"Lu Lu!"
"Hey Levy!" Lucy waved at her laptop screen, joy radiating off of the petite blue haired girl on the other side who kept bouncing in place. Levy and Lucy had yet to video chat, Levy's few hours off from the Crocus Library -where she worked as the head coordinator and had written several papers already on some of the ancient texts that were found there- always seeming to clash with Lucy's schedule. Until today of course, as both had set aside time specifically to talk. The three hour time difference didn't help matters either.
"So how have your jobs been going? On the road to publishing already?" Levy asked excitedly, fixing her orange hairband when it was finally jostled out of place by her constant movement. Lucy giggled at her friend before breaking into a long explanation about the intricacies of her new job, and how just yesterday she had been given the small promotion of becoming one of the preliminary editors to one of their largest magazines, Sorcerer's Weekly. Lucy still didn't fully understand the odd name, but was excited and proud nonetheless. She still had her other duties to attend to at the firm, running small errands and setting up appointments and interviews for her boss Jason, not to mention her other serving job. She was currently in the middle of telling Levy about the time she had lost balance when serving what she guessed to be at least eight glasses of wine. She had put too many glasses on one side and the tray had tipped when she had taken one to place on the table, spilling one white glass on the paying customer - a judge of all people- and the other seven reds and whites on herself in an attempt to overcompensate. In the middle of the lounge side. Levy's cackling had spurred on Lucy's dramatic reenactment with her hands, motions wild as Lucy told her story. The two girls continued to laugh together as Levy informed Lucy that she had caused a miniature book avalanche trying to reach a book on the fifth shelf, soft titters lingering as they calmed down from their latest fit. Lucy rubbed her now sore stomach as Levy wiped away a stray tear from her eye, repositioning the laptop on the pillow that rested on top of her knees while she sat crossed legged on her living room sofa.
"So when do you meet up with Gray for lunch?" Levy questioned, Lucy's eyes flickering to the time in the bottom right hand corner. She was set to meet him at Cana's bar at one, which gave her another two hours to get ready and be there.
"In a couple hours, so what have you been up to? Any cute guys catch your eye?" Lucy replied, eyes glinting at the mention of any potential lover's for her friend. Levy rolled her eyes at Lucy's sly grin, waving her hand at the screen.
"You know I don't have time for boys right now, Lu Lu. I have that follow up paper to my theory on mystic relation to languages and characters, and I'm waiting on that new draft of yours," she said easily, eyes narrowing at Lucy's small 'eep' when she remembered she hadn't added nearly enough to her story that would be worth sending to Levy. "You have been working on it, right Lu?" Levy needled, brown eyes twinkling and a devious smile forming on her own lips now. "Unless..."
Lucy swallowed hard at Levy's knowing look. She could never hide anything from Levy, the small bookworm knew Lucy too well. "Unless there's some reason that's been taking up your time?" Levy finished, leaning forward towards the screen.
"Uhh, nope?" Lucy laughed shakily, shrinking as Levy's eyes blew wide. The small girl opened her mouth to start her squealing and pointed her finger at Lucy but Lucy held her hands and waved them in a shushing movement. "There's nothing going on really! I've just been busy," Lucy said, shoulder's slumping a little at the verbal admittance that there was nothing going on between her and Natsu. At least, nothing official. He had slept over both nights since their shopping adventure, always invading Lucy's privacy and ending up tangled under the sheets together. She might have slapped him in shock this morning when she had woken up to his face buried soundly between her breasts, but that wasn't something to be thinking about when she was on call with Levy.
Speaking of Levy, the other girl was giving Lucy an understanding look. "At least tell me you've been working on making friends?" she asked in concern, and Lucy gave her a timid smile. Lucy had clicked easily with Levy, but most of the time found it difficult to pull herself from her jobs or her writing to form a deep friendship with other people. At least, that had been an issue in Crocus. How was she supposed to tell Levy that she had made essentially a new best friend within forty eight hours of moving in?
"Oi, Luce, who're you talkin' to?"
