I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters, I only own this story.
Lucy was behind the bar, waiting for the bartender, Mirajane, to finish the drinks for a table of rambunctious men. She was just arriving for her shift and it was only her first week on the job, but she noticed they came and sat at the same table every night.
One of the men had bright orange hair, wore glasses, and was always checking her out.
Another had dark raven-colored hair and almost never had a shirt on.
A third was very scary-looking with long, dark hair and was covered in piercings.
There was one who had blue hair and a strange, red tattoo on his eye.
And last, but not least, there was the tan, pink-haired one.
Ah, yes. Him.
She first encountered him during the first day of her new job working at Fairy Tail as a server.
Lucy had been sitting at the bar after her shift ended for a much-needed drink. The entire shift she had been harassed by just about every guy in the place, getting cat-called, hit on, her ass grabbed, asked on dates, or even for sex…the usual.
The last place she worked at was like that too, and the place before that, and before that. So, she wasn't expecting this place to be any different, and didn't really care because anything was better than living under her father's roof. She left the day she turned eighteen and was never going back.
Here she was, five years later, still unhappy and lonely, but in a different way than when she was still living with her father. She realized that men are all the same, just trying to sleep with her, not caring about really getting to know her.
As she was lost in thought, a voice spoke to her, "Hi, do ya mind if I sit here?"
When she looked up, she recognized the pink-haired guy from the table of men who were especially lewd to her. She immediately got pissed, "Yeah, I do." Lucy quickly turned back to her drink and brought it to her lips.
After a few seconds of silence, he asked, "Excuse me?" He clearly was surprised by her reaction.
"Look, Pinky," she seethed, turning back to him, he looked to be rather offended. "I'm not interested. Do you honestly think I'd want anything to do with you after how you and your friends treated me?"
As Lucy was about to turn her attention back to her drink he spoke up again, "Look, Blondie, you've got the wrong idea."
She scoffed at him, "Yeah, that's what everyone says." When he stared at her like he didn't understand, Lucy elaborated, "I. AM. NOT. INTERESTED."
"What's your problem?!" He suddenly grew angry, his eyes were dark and serious, "I'm tryin' to apologize!"
Lucy shook her head in disbelief but stayed quiet and took another sip of her drink. She could feel his eyes on her, though she was trying to ignore him, so he would leave her alone.
Then he spoke again in a soft voice, "Look, I'm really sorry."
When Lucy glanced over at him, he was frowning, and his eyes looked sad. What an actor, she thought. "So, let me guess, you want to buy me a drink?" She inquired, with a sly, knowing smile.
The pink-haired man shrugged, "I dunno, I just felt like I should say somethin' to ya," he had run his fingers through that oddly colored hair of his. "I've never seen ya around here before," he bit his lower lip and glanced away, "Those guys don't know how to control themselves, even though they all have girlfriends…"
Lucy didn't really know what the guy was trying to say, she shrugged it off, explaining, "Yeah, men are like that."
He looked back at her with a puzzled expression, "Huh?"
After rolling her eyes, she told him, "Don't pretend like you don't know."
His gaze never left hers, Lucy could see the frustration in his eyes as he asked, "What are ya talkin' 'bout?"
Lucy finished her drink off before standing up and pointing a finger to his chest, "What you do is you gawk and stare, you look at women like an object instead of a person. Expecting us to do whatever you want and look pretty while doing it. You think we need to obey and listen to you men, be stripped of all our own desires and ambitions, all because you can't handle things not going the way you want them to." She was glaring at him as she poked her finger into his chest, "I'm no longer stupid or naïve enough to put myself in that kind of situation again."
Then she left, before he had a chance to say a word, because Lucy knew she had won.
That was on Monday it was now Friday, and Lucy wasn't entirely sure what to think of the whole thing.
Since that incident after her first shift, she couldn't help but notice the way the pink-haired man would blow up at his friends all the time. He was annoying and loud, had a grimace on his face every time she saw him. Every day she would have to see him and each and every day she tried her best to avoid him.
