NaLu/Natsu x Lucy
Skip if you don't like this pairing.
Summary: I've always admired the salmon-haired man in the tattoo parlor across the street, but I don't have the guts to talk to him. Too bad. Oh crap, he's coming over...
The flower shop has been open for four hours now and there's been a total of three customers. Lucy sighs loudly, knowing that it wouldn't speed up as the day went on. Mondays were always slow days.
Ring. Lucy answers the phone with the routine.
"This is Fairy Hills Flowers, Lucy speaking, how can I help you today?"
A girl's voice on the other end speaks. "Hey Lu-chan, it's Levy."
"Oh," Lucy lets the fake cheeriness drop out of her voice. "Please say I can close the shop, it's so boring. I'm dying."
Levy only giggles in response. "I'm not kidding, there's only been three customers. The shop is seriously losing money today."
"Well, if it makes you feel any better I'll be heading in soon. Mira wants me to do some inventory today since it's so slow."
There is a muffled yell over the phone that Lucy can't make out, but Levy quickly says, "Juvia says she's coming, too."
"Oh good, come save me from my boredom."
"What's the matter? Isn't your entertainment there yet?"
Lucy immediately knows what, or more correctly who, Levy is referring to. Across the street from the flower shop was a tattoo parlor. It's pretty nice for a tattoo parlor, with a big glass window front and a cute awning.
But the best part of the shop is the tattoo artist. He's around Lucy's age-or at least she thinks so, she's never actually spoken to him - with spiky salmon hair and always wearing a scale print white scarf while he worked.
"No, he doesn't start his shift for another couple hours," Lucy complains.
"The fact that you know his work schedule, but not his name is pretty creepy." Levy says teasingly.
Lucy rolls her eyes, though Levy can't see it. "Oh, quiet you. Just hurry up and get here."
"Yeah, yeah, Lu-chan. See you soon."
Lucy hangs up the phone and waits. The next fifteen minutes seem to drag on forever. When Levy and Juvia finally show up, she practically barrels them down. "You took so long."
"Don't exaggerate," Levy laughs, making herself at home behind the register. Juvia sets her stuff down before digging through drawers to find some paper and a clipboard.
Levy ties her hair up. "Plus don't you have stuff you can be doing? I mean when I work slow days, I bring in my laptop or something."
"Yeah, I normally do homework or draw or something, but since school ended I don't bring my backpack with me everywhere. I totally forgot to grab something this morning and so I've just been sitting here rotting away."
"Love Rival is such a drama queen," Juvia says, getting started on the inventory. "But worry not, Juvia and Levy are here now, so Love Rival's boredom can end."
"For the last time, I'm not your Love Rival, Juvia. And I am very grateful." Lucy grabs an extra chair from the back and sits next to Juvia before saying, "Speaking of no more school, do you guys feel like going out tonight? We could hit up a club or go bowling?"
"Oh, I'd love to, but we're actually going on a double date tonight." Levy says.
"Oh, okay." Lucy tries not to sound too disappointed, but ever since Levy and Juvia have gotten boyfriends, she's felt a little left out. "Well, give my love to the boys."
"I'm sure they'll be thrilled," Levy jokes.
Ding.
They all turn as the front door opened, curious who the fourth Monday customer would be. When Lucy sees who it is, it's all she can do to stay standing. Luckily, Levy takes the lead, saying, "Welcome, is there anything specific I can help you find today?"
"Not really. I work across the street and only realized today that I've never been inside this shop. You have a beautiful selection," he explains.
"Oh, well, thank you. Do you work at that tattoo shop then?" Levy asks, but she already knows the answer. She shoots sideways glances at Lucy, who refuses to acknowledge them.
"Yeah, I'm the manager over there. My name's Natsu, by the way."
Natsu. His name is Natsu. Summer.
"I'm Levy. And that's Juvia and Lucy." Levy motions to each as she talks, and when Natsu and Lucy's eyes meet, she feels like her heart was going to melt. Or burst. Whichever happens first. "If you ever need any flowers let us know. Our selection is the best in town."
