The door creaked as the woman walked into the old bar. At first it was silent, but then a loud cheer reached her ears as old and new friends greeted her. It had only been a week since she had last been here, but there were no feelings of redundancy or sameness. This place is always changing, always growing. Every time someone entered the place, there was always a roar of welcomes. No one cared about your past situations here. This was the place where your sorrows and troubles flew out the door and music and beer replaced them. The melodies flowed out of this place into the street filing the whole city with beautiful music, which was one of the selling points of Magnolia actually. When people visited the town it was always the first place recommended, "Before you leave Magnolia, you must visit Fairy Tail."
"What will you be drinking tonight, Lucy?" The white haired woman behind the bar asked while wiping mugs off. Lucy was admiring Mirajane Strauss' sense of style. The woman was absolutely gorgeous and could pull off anything she wanted to. After all, she was the trendsetter. Young girls all over Magnolia looked towards Mirajane as their role model. Lucy couldn't blame them because she too has admired her ever since she can remember.
"I'll just have the usual, Mirajane." She answered while taking her coat off and placing it on the barstool.
"One Celestial Margarita coming up!" Mirajane shouted as she turned around and began making a drink like a witch makes a potion. As she was mixing and pouring, Mirajane looked around and noticed something weird, "Where is Natsu? Don't y'all usually come together on Friday nights?"
"Yeah we usually do, but he was held back at work. Apparently him and Gray are under a lot of pressure right now to get their projects finished." She began sipping the drink Mirajane placed in front of her. "But I am not too worried. He said he would be here before we even finished the first round!" She laughed at that man's audacity. He always surprised her. She began smiling fondly at the memory of her first time at Fairy Tail.
Lucy was new to Magnolia and had only just arrived when she ran into Natsu. She was unloading what little stuff she had from her car into her apartment. She was lucky to find a little place off Main Street with an affordable rent, at least that was what she told herself when she first moved in, and the landlord didn't seem to mind her and her books. After seeing the place, Lucy's mind began to fill with all the decoration possibilities, she had never had a place of her own before and she was going to make this place spectacular. She bent down to pick up some boxes when a knee smacked her square in the face. Lucy fell backwards, blood trickling down from her nose and tears forming in her eyes.
"What the hell!" She screeched while holding her nose and trying to stand up.
A hearty line of curse flowed from the man's mouth. "I am so sorry, I was looking at my iPod to change my music and-" His hands were out in front of him palm up indicating his innocence.
"You should watch where you are going! This is so not okay!" She let out a heavy sigh, "Are you okay?" she finally asked, pointing to his knee that had blood on it. She lifted her head back doing what she was taught to do when she was little for nosebleeds.
"Yeah, yeah I am fine," He reported back after doing a body check. "Oh my god, you're bleeding." His voice was becoming even more panicked. "Wait, aren't you supposed to lean your head forward?" He began to usher Lucy towards the steps of her apartment building.
"No you lean your head back," She mumbled as she sat down with her head back.
"No, trust me, you lean forward or you will swallow the blood," He gently coaxed Lucy into forgetting what she was taught and convinced her to lean her head forward.
"I am Natsu, by the way." He held his hand out in order for Lucy to shake it.
"I'm Lucy." She grumbled at him and shook his hand with her other unoccupied one. Her hair had fallen all around her face though, and he couldn't hear her properly.
"Luigi huh? Interesting name for a girl." He chuckled.
"No! Lucy!" She turned and gave him a glare that has killed many before him.
"Oh, Lucy! Well that's better. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl." He raised his hands behind his head and smiled warmly at her.
"I think the bleeding has stopped," She commented trying to change the subject. She removed her hand from her nose and sat up straight. That is when she finally got a real good look at this man, at Natsu.
He was beautiful. He had on a very loose tank top that was ripped on both side, revealing delicious abs underneath. His shorts crept up and were eager to show the rippling thighs of their owner. Lucy gulped ever so slightly and dragged her eyes up to meet the man whose knee knocked her flat. Lucy's breath caught in her throat. He had pink hair that was pushed back from sweat and going in every direction possible. His eyes were one of the most captivating things about the man. His eyes were so brown they were almost black. Lucy had never seen anything like them before. And his lips were so full and looked ready for Lucy to -
"Hey Lucy, are you okay? You are turning pink." He leaned forward and poked her cheek.
She slapped his hand away, "Yeah I'm fine."
