Sakura
By: BritanyBreathless
"Where were you yesterday?" Levy asked, coming up from behind and startling Lucy to the point she almost spilled her milkshake.
"Geez Lev, give a girl a little more warning before you sneak up on them." Lucy muttered as she watched her best friend take a seat in the bar stool beside her. The guild hall was as rowdy as ever. A fight broke out just a mere six feet away from the pair. Not even batting an eye Lucy ignored the brawl and gave her best friend her full attention.
"Sorry Lu I didn't mean to startle you. But really, where were you last night? Gajeel and I looked everywhere for you. We were going to meet up for the fireworks remember?"
"Yeah. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you. I just ran into someone when I was walking around and we kinda hung out and lost track of time."
"oooooh. Was it a guy?"
Lucy rolled her eyes as she saw Mira perk up in the corner of her eye. She knew that the she demon was eavesdropping now. The last thing she needed was for that schemer to get the idea in her head that her Laxus should be a couple.
Not that that would be a bad thing...he was devastatingly beautiful in his own right...shaking her head Lucy quickly rid that train of thought. It was Laxus of the Rajinshuu after all. She really didn't have a chance with him, the most sought after Bachelor as named the past three years in Sorcerer weekly. Plus until yesterday he was always kind of an asshole to her.
'But he called you Lulu...' Lucy waved the devilish thought away. ' He was also the one refusing to help with Phantom Lord unless he got a piece of me.'
"Lu? You okay? You got really quiet there for a minute."
"Sorry Levy! I'm fine! Just lost in thought is all."
Levy quirked an eyebrow. "Does that mean that the person you ran into was a guy?"
Before Lucy could even answer Natsu came over to wrap his arm loosly around the Blonde's shoulder.
"Hey Luigi!"
Levy huffed in irritation as Natsu interrupted. 'Just when I was getting to the good stuff.' she thought.
"Hey Natsu, What's up?"
"I've got some pretty exciting news! I wanted to share it with my best friend in the whole wide world first!"
"Oh and what's that?" Lucy asked tilting her head in question.
"Lis and I are moving in together!"
Lucy blinked taking a moment to process the information that was just bestowed upon her. Levy looked ready to murder.
'Poor Lu!' Her thoughts cried running a mile a minute. While the blonde acted tough and swears up and down she was completely over the Fire dragon slayer she knew full well despite everything news like that can still hurt. 'After all she was crushing on him for a few years.'
"Wait, like into your house?"
"Yeah!" Natsu exclaimed before noticing the startled look on Lucy's face. "Wait..what's wrong with that?"
"Has she seen your house?"
"Not yet..."
"I wouldn't show her the house yet."
"Why?"
"Natsu. You're house is a health hazard no one should live there until you clean it."
"Aw cmon Luigi it's not that bad."
Lucy snorted, "Natsu, please the last time I went over there I thought you were storing dead bodies in your wall it stunk so bad."
Natsu rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment removing the arm that was wrapped around Lucy in the process. "I guess I should clean it up first."
Lucy nodded sagely. "Yes. Lisanna doesn't deserve the hell hole that you call a house."
Levy watched in awe. She guessed her thoughts about Lucy being at least a little upset were wrong. 'Lucy is so strong.'
" You wouldn't mind-
"No."
"But Luc-"
"No." Lucy cut the dragon slayer off again. " I am not helping you clean that house. You're on your own."
Natsu grumbled but left Lucy and Levy to go find Happy and attempt to clean their house before Lisanna came over.
"Sorry about the interruption." Lucy apologized turning her attention back to her best friend. Glancing at the clock above the bar Lucy got up "I have to go but I will definitely tell you all about yesterday later."
Levy nodded, "Okay. Also don't forget the girls trip! We're leaving back out for Hosenka in a week."
"I wouldn't dream of missing it."
