The Place

Lucy is continuously bothered by Natsu. Just where does he want things to head?

I do not own Fairy Tail.

- O – O – O – O – O -

"Lucy, let's go for another mission!"

Lucy banged her head tiredly on a guild table.
"We just finished a mission this morning, Natsu," she grumbled.
"I'm still fired up!" Natsu said, as if it was enough to be a reason.

"I'm not a fire mage like you." Lucy sighed. "No pun intended."

"Come on!" Natsu raised his hands, demanding consideration. "Don't you need to pay your rent?"
"We just finished a mission this morning, Natsu!" Lucy repeated, growing annoyed.

"Really? How much did you get?"

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Five hundred thousand jewels."

"Lucy, that's the same amount with what I have now."
"Wha-"

Lucy looked up and saw Natsu's blank look, if not innocent.
"What do you mean?"

"I don't know, Lucy..." Natsu rubbed his hands as if nervous.

"What has gotten into you now?" Lucy asked carefully, not sounding mad or anything.

"I'm uncertain."
"Aye!"

Lucy's gaze switched to the flying cat. "Happy, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Lucy."
But Lucy hadn't missed the fact that he was hiding his face, making his voice muffled.

"What's with your face?"

"It's nothing, Lucy."

Then Lucy noticed the playful glint in the cat's eyes.
She slowly grew suspicious. "Are you hiding something?"
"Are those five hundred thousand jewels yours or Natsu's?"
"That's mine."
Happy briefly looked at Natsu then turned around, flying away. "I'll be going, Lucy."

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"

"Lucy, I'll be going too!" Natsu stated as he stood up.

"Hey, what's wrong with you two acting weird and all?"
"I don't know," said Natsu in a jolly tone.

He walked out of the guild with a loud whistle as if he was enjoying the day.

X

"Why is Natsu and Happy acting strange?" Lucy mused aloud as she walked beside the river.
"Puuunnn!"

"Miss, be careful!"

"Yeah!" Lucy said absently, not giving a look at the familiar people, rowing a boat across the river.

"Pu- puuunn!"

Instead, Lucy looked at her little spirit. "Plue, do you have any ideas?"

Plue responded by a shake of the head.
"No idea, too?"

She entered her apartment then proceeded to her room to change her clothes.
Currently, she appreciated the chance to have an early rest.
Her bones were stiff and sleep seemed to be currently the best option on what to do.

Right when her shirt was just below her chest, someone spoke her name.
"We're going to do another routine here, okay?"
Lucy's eyes widened as she sighted the person and the cat on her bed. "NATSUUU?!"

Then she dropped to the ground.
No way was she going to sleep on a bed stinking like sweat.
Oh, well...

"What are you doing here?" asked Natsu.
"I should be the one asking that!"
Happy smirked. "Lucy is so clueless."
"Here we go again? Just what are you two talking about?"
"I want some fish, Lucy."
"Don't stray from the topic!"

"Happy is asking if you could treat him with fish," said Natsu.
"You two can just fish by yourselves! You two..." Lucy shook her head in disbelief.
"I'm tired." Natsu followed his words by lying on her bed.
"I thought you're all fired up!"
"Give us some money, Lucy," pleaded Happy.

"Natsu has his five hundred thousand jewels, right?!" Lucy pointed out, wondering why she was bothering to continue talking with these friends.

"What about yours, Lucy?" Natsu asked.

"It's right..."

A few crickets made some sounds as time seemed to freeze for Lucy.
Her mind slowly worked over what happened over her afternoon.
"He-"

Just as she blinked, her two friends on her bed were gone.

"NATSU! Give me back my reward!"
"We're partners, right?"

Lucy looked out of her window and saw Natsu just below the apartment, grinning up at her.

"Natsu!"
"You gotta catch me, Lucy!"
"What are you playing at?! It's already dark!"
"I'll buy Happy some fish with that lot of money!"
"Aye!"

Then off Natsu went.

It took a few seconds for Lucy to grasp the situation.
"Natsu!"

X

"Where are you?!"

"Right behind you!"
"What?!"

Lucy turned behind.
Weren't they running in front of her a while ago?
Just how quick could they get?

Then Lucy gasped.
"Happy!"

There was a distant "Aye!"
Lucy jumped in irritation.
How was she going to catch them?
They could be running behind houses.
They could be flying above her.
They could even be in manholes.

"Lucy, follow me!"

Oh, right.
She was going to get her money.
And slap him, of course.
He was getting so annoying already, couldn't he see?

All she wanted was rest, not this mindless running.

Maybe she could just get her jewels tomorrow.

Oh!

"Bye Natsu!" she yelled happily.

"Lucy?" said a voice from her left.

"I'll see you tomorrow!"
Perfect!
That way, she could end this madness.
And she was going to have the better time.
Guilt may not reach Natsu but at least, she wouldn't have to tolerate his naughtiness.

"Lucy, yo- you can't go."

"Why can't I?"
She didn't care if she couldn't see him to talk to him.
Even with just her words, she was confident she was on the winning side.

"How about your jewels, Lucy?" Happy asked.

Now, the voice came from above.
She didn't bother to look.

"I'll get it tomorrow."

"Wh- why?" Natsu inquired.

For some reason, Natsu seemed to be jumpy.

"Lucy, don't you want to get it now?"

"No, it's fine."