He chuckled at the blonde, "You're kind of weird."
"Me?" She puffed up. "I am not the one running around kneeing girls in the face!" She crossed her arms.
"Oi, it was an accident! It is not a usual habit of mine. But," He paused for a brief moment, "I am sorry about it. And it looks like I owe you a new shirt." Natsu gestured to her shirt, which cued Lucy to look at her shirt for the first time.
"Damn." She uttered. The top half had blood all over it. Because they were outside, she didn't have any napkins so she automatically used the first thing she had.
"It's okay, don't worry about it." She began to stand up. "I should get back to moving in."
"Well, let me help you out with that. It's the least I can do since I gave you a bloody nose!" Natsu rushed over to the boxes Lucy had dropped and swooped them up before Lucy could say anything.
"Uh. Sure thanks." Lucy couldn't argue with the man with the pink hair.
~. ~. ~
Natsu sprawled out on Lucy's couch as she prepared them something to drink in a fresh blood free shirt.
"This is a nice place you got here Lucy," Natsu looked around her apartment at all her books and boxes.
"Thanks" Lucy said as she walked back into the room with two glasses of lemonade and some crackers. "There is still a lot of work to do before its home, but it definitely has the potential." She commented as she looked at the few boxes she has sprawled across the room and once again began thinking of where she could put all of her stuff.
"Lucyyyy" Natsu dragged her name out.
"Yes, Natsu?" She turned to face the pink haired man while sipping her lemonade.
"I asked if you had any plans for Friday night?" He looked at her a slight blush on his cheeks.
"I mean, I may have to check my calendar." She acted nonchalantly at his offer to which his eyes widened.
"Oh. I see." His shoulders slumped.
"I'm kidding, Natsu. I just moved into a town where I know virtually no one. So no I am not busy on Friday. What did you have in mind?" She leaned over and bumped his shoulders with hers to indicate that she was interested in his invite.
"Ohh." He laughed. "That was a funny joke." He said as he gently bumped her shoulder back. "Anyways, there is a bar downtown called Fairy Tail, you should come check it out. Some friends and I basically live there on the weekends and I am sure you would love it." He wiggled his eyebrows up and down at her as she contemplated his offer.
"Sure why not?" Lucy couldn't see the harm in going to get drinks with a couple new people. In fact, this was a great way for her to meet new people.
"Awesome, I'll meet you at the bar at say 7 pm?" He began to stand to stretch his well-sculpted legs.
"Yeah see you then!" She waved goodbye as he left her apartment.
Lucy finally let out her breath. Holy cow had she really just met a hot guy and has a date on Friday night all within a week of moving into Magnolia? She threw herself back on her couch and laughed, looking forward to Friday night.
~. ~. ~
As Lucy approached the bar, she noticed there was line of people outside the door. Would she be able to get into it? She knew sometimes the bouncers of joints like this would let you in based on your looks. She looked down at her outfit of choice and was starting to second-guess her decision. She was wearing a blue halter-top that had white lace accents on it, a pair of skintight jeans, and some killer high heels. Her makeup was done lightly, because they only real makeup she used was mascara and lipstick other than she didn't think she needed too much. Her hair was down in loose curls behind her, which contrasted most of the girls who had it either up in loose buns or ponytails. When she left her apartment she was feeling quite confident, but now she was unsure as she looked at the line full of girls in skintight dresses that left nothing to the imagination. "Snap out of it Lucy!" She gently slapped her face as she gave herself a pep talk. "Natsu said he would meet me outside the bar and he doesn't seem like the kind of guy to not show up so pull yourself together girl!" She began to head to the back of the line, when she heard her name being shouted.
"Lucy! You came!" Natsu came bouncing towards her. Her breath caught at the sight of this gorgeous man. Lucy sent a silent thank you to the god who created him, because they did an excellent job. He wore a tight black V-neck t-shirt that clung to all of his upper muscles. This was tucked into a pair of faded, fit-just-right pair of Levis. After she wiped the drool away from her mouth, Lucy suddenly realized that all the people in line were staring at her. No wait. They were staring at Natsu.
"Natsu, you must be a pretty popular guy around here. Everyone is staring at you." She looked at the line that was full of girls giving her the evil eye.
"Trust me Lucy, they are all looking you." He chuckled as he pushed some hair behind her ear. If she wasn't blushing before, she was blushing now.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her past the line of people, past the bouncer, to the door.
