-Mistletoe-
The girls of the guild have been decorating the guildhall for a week already just for Christmas. But it was the effort that made every year awesome. I personally just really like the free food and presents that came with the holiday. But the decoration of the party was always a highlight. Now with Lucy and Juvia and Lisanna, this year is promised to be better than the rest! With Mira and Juvia working in the kitchens for the food, Lucy and Lisanna designing the decorations, and Levy planning everything out everything will be amazing.
"What do you think about hanging snowflakes?" Lucy asked the white haired Strauss, lifting a box of fish wire.
"Yeah! We can ask Gray to make them and Elf-nee can hang them for us," Lisanna agreed.
"Already on it, Lucy," the popsicle answered, ice molds of snowflakes appearing onto the tables that were pushed off to the sides.
"Thanks Gray!" Lucy cheered.
There was garland already being hung up by Freed and Evergreen; Laxus was helping Levy check the Christmas lights; Bixlow, Cana, Macao, Wakaba, Romeo, and Wendy were all lifting boxes around; and Master was putting the topper on the tree. Elfman was even helping Mira, Juvia, and Erza in the kitchen! It seemed like everyone was doing something, but me!
So I asked, "Yo, Luce, what can I do?"
She answered, "Um, I don't think I need your help just yet, Natsu. Sorry."
"Okay," I replied, not knowing what to do with myself.
"Happy? Can you and Carla help me hang up Gray's snowflakes?" Lucy questioned of the cat floating by my side.
"Aye, sir!" the blue exceed cheered, floating over to Carla.
"Even Happy?" I pouted.
Lucy suggested, "You can go help the others with the boxes. Find something that looks nice or something?"
I responded, "Okay."
Doing nothing was annoying so I wandered over to the boxes that were being set in a far corner of the guild. Opening the tops, I looked inside for anything interesting. But honestly, nothing really strikes me as appealing. It's the party that looks nice, but beforehand it's bland and boring.
I sat down next to a box full of leaves of some kind in boredom. My eyes wondered around to watch the progress that I was not doing. The tree on the stage acted as the centerpiece of the guildhall with shining lights of red, green, blue, and yellow. The star on top was different than the usual topper we had as it was hollow and a lot fatter than it should be. Loke provided it, I think. Streamers of red and green hung with garland around the second floor safety bars. One by one, Happy and Carla hung around ice crystals off of the ceiling. Slowly the guild filled with decorations to seem almost smaller and cozier too.
"You find something?" Lucy called, walking up to me.
"Uh," I blinked, getting up from the ground and grabbing at the box behind me. "Maybe hang some of this stuff on the second floor?"
"Mistletoe? Uh, yeah, sure, that could work," Lucy replied biting her lower lip for some reason.
"That's what this stuff is? I thought it was just some leaf garland thing," I realized.
She shook her head chuckling, "You don't even know what mistletoe is, do you?"
I retorted, "Do too. It's hung over doorways for Christmas time."
She nodded then added, "But why is it hung over doorways?"
Now I was confused. Everything for Christmas is hung around. I answered, "Because it's usually the easiest place to put it?"
"Not exactly. I'll explain later. You wanted to help, right? Let's go hang these up above the railing," Lucy replied.
"Okay," I shrugged. It wasn't that important anyhow.
I took up the box and followed her with wide strides up to the second floor. The overhang seemed a bit bare from the vantage of being eye level. I set the box down and Lucy was quick to pull out a leaf bundle that already had some string on it to hang from. She looked around and walked to the railing, searching for the perfect spot to hang it from. After centering it, she went to try reach up to the ceiling but failed.
"Natsu!" Lucy gasped as I lifted her up onto my shoulders so she could do what she wanted.
When the leaf bundle stayed on its own, I put her down and chuckled at her puffed cheeks of anger. Even when she was mad at me, she was beautiful. I could get lost in those brown orbs and golden locks for hours. Her flushed face was one of my favorites when she was flustered with a situation. It was obvious that keeping her closer to me caused her to be uncomfortable. Her heart flew in her chest and the rhythm was graceful yet sturdy and strong.
Though, my eyes grew wide as she leaned in, kissed my cheek, and pulled away. She's never done that before. Why did she kiss me? Because she likes me, too?
"Mistletoe," she answered my thoughts. "When someone is under mistletoe and someone else joins them, they have to kiss. That's why people hang mistletoe over doors so that whoever walks under it with someone else they have to kiss."
