how close the blonde was too him, her cheeks flaring with a deep, crimson red. Natsu blinked, pulling away. He hadn't realized how absorbed he was by Lucy Heartfilia.
"Uh, sorry." He chuckled with an apologetic smile. "What was the question again?"
She sighed, muttering, "Oh Kami, Natsu. You really are something else." The pink haired boy grinned, scratching the back of his pink head. "I asked if you still loved her?"
His face fell, dejected and despondent. "I-I- How do you answer something like that?" The pink haired boy offered her a confused smile; one she returned.
"I don't really know. I've never been in love." Lucy stated, her voice sounding disheartened.
Though Lucy sounded so glum about it, Natsu couldn't stop the feeling of… relief from crossing his mind.
"It isn't all it's said to be. Love is complicated. I don't ever wanna go through that again." The boy declared and Lucy laughed. Natsu turned to her in embarrassment. She was laughing into his scarf and grabbed onto his strong shoulder as she wiped tears from her eyes with her other hand.
"What's so funny!?" The boy demanded, his hands on his knees as he shouted at his friend.
She waved a hand at him and finally began to settle down. After a few more chuckles, Lucy had began to calm down, a hand to her heart as she took a deep breath.
"I wasn't laughing at you, Natsu. I was laughing at how cruel love could be." Natsu muttered a 'you got that right,' under his breath, but Lucy continued, "But that doesn't mean you lock your heart away altogether. True, I've never really been in love, but I believe that love is the closest thing to magic on this earth and we should cherish it because it's not something that everyone really gets to truly experience."
No words formed as Natsu stared at Lucy in awe. Lisanna was a romantic, no doubt. She was always about the gestures and the romance. She was clingy and always lovey-dovey. The white haired girl loved affection and the sweet gestures and the cute nicknames. She was very devoted to her family and that devotion transferred to him.
But Lucy was so much more. The blonde was a romantic, but not in the same sense as Lisanna. Lisanna idolized the idea of marriage and kids and growing old together. But Lucy was for the moment, understanding, and cherishment. She valued the idea of love and what it represented. She knew that love was a bond you shared with another person.
And Natsu's heart was aching for that bond.
"I understand pushing people away and creating that wall around your heart so people don't hurt you again. I do. I did the same after mama died." Lucy's hand grasped his shoulder softly, leaning in towards him slowly. "But it's okay to love again, to find someone who will tear those walls down permanently. Because you never know, the love of your life could walk right by you and you would never know because you were to afraid to find out."
Natsu found himself leaning towards Lucy as her words died. And she too, was doing the same. Both teenagers leaned towards each other, their hearts beating loudly in their chest. The pink haired teenager could feel the blonde's breath against his lips as they came closer together. His eyes began to close, hers following suit.
And when their lips touched, it was absolutely electrifying.
Lucy's lips meshed perfectly against his. They were as soft as he'd imagine and oh so sweet.
He wanted more.
But it was short lived as their kiss was interrupted by a kick at the door and the door swinging open, the blue and red lights shining behind them. Natsu and Lucy separated themselves quickly, both eyes going wide eyed at the two men in front of them.
"Geeze, not again." One of them muttered.
"Get up the both of you. You're coming with me."
Natsu sighed, already knowing the lecture he was going to receive from his guardian and headmaster of Fairy Tail Academy, Makarov Dreyar. Then immediately shuttered at the thought of Erza's hell punishment.
His eyes flew open as he thought about Lucy; house ridden Lucy, who snuck out to come to this party, sheltered Lucy who had never gotten in trouble in her life, especially with the law. He could already imagine the panic and turmoil she was in.
So when Natsu turned towards the blonde, he was more than shocked, no, he was flabbergasted at her reaction.
Lucy was smiling. No, she was laughing. Lucy was smiling and laughing as the cop grabbed her arm and pulled her. While in pure shock, he didn't like the way the cop was handing her.
"Hey, you bastard! Don't grab her like that!"
