A/N: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters.
Chapter 1: Resisting Temptation
"So what's this mission about Erza, and why'd I have to come?" Gray's voice left no question of his annoyance at being dragged along on the mystery mission with no warning or input. He walked with hands shoved in his pockets, shirt missing, and kicking up every pebble he encountered.
The armored mage stopped walking and turned to face the ice mage. Glaring at him with her most intimidating scowl and crossing her arms, she sent shivers down everyone's spine. The raven haired man snapped to attention with arms straight to his sides and a large fake smile plastered across his face.
"You are here so that you and Natsu can learn to be less competitive with one another, teammates should get along. We're going to the Magnolia Bakery. The proprietor has asked for Fairy Tail's help gathering business. It seems that their shop has been destroyed a few times from the recent activities involving the guild and they have lost business as a result. We will be assisting up front with sails…" Pausing the scarlet haired mage pointed to herself and the blonde celestial mage doing her best to hide behind the flying blue cat. "… you two and Happy will be in the back helping with the cooking. You will NOT cause any trouble."
Natsu and Gray threw their arms over one another's shoulder and flashed giant exaggerated smiles as they cheered in unison. "Aye sir!" The floating Exceed being used as a blockade by Lucy covered his mouth with two furry paws. His failed attempt to conceal his snickering granted him glares from both men as soon as the great Titania turned back to the road ahead.
Soon the quintet of friends arrived at their destination and each quickly fell into their role. Within a matter of six hours the mission was over with its usual mix of success, and property damage. "What was I thinking asking for help from crazy Fairy Tail mages? But I will admit I've never seen such a crowd waiting for my cupcakes." The short brown haired man rubbed his head as he watched the spectacle before him.
After only an hour in the bakery Natsu had blown up the oven claiming 'it wasn't hot enough' and he was 'only trying to help'. Gray had tried to contain the explosion, but managed to freeze half the building in the process. Lucy summoned Aries to help protect the customers resulting in a store front filled with wool. Erza had attempted to shield some of the remaining patrons with her body which left her uniform tantalizingly torn in the most suggestive of ways. For Happy's part he successfully made a new flavor cupcake without causing any kind of catastrophe… until you tasted it. Of course it was a fish cupcake. What else would it be?
With all the commotion the five mages had eventually changed their tactics. Lucy and Natsu worked together in the kitchen with Lucy mixing ingredients and Natsu acting as a makeshift stove. Shirtless Gray and scarcely clad Erza worked up front and at the outdoor tables. Hoards of young men sat inside ordering confections and fawning overt the hot red head while scores of young women sat outside shamelessly flirting with the attractive ice mage. Happy flew about and carried free samples to children waiting in line, allowing a few of them to cuddle him before flying back to get more.
The owner handed Erza the reward for the job, minus the cost of a new oven, and gave everyone a free cupcake. "So that's why you picked this mission huh?" Lucy smiled at the intimidating requip mage as she happily ate her cupcake. "I heard the shop owner tell one of the customers that he has the best strawberry cake recipe in town." The blonde smirked knowingly as her friend blushed and shoved the rest of the confection in her mouth.
Happy hovered above the group munching on his fish cupcake; Natsu suspiciously sniffed his gift before smiling widely and eating it all in one bite. It was spicy chili chocolate, his favorite. Gray and Lucy casually ate theirs as they walked. Lucy's was raspberry cream and Gray had blueberry lemon. As they approached the first stop on their return, one celestial mage's apartment, each member of the group began complaining about their need for a good bath.
"Lucy, I would like to use your washroom. The hot water is out at Fairy Hills and it will not be fixed until tomorrow. Thank you." Without waiting for a response the intimidating mage walked past her unwitting host into the apartment. The shocked spirit mage stood in the middle of her main room as she watched the washroom door slam shut.
"Sure, why not. In fact, why doesn't everyone just have a bath here? Then you can spend the night and eat all my food while your at it." Throwing her arms in the air and closing her eyes in frustration Lucy missed the smiles on the boys faces as they made themselves at home. "GRAY! You're supposed to wait until you're in the bath to take off your clothes." Crossing her arms, she made her way to her kitchen and retrieved a container of purple liquid from the refrigerator.
After freaking out momentarily and redressing Gray lounged on the bed dozing as he waited his turn to get cleaned up. Natsu and Happy busied themselves doing pushups. Two hours passed by the time the raven haired ice mage made his way out of the washroom toweling off his hair before throwing it in the pink haired dragon slayer's face. "You're up flame brain. Thanks Lucy. Erza and I are gonna head out. We need to stop by the hall and tell Mira we finished the mission. See ya tomorrow." Neither mage noticed the lack of response as they made their way out the door.