"So you'll have to kiss me every time we hang one up?" I confirmed. Maybe this mistletoe wasn't nothing after all?
"W-well… Ah… I guess…" she choked out, her entire face as red as a tomato.
With that, I went to the box and grabbed a few more to hand her. We had the whole second floor railing to do. Maybe I was taking advantage of the situation? Though what was stopping me?
I lifted her once more and when she came back down to her feet she kissed my cheek again. That time I was ready. She slapped my chest, telling me to wipe the grin off my face, then walked to the next spot. This time, I took one out of her hand, jumped up on the railing, and hung it myself. When I came down, I stopped her before she could scold me by crushing my lips on hers.
I'll never forget the amazing taste of her lips. She was as red as Erza's hair in the most enchanting way. Some of the lights in the garland were being tested and the white glow glittered on her skin. The glow gave her almost an angel complexion. Nothing could ruin that moment.
"You came to me, so that meant that I had to kiss you," I explained.
"Natsu…" Lucy began but was interrupted from down below.
The popsicle called from below, "Stop makin' out up there and do some work!"
I retorted, "Oh, yeah?! Then why don't you and Juvia finish the job?!"
Ice-Princess yelled back, "Oh hell no! Go to Gajeel if ya really wanna trade up jobs!"
"Say that again, Stipper, and I'll break your arm!" Metal-head replied.
"They loove each other!" Happy broke out.
"Shut it, cat!" Lucy exclaimed.
Okay, so the moment could be ruined. Next time, be sure to be away from Happy, Ice-pop, and Metal-face. Screw it, if I can get Lucy to finish hanging these things with me then maybe I should act more ballsy more often? Ask her on a date would be a good start, right?
Lucy suggested, "Just, ignore them. We should really finish this."
I shrugged, "Alright," hiding my joy that she actually suggested to before I could. I made sure not to do anything crazy like before, so she wouldn't abandon me. Every time she kissed my cheek and every time I reveled in the feeling of the soft, silky skin meeting the side of my face. At least, every time except the last one.
When I brought her back down she looked around the guild and after deciding that the coast was clear, her lips met mine. I reciprocated the kiss and pulled her closer to me by the hips. We broke apart, but she didn't move away from me like I thought she would have. Her hands cupped my face and she smiled radiantly as though nothing in the world could be wrong. She leaned back in and I was quick to follow suit to meet her again.
"Guys! Natsu and Lucy are making out again!" Happy announced to the guild and there were cheers around along with whistles of encouragement.
Lucy jumped at the sudden attention and hid behind me as if I could shield her from the crowd below. Stupid Happy had to ruin the moment again. I can never take him anywhere. I would have yelled at him if some stupid grin would get off my face, though there was no denying the utter happiness I felt. Yelling was not gonna happen.
Since words weren't on my side, I led Lucy out of the overhang and into a more secluded area. Her beautiful face was still red, but she was smiling like an idiot too. She kissed me back and seemed to like it. Lucy is just too perfect.
"Ignore them," I told her and she nodded.
"Why does he have to be annoying?" she joked.
"I don't know, but he does kind of have a point. Maybe kissing in front of everyone isn't the best of ideas if we don't want to get teased at?" I suggested.
"Yeah, I suppose that's true," she replied to bring an awkward silence rolling in behind.
I broke the thick quiet, "W-well, we are alone now…"
She agreed, biting her lower lip nervously. It was obvious that she didn't know what to do. Her eyes shimmered with ideas but she didn't dare to voice them. She was uncomfortable again, but maybe it was the good kind of uncomfortable?
I had to take a chance, right? After a deep breath to give myself confidence, I asked, "Do you wanna go out, Lucy?"
Her eyes widened and I gulped in fear of her answer. She stuttered, "W-why… When… What? I… Y-yes."
"Wait, yes?" I confirmed.
"Yes," she responded more confident.
My smile stretched across my face and I cheered, "Wha-who! I can kiss ya without mistletoe now, right?"
She giggled and nodded, though before she could get out a word I had already crushed my lips onto hers. Now for sure nothing could ruin the moment. She said 'yes'. She said 'yes'!
"They're kissing again!" Happy once again announced.
I looked up to find the blue fur ball hovering in the doorway, obviously spying on purpose. That jerk face!
(AN: Thanks for the continued support DeniMarie!)