Lucy froze as she saw Natsu lean over her shoulder in the small window showing Lucy her own screen. Levy's eyes widened again as Natsu stared at her in confusion, toweling off his hair. Lucy slid her eyes to her left looking at the side of Natsu's face while he continued to look at her computer. Pink strands stuck out from under the pale yellow towel, drops of water trailing down the side of his face and dripping off of his chin onto her shoulder. He finally looked at her from the corner of his own dark eye, lifting his eyebrow at her petrified gaze. "Whatcha starin' at weirdo?" he asked lethargically, a mocking smile in his eyes. Lucy unfroze and shoved a hand into his face, causing Natsu to topple over onto the carpet and his ass.
Lucy squawked in shock, throwing a pillow at him as he glared up at her. "Oi! What the hell was that fo-," he barked out, Lucy throwing a hand up to block him from her view.
"How many times do I have to tell you to get dressed in the bathroom after a shower Natsu!" Lucy's face was bright red at his lack of propriety, legs spread and arms behind him from when he fell, only the towel that had been wrapped around his waist shielding Lucy's innocent eyes. She was currently peaking from her hand, Natsu's high whine drawing her attention from Levy. He was sitting with the bottoms of his feet touching, the pillow pulled firmly onto his lap and being hugged in a sad manner.
"But Lushiiii, it's all steamy in there after and my clothes stick," he complained, eyes sad and bangs falling into his face as he pouted up at her. A child. She had a crush on a giant, extremely well muscled, pink haired, tattooed, pierced child.
"I don't care! At least put on pants!" Lucy screeched, still hiding behind part of her hand. Natsu's eyes narrowed up at her, sweat forming on Lucy's brow under his critical stare.
"If you don't like it then why're ya lookin'?" he questioned, a victorious smirk revealing one canine. Lucy turned bright red before throwing a second pillow, hitting him squarely in the face and toppling him backwards, leg flying into the air.
"Just put on some damn pants!" Lucy wailed, fully covering her face with both hands. A mumbled grumble was her only reply, Lucy guessing Natsu was still laying on his back and with the pillow on his face. She slowly lowered her hands as she heard him stand up, watching as he stalked away, towel pulled tightly around his hips and other hand rubbing at his nose. He stuck his tongue out at Lucy as he walked by and she blew a raspberry at him in return before her eyes drank in the sight of his bare back and wild hair as he walked away.
"So he doesn't dye his hair," Lucy murmured to herself under her breath as he rounded the corner into her room.
"Lucy..." a high voice chimed, clever eyes staring at her and suggestive smile spreading across her pixie like face. Lucy paled at the salacious tone, knowing she needed an escape before Levy got her nails too firmly in Lucy.
"What was that Lev, I can't seem to hear you I think Skype's acting up I should go anyway it's been great talking," Lucy babbled, reaching to close her laptop when she saw Levy's face contort in anger.
"Oh no you don-" was all the blue haired girl had managed to make out before Lucy hit the 'end call' button, quickly closing her laptop to make sure Levy wouldn't call her back. Lucy sighed as she moved the computer off of her lap, she was going to pay for that next time they talked.
"Natsu Dragneel you are so dead!"
"Happy, protect meeeee!"
A soft bell chimed as Lucy pushed open the heavy wooden door, alerting the few customers to the presence of their joiner. Lucy looked around, eyes scanning through the stray men already hunched over the polished mahogany countertop -with a beer in hand- until they found a shock of raven dark hair, seated at one of the short wooden tables by a large window that bordered the long room. Lucy passed by a dozen empty stools set against the bar to her left, thin metals bands set in symmetrical designs and a royal blue leather seat perched on top, most flattened with overuse. The cabinets behind the bar were three shelves tall, filled with a range of liqueurs, spirits, and other types Lucy had never even heard of, all with polished mirrors set behind the singles rows. Stacks of all kinds of glasses sat between fruits and mixers on the counter, Lucy almost impressed with the excess as she made her way towards her friend. Lucy pulled out the chair opposite of him, laughing a little as he jumped from the small noise the chair made against the concrete floor. The man gave her a sullen look as Lucy continued to laugh behind her hand, sitting easily down onto the comfortable chair, blue leather upholstery matching that of the stools by the bar.
