Lucy's POV
A few things cross my mind as I run through Magnolia Central Park. First, the fact that I'm broke. Secondly, because I'm broke, I can't afford a hotel. Third, I'm hungry, ever-so-slightly lost, and scared. I don't want to go back to that house, if you can even call it that. It's more along the lines of a prison and a high-class mansion, if they had a kid.
I run across the park with my backpack slung over one shoulder, simply enjoying the view of the sunrise when suddenly I'm knocked off my feet. I let out a shriek and close my eyes, waiting for the impact. Instead of landing on dirt like I expected, though, I landed on a lump. A very warm lump. I peek my eyes open just a bit and find that lump is a person.
The first few things I notice are:
His pink hair
His intense onyx gaze
His ever so toned body.
I mean come on! Look at those biceps! And his jaw is so strong! Dammit, he's like a god! The man underneath me smirks playfully.
"Like what you see?"
This brings a bright blush to my be honest, yes. Yes I do. But of course, I don't tell him that.
"Eh, it's ok..."
The guy scoffs. "That's not what your eyes and blush are telling me, weirdo. Plus you're straddling me. Not that I mind anyways."
I scramble off the poor guy and move away just a bit.
"Sorry about that! I was staring at the sunrise over there and I think we ran into each other..."
The guy erupts into a warm smile and chuckles.
"No need to apologize. If I remember correctly, I was doing the same thing." He glances over at the rising sun and my eyes can't help but follow his gaze. "Beautiful isn't it? So bright and joyful."
"No kidding. There's nothing more beautiful than a hopeful sunrise over a new day if you ask me," I admit.
"I can think of something more beautiful," he responds as his eyes settle on me. His eyes don't wander to other areas of my body like my father's suitors would have. His smile is bright and cheery and I quickly find myself smiling through my blush.
"Like what?"
"Well for instance there's sriracha hot sauce, kittens, campfires, and a very pretty girl who just so happened to fall for me a few minutes ago," he offers.
I roll my eyes.
"Do you like them all in that order?" I inquire. This confuses him for just a moment.
"No, not quite–but that's not the point. You fell for me," he blurts.
"Well if you think of it that way, then you fell for me too," I joke with a cocky smile.
"What if I did?" he asks in all seriousness.
"You just met me." I blanch.
"So?" he questions. Silence settles over us. It's not exactly awkward or tense but it's not comfortable either. It's just silence, with no pressure to say anything. After a while of watching the sunrise in the comfort of the clover patch below us, the silence is broken. "Would you uhm... would you want to hang out? I've got the day off work. We could chill for a while at my place... and we could go to my favorite local bar if you want." Natsu wonders aloud.
My stomach growls at the mention of food and blush creeps to the tips of my ears. "I'll take that as a yes for the diner," he laughs.
"Why would you do that for me? You don't even know my name yet," I point out.
"Then tell me your name. I'm Natsu Dragneel." He offers a hand to shake and a smile to spare. I take his hand and shake gently.
"Lucy Ashley," I tell him. He has strong grip and I don't know why this shocks me. I mean, it's not like this guy is lacking in the muscle department. Despite his strength, he's gentle enough to not hurt me in the process. "I still don't get why you would do this for me. You don't seem to want to take advantage of me. What do you have to gain?"
Natsu's eyes meet mine. I find kindness and sincerity in them.
"I want to do this because even with what little time I've spent with you, I can tell you're a good person. I've been told I have good judgement when it comes to people, I guess. I can tell when someone has malicious intent on their minds. I can see it in their eyes and hear it in their words. I don't see anything but kindness in your eyes, Lucy. As for what I have to gain? I guess friendship would be a good trade for a meal and some goofing around, don't you think?"
Natsu grins. I smile coyly in return.
"I think that's a fair trade," I admit.
"Do you think we could stop by my place for a moment or two? I need to grab my wallet if that's alright," he asks.
"Sure."
Natsu's POV
Lucy and I jog to my house on the edge of town, not too far from the east side of the park. We talk the whole way there. It's honestly really fun. None of my friends other than Erza ever want to go jogging with me. Even then, I never go with her. She's like a running demon! It's scary, and she'll chase me through town for 15 miles–sometimes even more than that! It's horrible. Afterwards I always feel like death.