"Natsu! We're getting arrested! Can you believe it?! Arrested!?" The blonde giggled as the cop that grabbed her pulled her forward, shining his tiny flashlight in her eyes.
"Miss, have you been drinking tonight?" He asked.
"Come with me, kid." The other cop also cuffed Natsu's hands, which caught him off guard. He pushed him forward, with Lucy right along with him.
"I might have had one or two drinks, but it doesn't matter! I'm 18! I'm at the drinking age, you know!"
The cop groaned, hauling her forward out of the cabin. Natsu couldn't help but laugh along with Lucy as they were actually being arrested. And the blonde's response to the cop was a bit funny, he wouldn't lie.
"Have you been drinking, too?" The other man in the uniform asked. Natsu glared.
"What do you think?" With heavy sarcasm, Nasu retorted. The cop frowned, saying something about not appreciating his attitude and should be aware of the situation he was in, but Natsu didn't care or even bother listening as he watched Lucy talking to the other cop, trying to sweet talk her way out of this mess. The cop didn't fall for it.
What Lucy didn't know was that the pyro did, every step of the way.
"Oh come on, Mr. I've been in house arrest for 18 years! Don't you think I deserve to have a little fun? I mean, I never get to do this!" The smile on her face made Natsu's heart soar. She looked so carefree, as if she didn't care that she was quite possibly going to jail.
"Neh, officer? You wouldn't happen to have a cigarette would you? Because I've never had one of those either! And since I'm already here, might as well, right?"
Natsu threw his head back in laughter as the officer that had a hold of Lucy threw her daggers and grunted, saying something about stupid kids as he put her in the back seat of the cop car, slamming the door shut.
"Hey! Don't hurt Lucy you asshole!" The cop ignored him as the other grabbed him and shoved him against the car.
"Shut up, kid. And get in the car." The officer handling Natsu pushed him in and the onyx eyed boy glowered, ready to go off on the boys in blue.
"We didn't do anything wrong! We're at legal drinking age and broke no rules!" Natsu tried arguing, but the officer shut him up quickly by countering with, "You trespassed into private property. That itself is reason for arrest. So shut up."
"Well, still! Don't touch Lucy like that again or I'll burn you two to a crisp!"
"Natsu! Natsu! It's okay! They were just doing their job!" She was laughing again, her head back against the seat, the smile still settled on her lips. "But we haven't started moving yet. Wanna make a run for it?"
There was a mischievous twinkle in her eye, a smirk plastered on her lips. "It'll make a good story, don't ya think?"
"You're crazy, Lucy!" The boisterous boy cackled, "But let's do it!"
Almost immediately, the back seat locks clicked and the teenagers chance at freedom had dwindled away.
"You two aren't going anywhere. Sit still why don't you?" They began to drive off, the car moving in a set motion. Natsu and Lucy sat in the back of the cop car, smiling as if they didn't even care that they were being taken to jail.
"Oh my god, my papa is going to kill me!" She laughed, the cuffs tight around her wrists. "And you know what, Natsu? I don't care!" A giggle escaped the blonde's mouth.
"Erza is going to skin me alive. Once for getting you arrested, and twice for getting myself arrested." But instead of paling and falling to his feet over it, he laughed along with Lucy.
"We're both dead!" They shouted insync, laughing afterwards as they leaned in towards each other.
All the pink haired boy could think about was the way Lucy's eyes danced with freedom in the blue and red lights or the way her lips briefly meshed with his and how it felt so right; a wave of electricity tingling all his senses.
With Lisanna, kisses never felt like that. He kissed her over hundreds of times and not once did he ever feel a spark like he did with Lucy in that brief, brief moment. It was new, different, and exciting because never in his life had he ever felt what he did with the blonde.
The entire ride to the station, they talked and laughed, knowing full well that they were annoying the officers. But the pair didn't care as Lucy lived the night of her life and Natsu mended his broken heart.
-O-
The next hours came as a blur as they moved so fast and so quickly.
His and Lucy's guardian's were called as they waited patiently in the tiny jail cell they had in the back corner of the ranger's station in the woods.