Everything about him irritated her to no end, even though she hadn't spoken to him since that night, at least not anything more than getting his drink order. Lucy did happen to notice that since that first day the other men at that table stopped trying to hit on her. Maybe he talked to them? No that couldn't possibly be…
But whenever their eyes met…well, Lucy couldn't quite describe it.
"Here you go, Lucy!" Mirajane smiled that pretty smile of hers as she handed over the tray of drinks.
Lucy couldn't help but return the smile, "Thanks." She took a few deep breaths to prepare herself before she picked up the tray and brought it over to the dreaded table.
XxX
Natsu was nervous as he waited for their drinks to arrive. He was feeling so anxious and sick to his stomach, it was almost as bad as how he felt when riding in a vehicle. The past few days were stressful, trying to get his band to go along with his idea, but also because of Lucy.
The first and only time they spoke had been a disaster.
Natsu wanted to apologize to the blonde. His band had been complete assholes and made all sorts of comments about her appearance the entire night. The way they had treated her made his blood fucking boil, the way they looked at her, the things they said about her when she was out of earshot.
He had felt terrible about it. And for some unknown reason, Natsu felt like he needed to say something when he saw her sitting alone at the bar when her shift ended.
It didn't go like he had imagined.
Not that Natsu could blame her, but he was hurt that she lumped him into the same category as his friends. He was hurt that she thought he was like them.
He didn't participate in the antics of his friends, at least not when it came to girls. Natsu wasn't interested in having a girlfriend like his friends did, he could care less about that kind of stuff, his passion was in music.
However, ever since their conversation earlier in the week, Natsu couldn't get her out of his mind.
Since then he has been yelling at his friends anytime they talked about Lucy's body. Usually, he wouldn't say anything, just let it be, but it bothered him when they said that stuff about Lucy. Yeah, Natsu didn't really know her, he has barely even had a conversation with her, but he couldn't help but feel this strange attraction to her.
He wasn't used to feeling this way.
Natsu had never felt that way about anyone, and it made him nervous.
Usually he was so sure of himself and full of confidence. At their shows girls were always nice to him, probably because he was the only one who was single, but Lucy was different.
The way she had spoken to him, as if he was bothering her, the disinterest she had for him, and the way she treated him like he was insignificant and unworthy of her attention, did crazy things to him.
But what he couldn't stop repeating in his mind were the last words she said to him: 'I'm no longer stupid or naïve enough to put myself in that kind of situation again.'
No longer… Again…
Natsu couldn't help but notice the vulnerability in her big brown eyes every time they met his.
His back had been to the bar, so he hadn't noticed the blonde approach their table with their drinks, "Who ordered the triple shot of Fireball?" Her voice made him jump in his seat.
Snapping out of his trance, Natsu raised his hand with a smirk, "That's me."
She raised her eyebrow at him as she set his drink down, "Here, Pinky."
Gray snickered at him and Natsu scowled at his shirtless friend as Lucy handed out the rest of the drinks and left their table before leaving.
"You sure about this Natsu?" Jellal asked beside him.
With a determination, Natsu nodded and took his triple shot. The burn of the alcohol and the cinnamon warmed him from the inside out, "I'm all fired up!"
xXx
Partway through her shift, Lucy noticed the stage was being set up. She went up to the bar and asked Mirajane, "Hey, what's going on?"
The white-haired woman smiled, "It's Friday, we have a local band who plays here every Friday night."
Lucy stared incredulously at the bartender, "Local band?"
Mirajane gestured toward the stage, and Lucy recognized the group of men who were beginning to warm up.
She whipped her head back around, "Them?"
With a light-hearted giggle, Mirajane assured her, "They are actually quite good." The blonde just shook her head and watched as all the women in the bar began to flock towards the stage.
Eventually, the sound equipment was turned on and his voice was heard over the speakers, "Happy Friday, everyone."
There was an uproar of screams from the women near the stage and Lucy rolled her eyes as she sat at the bar.
The pink-haired man smirked at the crowd, "I just wrote a new song that I want to share with y'all." There was a moment of hesitation before he said, "I hope you like it." (The song is "Take Your Time" by Sam Hunt)
He nodded to the other guys and the sound of guitars and keyboards filled the air.