When we finally get to my place, Lucy changes out of her running clothes. I don't question when she brushes her teeth and puts on deodorant and stuff. You would think she would have a house to do that at. Come to think of it, why is she carrying a backpack full of her stuff? The thought immediately slips my mind when Lucy comes out of the bathroom, smiling real shy and dressed in a pretty light blue tank top and black pair of shorts.
She's nothing short of beautiful. Her features are soft and her skin has a light dusting of red from her blush. Her smile sends a rush of energy through me.
Truth be told, I woke up at 3 am and ran around the park because I couldn't sleep. Too many nightmares. I suffer from insomnia. It sucks. Thankfully my schedule at the firehouse is somewhat flexible. The other guys there know my situation and help out and fill in for work when I can actually get to sleep, and when I can't, I take an extra shift or two. It works for us as long as I communicate what I need.
I quickly realize I'm staring when Lucy snaps her fingers in front of my face. She smiles confidently.
"Like what you see Natsu?"
I smile through my new found blush. "Ehh... it's ok," I jest.
"You know you're a jerk right."
"Oi! You said it first Luce!"
Lucy quirks an eyebrow."Luce?"
"Yeah! It's your new nickname!"
"Don't call me that Natsu," she blanches.
"But Luce! You know you love it"
"Um..."
I flop onto the couch and sulk as Lucy laughs behind me in amusement. I stay like this for a while, completely ignoring her comments about how dramatic I am. I'm not dramatic Luce, I'm expressive. And no, that's not the same thing.
After about five more minutes I hear something shift behind me. I feel someone's arms wrap around me from behind and I smile softly.
"Sorry" she whispers. I turn around and give her a full hug.
"It's ok Lucy. If you don't like my nickname, that's ok..."
Lucy looks up at me for a moment before burying her face in my shoulder.
"No. It's not like that Natsu. I haven't had a nickname since my mom died when I was little. She called me her Lucky Lucy," she admits.
"Oh... I'm sorry..." A pang of pain and regret strikes my core.
"Don't be. There's nothing you could have done Natsu."
"I know, but I understand what it's like to lose someone you love. I lost my girlfriend a while back to a car crash. Her siblings and I barely survived, but she didn't make it. And my brother died 4 years ago, when I turned 18." I whisper into Lucy's hair.
"That really sucks... if I could stop the pain I would..." she murmurs.
"I know, Luce, I would do the same for you."
Lucy's POV
After our serious conversation at his house, Natsu and I arrive at Fairy Tail, a popular with banners filled with the bar's logo. The atmosphere here is warm and inviting. Natsu tells me this place used to be the owner's old family barn. They moved it using special equipment back when Magnolia was still a small town. After that, they refurbished it, added a kitchen, and now it's the most popular place in town.
Natsu and I sit up at the bar. We talk and joke around like we've known each other for years. Soon enough, a beautiful white haired woman a few years older than me walks over to us from behind the bar. She honestly looks like an angel. She gives Natsu a wave and quickly turns her attention to me.
"How'd that guy pick up a such a pretty girl like you?" she asks in a sweet voice. I hear Natsu's protests in the background.
"Ohh well we're not–"
"Nonsense! You're adorable! He'll be lucky to have you! I'm Mirajane, but you can just call me Mira, dear. It's so nice seeing new faces here at FairyTail," she gushes. I can't help but smile brightly.
"My name's Lucy!" I chirp. "It's very nice to meet you Mira."
Mira smiles and quickly takes our order, a Cherry Vanilla Coke for Natsu and a Twisted Strawberry Lemonade for me.
Something about this place is exhilarating. Like I can be myself and no-one would care. I finally feel free from the chains that used to weigh me down. Over on a small stage, a heavily pierced singer blares some sort of rock song into the mic, and a short blue haired girl in an orange dress is reading an enormous book beside the stage. At one of the tables, an artist is painting portraits of everyone. Another guy stares at the menu while another guy smoking pipe tobacco yells, "Order something already would'ya?"
A girl with long blue hair tied up in pigtails bounces on the balls of her feet as she animatedly talks to a raven haired boy.
Across the room, another blue haired girl swoons over a guy who appears to be taking his pants off, and is already missing a shirt. He's not bad looking I'll give him that. His dark hair complements his pale skin.