Not too long after an off-balance blonde made her way to her bedroom just in time to walk right into a towel clad Natsu. "Owww, what are you made of? Rocks?" She had fallen to the floor where she sat rubbing her now throbbing head. One hand on her head the other holding her body up with her legs bent exposing her panties beneath her skirt. Blushing, the fire mage reached down and helped his best friend up with a smiled.
"Sorry Luce, didn't see ya there." Taking a step back as he smelt the alcohol on her breath Happy's idea for a sleepover suddenly sounded like a bad idea. "Well, I think I'm gonna take him home. The poor guy really tuckered himself out today." Maneuvering around the inebriated woman he moved to pick up the sleeping Exceed when he was suddenly stopped by the sounds of crying and the smell of tears. Turning, he watched as moisture began to stain the spirit mage's pink cheeks. "Why are you cryin Luce? You didn't hit me that hard, did you?" Reaching out to touch her shoulder, his hand was abruptly smacked away.
"I thought you guys were going to stay here tonight. I thought you liked staying here!" Without explanation she stormed into the washroom, slamming the door behind her. Her voice was muffled by the door as she called out from the other side. "You don't wanna stay here with me fine! Just don't forget the stupid cat!" Unable to hold back the celestial mage broke down and collapsed on the floor against the door and sobbed.
The confused fire mage was struck by familiar memories of a drunken Lucy. He couldn't help remembering that night at the hot springs when the girls had gotten into the sakē. She had acted so weird that night and this was exactly the same. A hurt and concerned look took over his features. It wasn't in him to just leave a friend upset like this so he reached for washroom door, but pulled away before turning the knob.
Unnoticed by the others and Lucy the pinkette had been intentionally avoiding situations where he would be alone with his blonde best friend. Recently he had noticed that his feelings for her had taken a turn towards the romantic and he was determined to do whatever he needed to in order to keep their friendship. Besides, it would be pointless since he knew she didn't think about him like THAT… right? With a deep breath, he reached out again and opened the washroom door.
As soon as he took the first step inside, he froze blushed and abruptly turned around. Lucy had stopped crying and undressed for her bath. Standing next to the faucet she was clad in only a towel. He had seen this sight many times before, but now that his feelings had changed it was different. "S..sorry. Just wanted to make sure you were ok, but you seem fine now so I'll see ya later!" As he began to leave the room he felt a hand on his shoulder stopping him mid-stride.
A second hand joined the first and gently turned him around before guiding him a few steps backwards. They continued moving until he bumped into the wall, leaving him effectively trapped between the cold tile and a practically naked Lucy. He couldn't help but notice a deep blush adorning her pale skin as she moved in so close that he could feel her breath on his face.
"Natsu~~~" Her voice was soft and seductive as she moved even closer to the man whose face now matched his hair.
"Luce?" His voice was weak and barely audible above the sound of his pounding heart. He pushed her away gently, resisting the urge to do the opposite and crush his lips against hers. "What..." Punching back against his large hands the beautiful blonde moved in closer and locked her arms around his firm torso effectively pressing herself into his warm body while hugging him as tightly as she could. Both mages blushed uncontrollably from the intimate contact. "Lucy." Natsu couldn't help himself as he hugged her back resting his cheek on the top of her head.
"Natsu... I... I" Lucy pulled away just enough to look up into the eyes of her fiery friend. The want in both their eyes was unmistakable.
Before she could finish her thought the celestial mage was interrupted by a low, strained voice coming from a mentally struggling dragon slayer. "This is a bad idea..." Ignoring his words, the determined blonde moved so that their noses touched and her lips were within millimeters of the handsome man's. "We really shouldn't do this, we can't..." His words were cut short by Lucy's mouth sealing over his.
"Damn it Luce I can't... you're too... Luce~~~" His words staggered as he felt her lips caress the delicate skin of his neck. His resolve to resist her melted as he returned the kiss and claimed her lips. As they began to move and deepen their connection neither took full note of the towel that had come undone against a set of firm tan abs allowing flesh to press directly against flesh.
Happy woke up and rubbed his eyes. "Natsu?" Looking around the room, he noticed the light coming from the bathroom. Curious as to the location of his friends he walked over to investigate. Looking into the half open door, he found his two partners pressed up against the wall kissing rather intensely. The now blushing the little blue Exceed decided to fly home for the night. He could always tease them about it tomorrow.
A/N: Please R&R. Constructive criticism welcome and encouraged!