"N-Natsu? Don't we have to wait our turn in line?" Lucy whispered.
"Not if you are with me!" He laughed. "Welcome to Fairy Tail, Lucy!" He pulled open the big wooden doors and led Lucy into the life-changing bar of Fairy Tail.
~. ~. ~
Instantly Lucy felt at home in this bar. One you walked in straight ahead was a bar, where one of the most beautiful women Lucy had ever seen stood serving drinks. Once you walked further in to the left there was a huge stage full of different instruments and a microphone in the center. The place was full of vibrant people yelling and drinking, all not caring about anybody or the problems that lay outside those big wooden doors.
"Natsu!" A young boy about 17 came up towards the pair.
"Happy!" Natsu said as he lunged for the boy wrapping him in a big bear hug.
"Happy?" Lucy giggled at the strange name for a boy his age.
The boy peeked from under Natsu's arms and peered at Lucy. Lucy got the oddest sensation that he was deciding on whether or not he approved of her. It was like a cat looking into your soul to decided if they could trust you or not.
"Lucy, this is Happy, my kid brother." He commented while playfully running his hands through Happy's hair.
"Hey watch the hair Natsu," Happy laughed and swatted his hand away. Lucy noted that just like his older brother Happy had an odd hair color, it was almost an electric blue. "So you are the famous Lucy huh?" He stretched forward his hand after straightening his hair and Lucy took it right away.
"I don't know if I'm that famous." She laughed at the slight blush that crept on Natsu's face.
"Hey flame brain! It's almost time you ready?" A man across the bar yelled at Natsu. His black hair fell gently into his eyes. Lucy noted that this man was handsome as well. He wore a dark blue buttoned up shirt that revealed a toned body underneath.
"Shut it Ice Princess! I'm on my way!" He yelled back at the man. Lucy laughed at the exchange between the two. They were quite eccentric weren't they?
Natsu grabbed Lucy's hand and pulled her towards the bar. "Hey Mirajane, this is Lucy. I'll be right back Lucy! Come on Happy."
Happy leaned up to Lucy, "Hope you enjoy the show." He winked at her before turning to run after Natsu and the Ice Princess.
"The show?" She asked confused.
"So Lucy was it?" Mirajane asked from behind the bar. She was polishing some glasses.
"Yeah. Mirajane right?" Lucy finally looked at Mirajane properly. She was absolutely stunning. Her long white hair flowed behind her and her dress was simple but showed her elegance. "Wait, are you The Mirajane from the magazines!?" It finally clicked for Lucy why this woman looked so familiar. She has almost every copy of the Sorcerer Weekly that features Mirajane in it.
Mirajane laughed casually at Lucy's expression. "Yeah that would be me. So can I get you anything to drink?"
"What do you suggest?" Lucy had never been an expert of drinking and had yet to pin point her preferred drink of choice yet.
Mirajane studied her for a moment and her eyes twinkled as she thought of the perfect drink for Lucy. "I know exactly what you need!" And with that she was gone behind the bar mixing drinks.
Lucy couldn't believe she had just met Mirajane Strauss. The woman was a legend in her hometown. This night was turning out to be a fantastic one and it had just only begun.
Mirajane brought back a drink in a margarita glass. "A margarita?" Lucy asked. It seemed so plain.
"Take a sip" Mirajane insisted and pushed the drink forward.
"Okay." Lucy wasn't expecting much, but as soon as she took a sip it was like her taste buds began dancing on her tongue. She looked closer at this delicious drink and noticed little stars throughout the drink. "This is so delicious!" She squealed as she took another sip.
Mirajane laughed and clapped her hands together. "That is a Celestial Margarita! Made especially for you! Welcome to Fairy Tail!" She yelled over her shoulder as she walked over to server another customer. Lucy thought for a moment she had heard of Fairy Tail before. It was the place Mirajane worked full time. It wasn't an ordinary bar though, it was a – her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden change in light.
A single spotlight was shinning on the stage revealing Natsu who was now wearing a light pink jacket over his outfit.
The crowd began cheering as soon as they spotted Natsu.
"Welcome to Fairy Tail!" As soon as he uttered Fairy Tail everyone began shouting. "The best karaoke bar in the whole country!" With that statement came even more cheering if that was possible.