Not to mention his muscles are really defined. Not as much as–
Suddenly I'm being dragged outside and two warm hands cup my cheeks.
"Wha–" I'm quickly cut off as heated lips press to mine.
Natsu's POV
When I look up from my phone after finishing a text to my little sister, I find Lucy staring... but not at me. I don't know why, but this really bothers me. Suddenly, on impulse, I'm growling and dragging Lucy outside.
The sunlight peeks through the trees, casting a golden light on the confused blonde in front of me. The need to show her that I'm better than that creepy popsicle takes over, so I instinctively do the first thing that comes to mind. I kiss her.
She tastes like strawberries. Her soft lips mold to mine. After a moment or two, I feel gutsy enough to wrap one arm around Lucy and pull her closer. She gives a satisfying squeak, but follows my lead. As quickly as it had started, I pull away. Something tells me she didn't want me to kiss her. If she would have she would have kissed back, right?
Lucy's POV
Ohhh God!
Holy crap!
He just kissed me!
And I froze!
I wish I had kissed him back...
He's such a good kisser!
WHAT DO I DO?
After what seems like forever, Natsu snaps me out of it. Literally He was snapping in front of my face. Heat rushes to my face and I desperately try to control my blush.
"N-Natsu?" Shit! I'm stuttering!
"That guy you were staring at is Gray, and he's a pervert. If you need something to stare at, stare at me. He's already got one girl that he doesn't treat right. I'd hate to see you hurt because he's such an idiot," Natsu explains. This statement doesn't help with my blush at all.
"O-ok..."
"Ready to go back inside?" he asks. I quietly nod, still in a bit of shock.
The rest of the meal goes well in my opinion. I couldn't stop thinking about the kiss wondering why he had done it. He couldn't have been jealous, could he? I also kept thinking of all the bland kisses I'd shared with suitors in the past. When Natsu kissed me, it was anything but bland. To be honest, I still had butterflies by the time we got back to Natsu's house after 3 hours of eating and talking.
I grab my things and start to head out the door when I realize I don't have anywhere to go after this. I don't even have money or a job or even food to keep me going. I try to start the conversation and stall. I don't want to leave. I'm scared.
"Luce, what's wrong?" he asks, effectively cutting off my latest staller.
"Um..." My gaze falls to the floor.
"Luce come on. You can tell me. Why are you stalling?"
"I uhm... I don't-" I sigh- "I'm a runaway," I admit quietly. Natsu stares at me, confused.
"What? Why?"
"After my mother's death my father grew cold and heartless. He forced me to be perfect and If I didn't obey him he said he'd l-lock me away with nothing to eat. When I turned 16 my father began courting me with the richest heirs he could find. He was going to arrange a marriage with me and a guy who was only in it for my body and the money." I shiver at the memory.
"So I left. I've been on the streets jumping from hotel to hotel for a month. I ran out of money three days ago. I hadn't eaten since then." I look up and Natsu's gone. Tears well up in my eyes. I turn to head out the door with my things but something catches my wrist and holds me back. I turn to my captured wrist and see a hand. My eyes trail up the attached wrist and arm, crossing over a shoulder until my eyes land on Natsu's smiling face.
"What are you doing Natsu?" I ask as he leads me down the hallway and into another room.
The room is average sized with pale bluish gray walls, a light blue bed, a desk, a bookshelf filled with several dozen books, and a closet.
Before I can speak, Natsu places a finger on my lips.
"I know it's not much. I don't have a whole lotta money, but I have enough for both of us. I can help you get a job at FairyTail." He takes a deep breath. "A lot of people say I care too much and I'm overly possessive, but I don't care what they think. And you know what? I couldn't live with myself for even a second if I knew such a kind, funny, courageous, and beautiful girl was living on the streets and I didn't lift a finger to help her. I give you my word, I won't take advantage of you like those men did," Natsu swears.
"I couldn't ask you to do that..." I respond weakly.
"You're not asking Luce, I'm offering."
I stare at Natsu, a little shocked.
"It's no burden to me Lucy. You just worry about getting on your feet. And of course you can leave at any time."
Only one thought comes to my mind. What do I have to lose?
I wrap my arms around Natsu's neck and pull him in for a tight hug.
"Ok. I'll stay. But only until I have enough money for my own place deal?"
"Deal."