"I will, thanks. Nice to meet you all."
Then he's gone. Lucy lets out a long sigh, falling dramatically over the counter. "He's even more beautiful up close." Levy and Juvia only laugh, and eventually Lucy joins in. It wasn't until the door opens again that they got control of themselves.
"What's going on here?" Gray asks, surprised to find the three girls on the floor, exhausted.
"Oh, hello Gray-sama," Juvia gasped, standing to greet him. "Not-Love Rival met the love of her life earlier."
"Oh? Anyone I'd know?"
"If you peek across the street you'll see him. He works in the tattoo parlor across the way."
After Gray looks he glances at Lucy before stating, "You mean the flame-brains?"
Levy rolls her eyes while Juvia just giggles. "Anyways, what is Gray-sama actually doing here? Juvia and Gray-sama's dates not for another two hours," Juvia inquires, pulling herself back onto her seat. He raises his hand in response. It holds a white bag labeled 'Mr. Doughnuts'. "Arigatou, Gray-sama!"
After tossing the bag towards Juvia he says, "Thought I'd grab you girls some food on my way back from work," She and Lucy immediately tear into it, shoving doughnuts into their mouths.
"Wait," Lucy says, spraying powder as she spoke, "how do you know him?"
"Friends. Well, not really. Anyways, tell me more about this 'love of my life' business."
"His name's Natsu," Lucy sighs, staring dreamily through the window. Across the street, Natsu has propped himself on a stool and is sketching on an artboard. "And he's a manager at that tattoo shop. And he's perfect. That's about all I actually know."
"Well, I suppose you two are perfect for each other."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lucy asks, finally tearing her gaze away from Natsu.
"Well... he's sort of my childhood rival in our group. You know, the one with Laxus, Jellal, Gajeel, and all the rest."
"Eh? Really?"
"Yep. And he's the only one who's still single. Laxus is with Mirajane, Jellal with Erza, Gajeel with Levy, and I with Juvia." he smiles at Juvia, who blushes.
"And isn't Lu-chan the only single one in our group?" Levy asks.
"Yes, Not-Love Rival is still the only one without a boyfriend."
"Leave it to Gray to know more about your future boyfriend than you," Levy laughs, and Juvia wraps an arm affectionately around him.
"Oh, he's my future boyfriend now?" Lucy asks.
"Pretty much."
"Well, maybe Gray can hook us up then. Cause there's no way he's going to come back over here."
"No, but you can go over there."
"What? No, no, no. I can't go over there. I mean, what would I say?"
"The truth, that you're madly in love with him and would like to marry him immediately, if not sooner," Levy says matter-of-factly before digging into another doughnut.
"Yeah, that seems logical," Lucy sarcastically replies. "Nothing like confessing your undying love for someone to really break the ice."
"Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained," Gray states, shrugging and glancing at his watch. "Well, time does fly when you're having fun. I have to stop by the office again before our date, but I'll see you in an hour. Levy, you and Gajeel are still good to go right?"
"I actually just finished texting him. Apparently he let it slip to Laxus while they were hanging out and now he wants to join. Would that be cool?"
"We don't have reservations, so another couple shouldn't be a problem."
"Awesome, I'll let him know. But yeah, we should be set to go."
"Okay, I'll see you all later then." He kissed Juvia and then right before leaving said, "And Lucy, if you happen to confess your love, I'm sure you could join us as well."
"Juvia, sometimes your boyfriend is sassier than you," Lucy laughs. "But for reals, I'm not confessing my love."
"Ah, come on, at least go say hello. You can always lie and say you're interested in getting a tattoo," Levy suggests, continuing the inventory she's long since abandoned.
"No way, needles freak me out." Lucy shudders at the thought.
"That's why I said to lie about it. It's just to get your foot in the door, then sweep him off hit feet with your charm."