"We are going to start off the night with a new song that's quite hot right now. If you know the words sing along!" With that the spotlight disappeared and it was quite for only a few seconds as a jazzy upbeat tune came coursing through the bar. There was a steady clap that began to the beat of the music as a deep voice began a steady verse of "Dohs". Soon an electric guitar was joining in at a nice pace. The lights began to flash different colors as the man dubbed Ice Princess let out a loud "Awoah!"
Natsu, Happy and two other guys were center stage then singing, "This hit that ice cold, Michelle Pfeiffer, that white gold. This one for them hood girls them good girls straight masterpieces. Stylin', whilen livin' it up in the city. Got chucks on with Saint Laurent. Gotta kiss myself I'm so pretty.
Natsu took lead of the pack and began singing the next verse of the song, "I'm too hot" the guys in the back echoed with "Hot damn". "Called the police and a fireman! I'm too hot! (Hot damn) Make a dragon wanna retire man. I'm too hot! (Hot damn)"
Natsu was dancing to the beat and owning the stage. Lucy didn't know what to think. He was amazing and his voice was unbelievable and his dance moves definitely added some flare to the show. She recognized the song immediately, she had heard it on the radio before. It was very popular right now and all the ladies loved it. She watched as Natsu jumped down off the stage and began dancing around to his friends at the tables. He held his hand out to a bluenette, which she took happily, he spun her around while singing "Girl sent you hallelujah" and the guys in the back got together and sang a high "Ohh". His hands curved to the shape of her body, and he acted as if he was going to faint at the girls beauty. Shouts and whistles rose from the crowd at their interaction. Natsu and the bluenette stopped at the same moment and began this running in place dance move to "Because Uptown Funk don't give it to ya!" He suddenly stopped feat spread shoulder length apart and hands open and his head snapped back on the line, "Don't believe me just watch!" There was a certain mischievous gleam in his eyes as the guys dance move and his own started mimicking each other perfectly. A shoulder side-step which emphazised the beat of the song perfectly.
He rushed over to the bar where there was an empty glass conveniently placed.
"Stop. Wait a minute. Fill my cup put some liquor in it" At this verse he lifted the cup to Mirajane who right on cue poured some brown liquor in it. The guys back on staged picked up as Natsu chugged the drink down and proceed to sign a check and hand it to Mirajane. "Take a sip, sign a check." Natsu looked over to where Lucy was sitting and winked before he started his return to the stage. "Julio! Get the stretch! Ride to Harlem, Hollywood, Jackson, Mississippi! If we show up, we goin' show out smoother than a fresh jar of skippy."
Once again Natsu was singing the verse "I'm too hot (hot damn)!" Lucy couldn't help but sing and clap along to the performance. It was intoxicating this song. You couldn't help but sing along and dance.
The music slowed a bit and Natsu began to sing the closing verses.
"Come on, dance! Jump on it. If you sexy than flaunt it, If you freaky than own it. Don't brag about it, come show me!" The group of men was in a synchronized dance as they stepped back and forth in the shoulder-side step again. Soon a few girls sitting down front had jumped up in front of the stage and were dancing unashamedly to the music. Their hips swayed easily to the rhythm as if it was the most natural thing for them to be doing. It was the same girl with blue hair from earlier and a tall brunette. They were laughing and seemed to be having a great time.
The song ended with a string of "Uptown Funk you up!" and the Ice Princess and Natsu were playing off each other so well that the song ended in perfect upbeat rhythm that it left everyone eager for more.
Natsu and the group of guys were laughing and having a great time up there. "Hope y'all enjoyed that! The next person who is performing is…Cana" Natsu read the name up off of what must have been a sign up sheet. He then proceeded to jump off the stage and headed directly over to Lucy.
"So what did you think?" He asked leaning on the bar next to Lucy, sweat dripping down his face.
"Y'all were fantastic!" She squealed. "You have an amazing voice!"
"Thanks." He chuckled at her enthusiasm. He lifted a bottle of water and took a sip of it and Lucy watched the bottle touch his lips and began to think of all the places his lips could be.
"Lucy!" She felt a pair of arms go around her shoulders. "What did you think?" It was Happy and he was just as sweaty as Natsu. Lucy leaned towards him, "You were incredible Happy!" The young boy beamed with happiness. Lucy could see why he was given his name. He was so energetic and being around him in effect made one happy as well.
"So what do you think? Wanna give it a try?" Natsu pulled her attention back towards him.
Her eyes widened. "Huh? Me?" Her voice raised a few octaves as she pointed a finger at herself.