Leaving her poor unfinished milk shake behind she waved good bye to Levy and left the guild halls taking a deep breath of fresh air as she did so. Natsu really helped her dodge a bullet there. While she didn't mind telling Levy everything she really didn't want Mira to know and start meddling in her business. She loved the takeover mage dearly but her matchmaking schemes were really something else.
Allowing her thoughts to wonder she headed out towards the outskirts of Magnolia where the woods grew dense. It was the perfect place to train with Capricorn and it kept her away from the fairy tail training grounds that Erza and the other power houses so often frequented. Watching them train was something else but it did nothing for her self esteem. She was very much out of their league when it came to brute strength and power.
Not paying attention she ran into something hard that ended up knocking the wind out of her. Glancing up she noticed it wasn't a something but a someone. The strong jaw was set in a shit eating grin and a blonde eyebrow was raised, "Seriously. Blondie. We need to stop meeting like this."
Groaning, she backed up out of Laxus's personal bubble. "Sorry. I really need to start paying attention."
"Where you headed?"
"Well I was going to go off to train...but you know what? I think I'll skip it and get something to eat instead." Lucy mentally slapped herself. Capricorn was going to be pissed for skipping out but she held on to a thin shred of hope that maybe...just maybe...
"Funny. I was heading back to the guild to get something to eat. Wanna go together?"
Lucy blinked once, twice, what was that he said?
" I actually just came from there. I'll probably head towards home and grab something at a nearby cafe."
"Want company?"
'Did he...did he just seriously ask that?' Lucy shrugged, "Sure. It's better than being alone."
Turning around she began leading the way to a little cafe she knew and frequented often whenever she didn't feel like cooking. The cat's meow was a cute little place that served specialty tea.
"You always seem to be alone these days." Laxus mused, falling into step beside her as he followed.
"How would you know?"
"Like I said last night. I keep a watch on everyone around the guild I've noticed."
"Everyone's just busy, that's all."
"Doesn't mean you don't get lonely."
"You're awfully interested in my business." Lucy commented as they made a left, getting closer to her favorite cafe.
Laxus grinned, "It's hard not to be interested in such a smokin' hot blonde."
Lucy blushed falling silent as she led the rest of the way there. Her thoughts and feeling swirling around in her head. She couldn't deny that she was attracted to the slayer...hell he IS one good looking guy but she never really thought about him that way...he was always a huge jerk! Well except that time during the grand magic games. He did single handily wipe out raven tail and has really proven himself since Makroav welcomed him back to the guild with open arms.
Maybe she never really paid all that much attention since she was so wrapped up in Natsu those past few years.
When they finally came up to the Cafe Laxus blinked in surprise as he took in the appearance of the small yellow building. It was cute for lack of a better word. The large paw print sign that read The Cat's Meow was all the indication he needed that this was not his kind of place.
"Uh, Blondie?"
Lucy laughed, " I know. The crazy cat lady vibe on this place is strong but I promise it's really good food and they have the largest drink menu you have ever seen."
Skeptical but silent Laxus followed Lucy in as he eyed the out door cafe tables with mild disgust. 'The fuck? They're shaped like cat heads!'
However the inside was worse. Much, much worse.
"You're fucking kidding me right?"
The walls were a pastel pink and covered in fancy cat artwork.
Lucy ignored him choosing a table by the window. Laxus begrudgingly followed, tentatively opening the menu his eye brows raised, ' The food does look pretty good.'
"What made you come into a palce like this? Don't tell me you're really into cats." Laxus asked
Lucy snorted. "Don't get me wrong I like cats but I'm more of a dog person."
"Are yo ready to place an order?"
Lucy smiled up at the friendly server "Can I have the garden fresh salad with a strawberry lemonde?"
"Sure!" The perky brunette smiled, "Did you want dressing on the side?"
"Yes please! Ranch."
"And what about you sir?"
"Uh..." Laxus trailed off staring at the menu again "I'll have the salmon."
"And what to drink?"
"Waters fine."