"I don't know why you wanted to get lunch here," he grumbled, shrugging off his jean jacket, leaving him in just a green checkered hoodie and white tank top with black letters printed across it.
"Gray, your clothes," Lucy sung, smiling at her nails as she heard him curse under his breath and quickly replacing the jacket on his body. She ignored the small scowl and pink dusting across his nose as she continued to speak. "And you know perfectly well why I choose here. What kind of friends would we be if we didn't support Cana?" She looked around the room again, taking in the high ceilings with the metallic pipes uncovered and the airy setting of the bar in midday. The large windows that took up most of the outer walls made the room seem open and made up for the low lighting that was scattered around the room, partially covered shades hanging from the ceiling. Over all the bar had a classy rustic feel, deep colours the woods and concrete bar and walls accented by the heavy blue colour of the seats and window shades - which were only to be drawn when the bar was closed-.
"Shitty is what ya'd be," a voice drawled beside her, and Lucy looked up and over her shoulder with a smile. A brunette carrying two menus and two glasses of water winked down at her as she placed the items on the dark wooden table top. When she straightened she rested a hand on her cocked hip, blue bikini top and dark brown capri combination leaving little to the imagination as she smiled sultrily down at the pair.
"Cana!" Lucy said happily as way of greeting to her friend, the brunette responding with an easy 'yo'. She swayed a little in her spot, hazed eyes moving to Gray when he gave a low 'tch'.
"Drunk again I see," he said blandly, Cana's smile widening as she looked down at him.
"Drunk still , you mean, Fullbuster," she corrected, Lucy rolling her eyes. She flipped over the single page menu to the lunch side rather than the bar snacks page that she was currently looking at.
"Ya know Yoda, that ain't exactly something to brag about," Gray said shortly, jean jacket once more gone and the hoodie half way down his arms. Lucy just hoped he didn't lose his jeans again. Cana shrugged her shoulders and flicked her high ponytail over her shoulder.
"Ya gonna order or just nag me?" she asked. Lucy ignored their daily bickering and let her eyes skim over the menu, picking out a nice Italian salad and chicken item. She informed Cana of her order, followed quickly by Gray's choice of tomato gazpacho. Cana nodded her head at the orders, turning a flirty eye on Lucy and leaning forward enough so that if she wanted to Lucy would have a nice view down Cana's skimpy top. Lucy herself had used the move to get a few discounts, so she was practically immune to it, though that didn't stop Cana from trying.
"There anything special I can get you to drink , cutie?" Cana asked, a light purr in her voice making Lucy flush under the attention.
"Oi, quite trying to get her drunk ya alcoholic," Gray snapped, scowl deepening as Cana let out a bawdy laugh. She flicked him on the ear as she passed by, speaking in a sing song voice.
"You're just jealous cus you aren't the one tapping this fine ass anymore."
"Yeah well, Lucy doesn't wanna get any of you either. Why don't you go shag Bacchus in the back, if the both of ya aren't too drunk to remember what goes where, that is," Gray called at her retreating figure, Cana throwing up the middle finger without looking back at the pair as she sauntered into the kitchen.
"Gray," Lucy said in warning, eyeing him over her water glass as she took a sip. At least his tank top was still on, silver cross pendant glinting from the midday sun as it peeked from under the loose material. The man ignored her, drawing in the condensation of his water glass. Sighing, Lucy rested her chin in her hand as she watched Gray sulk. Why was she surrounded by adults with the mindsets of twelve year olds? Clearing her throat she smirked a little at his put upon apathy, his electric blue eyes partially hooded and schooled into a bored expression. Really, Gray would be much more handsome if he smiled, a strong jaw that came to a slight point, sharp nose and full lips drawing the eyes away from a mop of black hair that hung just in his eyes, wild and spiked downwards. In fact he was almost the opposite of Natsu, with his wide, expressive dark eyes, wild pink hair that seemed to defy gravity, nose that turned up just the smallest amount and strong cheekbones that Lucy just wanted to caress, oh and she couldn't forget about his lips and how the bottom one was a little bit fuller than the top and just looked so biteable ...
