Fairy Tail
NaLu Week 2015
Day #2 - Gratitude
Let you never mistake my gratitude for anything than what it appears to be.
Are you sure about this Natsu?
Of course I'm sure.
It just seems kind of-
Trust me, Lucy will love it!
If you say so.
C'mon buddy, what could go wrong?
Lucy Heartfilia sighs as she walks along the stone barrier dividing the sidewalk from the river. Plue is following close behind as he mimics the blonde: arms outstretched with a slow gait. While walking, the Stellar Mage can just imagine the passengers of the boat she passes every single day warning her to be careful.
As she thinks about it, said vessel is in her line of sight.
"Be careful Miss Heartfilia!" One of the men call as they get within earshot of each other.
"Don't want to fall into the water!" Another adds.
"I'll try not to!" Lucy shouts back with a sad smile they don't see.
The men continue along the river as the blonde heads towards her apartment.
While standing in front of her building, she can feel the full brunt of the day's significance. It may have been a long time ago, that band of enemies vanquished, but Lucy can still remember the moment with clarity that her connection to Aquarius was severed and the emotional trauma that followed.
"Someday, we'll meet again." Lucy murmurs with vague hopefulness.
Walking up the stairs to her apartment, all she can think of is taking a nice, hot bath and maybe even write some of her novel. She isn't able to do that most of the time given how she is usually preoccupied with going on a mission with Natsu, Happy, Gray, Erza, Wendy, and Carla. Or they make themselves at home in her apartment.
In fact, she had expected salmon hair and blue fur to accompany her on her way home. The blonde recalls how the two said they had something to do at home. Not wanting to press for more information, she didn't so much as blink when her boyfriend and his friend left.
Lucy sighs in relief after unlocking her door and steps into the room. Locking the door behind her, she heads to her bathroom, already feeling the soothing effect brought on by the warmness of a bath.
Turning the faucet on, she left to get a towel as she contemplates the direction her novel should go. A certain excitement bubbles underneath her skin as she thinks of how it's almost finished.
"I'll think about it later." Lucy murmurs as she submerges into the awaiting waters of her bath.
Upon getting out of her bath and after drying herself off, she becomes chilled by the faint breeze coming in from her open window.
Her open bedroom window?
As best as Lucy can remember, her window was never opened that day. Assuming the worst and that someone broke into her apartment, Lucy looks around as she brings out the Gate of the Lion Key. Moving around, her apartment is silent until she reaches her kitchen where she hears faint whispers.
To aid in her investigation, she switches on her kitchen light. And sees that Natsu Dragneel and Happy are staring each other down as they are each holding a painting. Or at least they were until they saw the blonde.
"Surprise!" The two exclaim in near-unison.
"Natsu? Happy?" Lucy asks as she regards each picture. "What is this?"
Looking back and forth, she isn't sure what do think. The painting Happy was holding showed what looked to be a somewhat flirtatious Aquarius. She had one of her hands behind her head as the other hold her jug. Her left eye was closed in a wink as her lips were curved into an entrancing pout. What really made the picture was the tumultuous waves of water swirling around her.
Beautiful and deadly were the words that came to mind and they couldn't be more accurate.
The picture Natsu was holding was marginally different. It looked to the blonde like a battle was going on as Aquarius was at the center. And she was fighting back-to-back with none other than Lucy herself as she was equipped with her fleuve d'étoiles.
And judging by what appeared to be fleeing enemies, they were people to be reckoned with.
"I know that today is the day that you had to sacrifice Aquarius to summon Mustache Man."
"And Natsu came up with the idea to put a positive memory on the date." Happy adds.
"So I asked if Reedus could paint a few pictures that would be fond reminders." Natsu continues.
"And we had a few Jewel lying around." Happy says.
"Either way, we hope you enjoy them." Natsu finishes as the two place them down on the island in her kitchen.
At the gesture, Lucy can think of only two responses: to cry and hug the other part of her heart's symphony.
"Thank you Natsu." Lucy breathes as she can feel her tears dripping onto his clothing. "I love it."
"I'm glad you like it Luce." Natsu says as he tenderly weaves a hand through her hair.
"We're glad you like it." Happy adds as he hovers nearby.
"I love you." The Celestial Spirit Mage says, directing the sentiment to both the Fire Dragon Slayer and the Exceed.
The three then join in a hug as they exist within the intimate moment.
"The question is," Lucy muses as she looks around her home. "where do I put the pictures?"
I could never have anything but genuine appreciation for everything you do; everything you are.
Author's Notes: And another prompt done! The next prompt to be seen will most likely be Need followed by Glory Days.