When Lucy's father arrived, he could immediately tell it was him because of the pissed off, infuriated frown he was bearing. He was beyond enraged, his voice booming and condescending towards Lucy; which ticked off the pink haired boy, especially as he called Lucy a burden and waste of space. But Lucy didn't seem scathed by her father's words as the smile never left her lips.
The older Heartfilia then turned to Natsu and proceeded to insult him, calling him a pest and hooligan that would tarnish the Heartfilia name and other insults Natsu didn't bother to listen too. All he could focus on was the way Lucy rolled her eyes and talked back to her father, telling him to shut up. He was lost for words, before turning away and telling her to meet him in the front.
There was a proud smile on Natsu's face as Lucy fell against the bars, a tired smile gracing her pretty lips.
The cop that had arrested them had come over to the small jail cell and opened the gate, uncuffing Lucy and releasing her. Natsu was sad to see her go, not knowing when the next time he would see her be. All the pyro knew was that he didn't want the blonde out of his life as quickly as she entered it.
"Uh, hold on a second, please?" She stopped walking, the officer rolling his eyes, giving her the okay.
"Lucy?" Natsu stood up, eyes washed with concern as she stopped right in front of him.
The blonde smiled so genuine, so sincerely at him, wrapping his scarf back around his neck. They bore into each other's eyes, onyx clashing with brown before Lucy stood on her tippy toes and laid her lips on his. The pink haired teenager went wide eyed, thinking Lucy had forgotten that the kiss in the cabin even had happened.
But not wasting another opportunity, he kissed her back.
And nothing else had mattered for Natsu at that moment because he knew that since the moment they stepped into the back of the cop car, he had fallen so hard for the blonde in front of him.
When she pulled away, she grabbed the back of his head softly and pulled him down, whispering into his ear, "Thank you for the best night of my life."
With that, she pecked him on the cheek and turned away, following the officer out of the cell and into the other room where her father was waiting.
The pink haired boy watched her every moment he could, taking in her scent, her form, her whole self. Natsu watched as she walked away from him, eventually disappearing behind the door.
But instead of despair and sadness, he felt nothing but pure bliss and happiness. Because he knew he would see Lucy Heartfilia again. Maybe not now, nor the next day, nor the next month. But he would see the blonde again.
That, he was sure about.
And Natsu was right about his hunch. When Makarov Dreyar arrived for Natsu, he had brought Erza along and what came next for the pink haired boy was nothing but pure misery.
A/N: Phew! Done! Wow, that was long! But it was so much fun! I really enjoyed writing this! Though, I hope no one hurt their eyes reading this monster of a one shot. Like I said above, Fallen Star will be updated, FINALLY on July 1st. So a few days from now. In the mean time, I hope you enjoyed this one shot and my other one, Subtly.
Sorry if anybody may have seemed OOC. I know I did okay with them in the beginning, but I also know Natsu may have towards the middle-end and Lucy may have too. I tried my best to keep them in character, but eh, whatever. And no people, I do not hate Lisanna. I actually really like Lisanna, but for the stories purposes, she turned out to be the girl that broke Natsu's heart.
As for what happens with Natsu and Lucy in the future, I don't know. That's left for you readers to imagine. If I get enough reviews and request, I'll consider doing an epilogue. But as of right now, it's really on whatever your minds want it to be :)
Also, I do NOT condone underage drinking. If you are drinking, please, please, have a designated driver and be around someone you trust wholeheartedly. If you do happen to go to lake parties or beach parties or any type of party really, be safe. As for the legal drinking limits, it's different everywhere. In the States, it's 21. In Mexico and places like the Bahamas, it's 18. So for this story, I chose 18 because people in Fairy Tail in the canon universe, I assume have started drinking at young ages so yeah!
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this monster thing! Again, I had tons of fun writing this! I hope you enjoyed reading this :D Reviews and criticism are welcomed entirely :) Let me know what you think!
Until July 1st, lovelies!
-Dark Waffle