"Ah yes, my non-existent charm."
"Lu-chan, look," Levy says, crumpling up the now empty doughnut bag.
"Just go ask him out. You can explain that Gray's going to be there, and that you're the only one without a date and you'd appreciate the favor. If he says no, then okay, you can keep admiring him from afar. But if he says yes? Well, all the better."
Lucy bites her lip, staring across the street again. Natsu is now organizing his new sketches on the wall. His scarf has begun to unravel, and he rewraps it around his neck. "Levy, I hate it when you're right."
"I know, Lu-chan, I know." She smirks, standing to get the door for Lucy. "Don't get hit by a car when you cross the street."
"Shut up," Lucy yells, already running across the street. She has to do this on impulse, if she thinks too much about it, she'll definitely chicken out.
A tiny bell rings as she enters the tattoo parlor. It smells like bleach and cologne, but not in a bad way. The walls are all plastered with different sketches and designs, and in the middle of the floor is a single reclining chair, with the appropriate tattoo tools placed next to it.
Lucy tries to avoid looking at the needles, which isn't hard when Natsu is standing three feet from her.
He'd rolled up the sleeves of his black v-neck, revealing the tattoos that run up one arm. They're so beautifully applied, looking more like a painting than a tattoo. His faded jeans and tousled hair just make him look all the better. Lucy decides to speak fast before she loses her composure.
"Hi, I'm not sure if you remember me. I work at the flower shop, my name's Lucy and..." she starts rambling.
"Finally," Natsu sighs, leaning against his stool. "I was wondering if you'd come over."
"Wait...what?" Lucy looks so confused that Natsu has to stifle a chuckle.
"The main reason I went over to say hi earlier was to talk to you. And then you didn't even say a word. It was quite frustrating."
"Seriously? Why?"
"I've been staring at you all summer." He pulls out a sketch book and flips through the pages. All of them have different sketches of Lucy with the flowers, and they're beautiful. "...And I realize this seems creepy now that I'm saying it out loud."
Now it's Lucy's turn to laugh. "Those sketches are beautiful, and while slightly creepy, also totally adorable. So, I have a proposition for you." Natsu nods for her to continue. "My friends are going on a triple date tonight and invited me to join. Gray will be there, I know he's your… er... rival, and so..."
"Sounds great. Just tell me when. As the manager I can close this shop whenever."
"Um, half-hour. In front of the flower shop." she says, her heart hammering wildly.
"Okay, I'll see you then."
"Yeah, okay. Bye." And then she dashes from the store, trying not to explode with happiness. When she runs back into the flower shop, Levy and Juvia are eagerly awaiting her story. She explained what had happened and both of them couldn't help but laugh.
"What are the odds that you two were both staring at each other, but neither had the guts to say anything until now," Levy asks, cleaning up the shop as they prepared to close.
"I don't know, it's ridiculous though. But hey, it's about time I got some luck. You guys have been in a happy relationship without me for way too long."
"Well, welcome to the club, Lu-chan." Levy laughs, fixing her hair in the reflection of the window. "I'm gonna go meet up with Gajeel, I'll see you guys in a little bit."
"See ya."
Juvia and Lucy quickly finished cleaning up and closing the shop so they could leave. "Well, Juvia has to drive her car home before our date, so Juvia guesses she'll see Lucy there?" Juvia questions, digging through her purse for her keys.
"Yeah, I'll see you there." After Juvia is gone, Lucy stands nervously, trying not to stare as she sees Natsu cleaning up shop. It's another ten minutes before Natsu comes jogging across the street. He looks fresher, and wears a hoodie over his shirt.
"Sorry to keep you, you all set to go?"
"Yeah, I can drive if you want, since I know where we're going."
"Sure."
And as they head off towards Lucy's car, she has a feeling - or maybe just a hope - that this will be the first of many, many dates.
Just a sweet little oneshot to brighten up your day. Just a plotbunny that I had to get out of my head. R&R!