"Earth to Lucy," Gray said, mild concern in his voice and amusement hidden in his eyes as Lucy physically jolted, ripped away from her -very bad Lucy- fantasies of Natsu. "You zoned out there for a bit," he explained as she flushed further, grin slowly stretching across his face when he saw the opportunity to tease loom in front of him. "You had that dopey look you get whenever a hot celebrity does an interview for Sorcerer," eyes sharpening as Lucy slunk down her seat, "or when ya get a text from mystery man."
Lucy squeaked as Gray guessed correctly, keeping her eyes focused on the intricate grains on the table top. He flicked water at her, cold droplets making her squeal as they struck her face, Lucy flicking cold water at him in retaliation. Gray shied away from the spray, a loose grin pulling at his lips before he caught it and put his face back into a neutral expression.
"Seriously Lucy, what's going on with this guy?" He asked, looking at her intently through his dark fringe. Lucy fiddled with her silver ring on her middle finger, looking down at her hands as she spoke.
"Nothing's going on, I think. I mean, we haven't really talked about it, and I don't know if he likes me that way and why do I feel like I'm back in high school?" Lucy moaned, burying her head in her arms on the tabletop. She heard Gray make a sound of pity before a hand gave her a rough few pats to the top of her head, most likely messing up her low pigtails. She swatted at his hand without moving from her spot, grumbling as she heard his low chuckle.
"I still can't believe you fell for an artist ," Gray said, lip curling a little at the final word. Lucy raised her head and glared at her friend, noting vaguely that his tank top was now gone as well.
"Like you're one to talk Mr. Head-of-fashion-department. Besides, he's really down to earth if you ignore the motorcycle and tattoos," Lucy replied, raising an eyebrow when Gray's face pinched and his eyes turned serious.
"What?" he asked quietly, back straightening in his seat from his previously hunched position. Lucy rolled her eyes at his dramatics, straightening her own body as well.
"Relax, he's harmless. His cat is probably the one you should be more worried about. Always ending up in my fridge or drawers," Lucy said sourly, recalling how she had found Happy curled up peacefully in the middle of her underwear drawer. And Natsu's following red face -Lucy could have sworn that a drop of blood was leaking from his nose- when a lacy black thing had found its way onto her floor. She had managed to kick the both of them out without much screaming and threatening, Natsu too much in shock to do anything other than be pushed out the front door. A small part of her had pitied his flustered stammering, a larger part of her mortified that he had seen her 'date underwear'.
"How is the cat getting into your place?" Gray questioned again, leaning forward in his seat. Lucy dragged her fingertip around the edge of her glass as she snorted.
"Natsu brings him over, duh," she replied, looking up at him. The more Lucy talked about him the more Gray's expression seemed to darken.
"What kind of name is 'Natsu'?" he asked, Lucy bristling at his scathing tone.
"I think it's a very nice name and it matches his hair. Who would have thought someone could be a natural pinkette. Is pinkette even a word?" Lucy replied, finger coming up to her lip as she thought about the strange word. Gray's sputter brought her back to the table, and she eyed him curiously as blush spread across his nose again.
"How do you even know it's natural ? Pink hair? So this guy has pink hair, tattoos, drives a motorcycle, and doesn't have a real job? Yeah, real catch there Lucy," Gray seethed. Well only Lucy could tell he was seething, his jaw was twitching a little and his eyes were pinched underneath his mask of indifference.