Then, as he searched the crowd, his eyes landed on hers and he began to speak to the beat of the music.
I don't know if you were looking at me or not
You probably smile like that all the time
And I don't mean to bother you but
He sang the next lines and his voice was enchanting.
I couldn't just walk by
And not say hi
He went back to speaking, still not taking his eyes off Lucy,
And I know your name
'Cause everybody in here knows your name
And you're not looking for anything right now
Again, his singing voice was back and it sent chills down her spine.
So I don't wanna come on strong
But don't get me wrong
Your eyes are so intimidating
My heart is pounding but
It's just a conversation
No girl I'm not gonna waste it
You don't know me
I don't know you but I want to
Lucy's own heart began to pound as she realized this song was about her. The pink-haired man still had his eyes on her as he sang the next lines with a smile.
And I don't wanna steal your freedom
I don't wanna change your mind
I don't have to make you love me
I just want to take your time
I don't wanna wreck your Friday
I ain't gonna waste my lines
I don't have to take your heart
I just wanna take your time
He bit his lower lip and stared at her before he began speaking again,
And I know it starts with hello
And the next thing you know you're trying to be nice
And some guys getting too close
His eyes closed, and Lucy could feel the emotion behind his voice.
Trying to pick you up
Trying to get you drunk
When he opened his eyes again, they were back on her and he grinned as he said,
And I'm sure one of your friends is about to come over here
'Cause she's supposed to save you from random guys
That talk too much
Singing again, his voice was so soothing,
And wanna stay too long
It's the same old song and dance but I think you know it well
He spoke once again to the beat of the song,
You could have rolled your eyes
Told me to go to hell
Could have walked away
Smiling wider at her, he began to sing again,
But you're still here
And I'm still here
Come on let's see where it goes
I don't wanna steal your freedom
I don't wanna change your mind
I don't have to make you love me
I just wanna take your time
I don't have to meet your mother
We don't have to cross that line
I don't wanna steal your covers
I just wanna take your time
He removed the microphone from the stand and began to strut around the stage.
Woah, I don't wanna go home with you
Woah, I just wanna be alone with you
The music softened, and he shook his head, his eyes never leaving hers.
I don't wanna steal your freedom
I don't wanna change your mind
I don't have to make you love me
I just wanna take your time
And I don't wanna blow your phone up
I just wanna blow your mind
I don't have to take your heart
I just wanna take your time
The tempo picked up again and his eyes tightly closed as he belted the words,
No, I ain't gotta call you baby
And I ain't gotta call you mine
I don't have to take your heart
I just wanna take your time, ooh
xXx
When Natsu and his friends finished the rest of their set, he said goodnight to the crowd and made his way off the stage. As usual, the girls were trying to cling to him and get his attention, but he already had his sights set.
He made his way to the blonde sitting alone at the bar, "Lucy?"
She looked up at him with those big brown eyes, "You know my name, but I don't know yours."
"Natsu," he answered her with a smile and offered his hand for her to shake. When she put her hand in his, Natsu was surprised by how soft and small it was compared to his own.
Lucy's cheeks were tinted pink as she shook his hand. She didn't say anything, but her big brown eyes were staring up at him.
Natsu's smile grew and he gestured to the seat beside her, "Mind if I sit?" She shook her head and Natsu sat down facing her, "I'm sorry that the guys here, and probably other places, have treated ya like they have. I've been tryin' to get them to stop…" He looked away and scratched the back of his head, "I know what it feels like to have people only be interested in sex or the way ya look."
She glanced around the room and rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I can imagine..."
"Lucy?"
When those brown eyes of hers met his again, he gulped, "Would ya…uh, I dunno…wanna be friends?"
Oh my god… Natsu… Way to sound smooth and cool… There is no fucking way she's gonna want to be friends with—
"Yeah, okay."
AN: Hey everyone, this is my first NaLu story, I basically just really liked this song and wanted to write a story about it... I haven't decided if it will just be a one shot or if I'll end up writing more. I mostly just wanted to get this type of scenario out of my head and written.
Please leave me a review and let me know what you think: if you want more chapters or whatever, I've written it so it can easily be added onto if y'all like it.
xoxoLadyLiberal