The server wrote the order neatly on her order pad before scurrying off.
"Did our waitress have a tail?"
Lucy giggled as she placed her menu behind the napkin dispenser and out of the way. "Yeah. They take the cat theme pretty far here."
Laxus scratched his head recalling his earlier question before they were interrupted by the server. "How did you find this place?"
Lucy shrugged, " Bored one day and walked around, realized this was pretty close to my apartment, wondered in because I thought it was funny."
"I'm noticing a trend here."
"What trend?"
"Finding you by yourself."
Lucy smiled sadly. "I'm...used to it."
Laxus merely stared crystalline blue locking onto sad chocolate brown. Lucy sighed, "It's something I really don't want to get into at lunch."
Laxus backed down respecting the fact that she didn't feel up to much talking. Silence stretched between them and soon the waitress came back with their drinks and their food.
"How's team Natsu doing?"
Lucy rolled her eyes but was thankful for the break in the awkward silence. "Crazy as ever. Did a huge S class mission came back with Zero reward money."
"You're fucking joking."
"I wish I was. Rent is due and these asshole always seem to make sure I come up short. One of these days the land lady is going to kick me out. I swear."
" You can always come with me and my team. We'll make sure you get an equal cut."
Lucy smiled. "Thanks. I really appreciate that."
"What did they do anyway?"
"Literally decimate a whole town. I mean completely leveled it, the townspeople all homeless now."
"I don't know how you handle it."
"By a very thin thread of patience."
The meal finished and Laxus grudgingly admitting the food was pretty great and that he will most likely come back with the stipulation that no one ever catches him dead in this place. They both left a nice fat tip before making their way out of the cafe. Once outside they stood awkwardly for a moment, neither really wanting or willing to part.
"I guess I better get back to the guild." Laxus finally said, breaking the awkward moment between the two. "Gramps has a ton of paper work I need to finish and from hearing about that mission you guys had I'm pretty sure I have a good idea on what it pertains to."
Lucy chuckled, " Sorry about that."
"Tch. You shouldn't apologize, after all you're not the idiot that leveled a whole fucking town."
"Yeah but it was my team. If I had been strong enough to stop them..."
"Lulu. Stop."
At the sound of the nickname Lucy's heart fluttered.
"You're not weak. You're a pretty strong and stubborn chick. Besides anyone that can stop that train wreck of a team of yours desrves a fucking medal."
Without thought she launched herself at the dragon slayer and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.
"Thanks Laxus. I really needed to hear that."
"No problem, after all what are Nakama for?"
'Nakama?' Pulling away slowly Lucy nodded "Yeah." She plastered a half hearted grin on her face and waved good bye "I gotta be heading home." She turned and started walking away her thoughts a jumbled mess as the word Nakama rang through her mind. 'That's right. I'll never be more than Nakama to him.'
Her self doubts ate away at her as they parted and all the while she never noticed the light dusting of pink that flushed the dragon slayers face or the awkward way he shoved his hand into his pants pockets in attempt to hide the awkward shyness he had, had since he was a troubled teen. Clearly besotted with a certain blonde girl with brown eyes.
A/N: And chapter two is born! Please don't hesitate to leave feedback and questions! I'm usually pretty good at replying back! ALSO~~~~~
An awesome reviewer XxShyxX messaged me and let me know about LALU Week! Apparently the week is from January 20th -26th and the prompts are
Day 1.) Aquarius
Day 2.) Devilish
Day 3.) Dream
Day 4.) Sparks
Day 5.) Manga
Day 6:) Games
Day 7:) Prey
While I can't promise I'll be able to do the whole week I am definitely going to try and participate as long as work allows :D I also look forward to see everyone's stories and entries for it! And while I am on the subject I also was told there is a Christmas contest for LALU and the deadline for that is January 4th!
Anywhoo enough of my rambling!
R+R Flames are also welcomed! I'll use them to roast my marshmellows! :)