"He also has piercings," Lucy snapped, "and I don't understand why you're being so, so rude about it! Sure he's a bit eccentric, what with the weird shops and colognes, but he's sweet, and kind, and goofy. And he's a perfect gentleman, hasn't even tried anything in the nights he's slept over," Lucy defended, blushing a deep red when she realized what had just slipped out. She hadn't meant to tell Gray that Natsu had been basically living at her place for the past few days. Gray's eyes were the widest she had ever seen them, blush spread across the tops of his cheeks and ears. Recovering quickly, Lucy started to tell Gray about her shopping adventure with Natsu at Ichyabrada or whatever it was called.
"I mean the shop was just so strange," Lucy squeaked, talking quickly so that Gray didn't have the chance to get a word in as his jaw continued to gape like a fish's. "There were all these flowers that Natsu said he used for his ash paintings, which he makes plenty of money with , but I had never seen most of them. Weird books and jars full of all sorts of coloured powders, I think I even saw a few pieces of bones on display," Lucy's voice had slowed, turning more into a hum as she reminisced about what she had seen in that quirky little shop. A sly smile pulled at her full lips as she recalled her second purchase from the store. "I even bought Happy some catnip, oh you would've thought I had just killed a puppy from the look of horror on Natsu's face," Lucy chuckled. He had gone even paler than when he had to get in the car, fully begging Lucy not to buy the small bag of herbs. Which he really should have known would just egg Lucy on.
"Where was this shop?" Gray interrupted, his previous state of embarrassment gone. Now there was a sharpness in his eyes, and an unexpected tightness in his body. All of his movements were stiff as he waited for Lucy to answer him, unease soaking into Lucy's skin.
"Umm, down in the Garden's, I think," Lucy said warily, watching as Gray sucked in a sharp breath.
"That's a bad place Lucy. You shouldn't go there again, it's not safe," he warned, voice serious even for him. Lucy looked at him puzzled, Gray continuing to speak in hushed tone at her confusion. "You don't want to be caught up with their type. " he hissed, eyes narrowing.
Lucy's face turned into a scowl, she did not do well with being told what to do and even less with bigotry. "What ' type ' is that?" she bit out, shoulders straightening as Gray let out a huff of exasperation.
"Lucy, the people there are dangerous. They're not normal , they fuck around with things that people aren't meant to understand," Gray explained slowly, only serving to confuse Lucy more. She was saved from asking what the hell Gray was talking about when a plate of food was lowered in front of her, looking up to see an amused expression on Cana's face.
"He going on about magic and bullcrap again?" Cana asked, knowing smile twisting her lips and sparking mischief in her dark brown eyes.
"It ain't bullcrap," Gray growled out, teeth clenched and eyebrows drawn. Cana rolled her eyes and waved her hand at his expression, giving Lucy a conspiratorial wink.
"Sure sure, 'cus witches are real and there's a man on the moon. C'mon Gray, you know that stuff is just for kids. That's like thinking I can predict the future," Cana sighed, wiggling her fingers in Gray's face at the last sentence. He scowled down at his soup and Lucy threw a piece of lettuce at Cana's head.
"Be nice, I think it's sweet he believes in magic," Lucy said, pouting when Cana threw back her head in a cackle, swaying on her feet.
"And you guys call me the drunk, might want to double check the juice that you've been drinking," she stated, pulling up a chair from the table behind Lucy and sitting on it so that her arms rested on the back, legs on either side of the seat. "And don't get it wrong, cutie, he doesn't believe in the happy-go-lucky puke fest of Disney. No, the guy with the stick up his ass over here's all up in arms about voodoo and spells and demons. Nothing 'sweet' about that mess of crazy," she finished, looking out of the corner of her eye at Gray as though daring him to speak up. Lucy shifted uncomfortably in her seat at the sudden tension in the group. Magic couldn't be real, that would just be ridiculous. No matter how every time Natsu and Lucy came into contact for too long the temperature around her rose, or that Happy seemed far too intelligent to just be a simple cat. But it was just silly things her mom used to tell her about when she was a child. Magic didn't actually exist.
Putting on a smile Lucy turned to Cana, voice overly cheery and inquisitive. "So Cana, how's the new review of that wine place in the West District?" The rest of the meal was filled with laughter and bickering, each nagging the other about a looming due date for a piece or telling stories about their latest interview. Cana was a freelance food and beverage critic, the constant glass of alcohol in her hand making her a connoisseur when it came to the more adult drinks. Gray was chief journalist for Sorcerer's fashion articles, always somehow knowing what was up and coming in the world of couture, which was ironic considering he was always trying to get naked. Not that it was on purpose, it was just that Gray had been born in a colder climate and was constantly overheating when he had first moved to Fiore. The stripping habit had stuck unfortunately, even over 15 years later.
"Gray, you better not be undoing your belt," Lucy chimed before taking a bite of chicken off of her fork. Gray froze in his spot, belt unbuckled in his hands and almost pulled from their loops on his black jeans.
"Ah fuck, not this shit again," Gray cursed under his breath, cursing his habit and looking around for his shirts. Cana let out a low whistle as her eyes traced over his bare chest, red spreading on his shoulder tops as he avoided her coy smile. Lucy had to admit he was well toned, prominent ab muscles and strong arms with skin almost as pale as Lucy's stretched tightly over the cords. Her nose wrinkled at Cana's obvious enjoyment of his show, a put upon pout working onto the brunette's face as Gray shrugged on his hoodie once more. She took a sip of her drink - when had she even gotten a beer?- and Lucy gave Gray a sympathetic smile. Once Cana had no more eye candy from Gray she turned her attention to Lucy, and the blonde couldn't help but wish that Gray was still naked.
"So, any guys gotten lucky enough to feel that nice rack of yours up yet Lu?" Cana asked, voice rough and eyes glinting in a way that made Lucy draw her thin white over shirt tighter around her body. "Or maybe any girls ?" Lucy sputtered a little under such a coquettish look, Gray rolling his eyes at how easily Lucy was flustered by sexual attention.
"Oi, ya perv, if she was interested she would have taken ya up on it by now," he barked out, a small grin pulling at his lips despite his harsh tone. Cana grinned back at him, words starting to slur a little as she finished her drink.
"Eh, always worth a shot. Especially when it comes to little miss cup size E here," she purred, looking at Lucy through her lashes again.
"Ca-Cana!" Lucy shrieked, arms coming up to cover her chest. She wasn't shy about her body, but having her sizes said aloud in front of Gray made her anxious, like if a brother had found her underwear. Gray covered his ears at the same time that Lucy yelled at Cana, sending daggers with his eyes at their drunk friend.
Cana lifted her hands in self defense, shit eating grin never wavering on her face as she spoke. "Hey, I'm not the once wandering around in a pink halter top with pretty black lace popping out," she said sweetly, Lucy flushing a deeper red. She had liked her outfit this morning, and maybe she had appreciated how Natsu's gaze had wandered a little too low for little too long, but who didn't need a little confidence boost every now and then? The fact that is was from a particular pink haired male having nothing to do with it. None.
"Yes, you do actually," Gray said in a flat tone, obviously implying the shirt that was essentially a bra that Cana was currently wearing. She shrugged and smirked over at him, stealing a piece of the toast that came with his soup. Lucy relaxed again and the three fell into easy conversation, Lucy's cheeks starting to hurt from their constant smile.
She couldn't wait to introduce them to Natsu.
A/N; Hey guys! Little introductory chapter here, hopefully establishing some dynamic between characters! Woo!
Celtika82: Hello! I'm glad you're enjoying the story, your reviews always bring a smile to my face! And you shouldn't have to wait much longer for the reveal...
KaUiA: Ahhhh people are getting hc's for my story! That sounds like a really cute idea, but I have a different plan for these guys, which I hope you'll enjoy equally!
As always I love when you guys ask questions and review, it brings a giant smile to my face!
Ps - there's going to be a short time skip, and I was thinking of making a mini series of little omakes (I guess that's the right word?) about some events that I love but don't think would match the flow of the story! Let me know what you guys think!