"But, Lucy..."

"But what, Natsu?"

"What if I told you, you're lost?"

"No, I'm not."

"Natsu, what if she doesn't join you?" Happy asked, voice lowered.
"Come on! I'm just planning to show it to her!" Natsu whispered back.
"Your plan didn't work, Natsu."
"I can't do it tomorrow! This is a good time."

Apparently, Lucy could hear them.

"I'm hearing you, guys," said Lucy.

It was as if the world stilled to a stop.
Obviously, they hadn't planned on letting her know something.

"So what is this something that you will show me?"
Lucy gently urged them to tell some facts, even just a little.

"Lucy, Happy didn't actually steal your jewels but..."

It seemed as if Natsu was a little hesitant.
Lucy waited patiently for the continuation.

"Will you still join us?"

"Natsu, it's already dark."

"I'm sorry I lied to you. But this is important, I guess..."

"Why don't you show yourself at first?"

Instead of words, what she heard next was her own scream.
"Don't scare me like that!"
For Natsu had just landed in front of her, released by Happy on his flight.
"Lucy, let me show you the way!"

X

"Where are we?"
"Don't ask. I actually planned to get you confused. In the worst case, Happy should have gotten you blindfolded."

Lucy was interested.
Not that Natsu was different but he was talkative in an unusual way.

"Is Happy still with us?" Lucy asked.
"No, maybe later." Natsu raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Why did you ask?"
"Just... wanted to have a conversation?" said Lucy uncertainly.
"Don't worry. We're already near."
"Near what?" Lucy insisted.
Natsu just shook his head.
Apparently, she wasn't going to get a good answer any sooner.

"And..."
"AH!" screamed Lucy as she slipped backwards.
"Lucy!"
Luckily, Natsu was able to catch her by the arms. "You're really a clumsy person."
"I am not!"
"Are you fine?"
"Yeah." Lucy smiled reassuringly at the concern on his face. "Just... why is it slippery here?"

"We're here," stated Natsu.
"Where is here?"

Lucy looked around, but the darkness was defeating her eyes, making her find it hard to focus on anything. "It's unusually dark," she grumbled. "Shouldn't there be streetli-"

"Lucy, take a look at the sky."
She followed him obediently. "Wha-"

Natsu released a breath of fire pointed above, making it look like an umbrella.
"Natsu, why-"

Then she heard it.
A gush of water behind her.
Beside her.
Before her.
Around them.

"Where..."

Natsu continued spewing his fire above them.
Lucy couldn't help but think that it was...
Wonderful.

The fire above them.
The water around them.

Natsu stopped, leaving the steady gush of water around them, and gave her a bright grin.
"We're in the middle of a fountain. Isn't it cool?"

Oh...
It was the park.

Most likely, Natsu brought her here because he thought she would like it.
And she did.
His own show added to her smile.

For some reason, Lucy felt some heat on her cheeks building up.
'Why the heck...'
Good thing, Happy was not there.

She had that thought just as a loud ding was heard from below them.

"Lucy, what's that?"
Lucy frowned as she knelt, searching for something. "My keys... Must have gotten loose on my belt."

"Let me help you."

"Thanks."

The work was supposed to be simple, with just the small space around them.
But it was dark.

"What's taking Happy too long?" Natsu muttered under his breath.
Lucy caught the words by her ears. "What's with Happy?"
"Ah, nothing."

Lucy was a little startled as her hands hit the water before her.
"It's such a small space."
"This wasn't in the plan," said Natsu, a little embarrassed.
"It's okay."
'I liked it,' Lucy added in her thoughts.

"Here!" Natsu announced. "It's wet. Must have dropped to the water."
Just as they realized there was a floating figure beside them.
Natsu jumped back, hitting the water. "Uwah! What is this?!"

Right before them was a Stellar Spirit.
Lucy's eyes widened. "A- Aquarius! I didn't open the gate!"
"Summoning me anytime you want eh? Shut up, bitch!"
"No- don't-"
But her argument was invalid. "aaaAAAHHHH!"

The two could feel the water beginning to spin around them and they cried out together.
"Aquarius, stop this!"
"Lu-" There was a sound of bubbles.
Natsu probably had gone down the water already.
"Natsu!"

Suddenly, Lucy dropped to the wet ground, the water around them splashing to the ground.
Lucy gasped for air then looked around. "What-"
"I must say I'm impressed."
Lucy sighted her Stellar Spirit. "Aquarius!"
"Not too bad for a boyfriend."
"What are you talking about?"
"No use breaking the moment." Aquarius ignored her. "I'm also having some quality time with my boyfriend."
"Just what?!"

But the Stellar Spirit was gone.
It was just Natsu with her, holding his head and complaining about spinning stars.
"Natsu!"
Natsu looked at where the voice came from. "Lucy..."

Then without warning, the place was lighted up by streetlights and all.
"Happy!" Natsu exclaimed, as he blinked, adjusting to the light. "About time... I could see at last."
"Natsu!" two voices spoke at once.

A blond young girl and a flying cat approached the fire mage.
"Oh, Happy! You're here!"
"Lucy, what happened here? It's all wet!"
"Ehh... We got into a mess or something."
"Natsu, are you fine?"

"I'm fine, Happy," Natsu muttered weakly.

Then as they moved to his side, Natsu made a feeble laughter. "Lucy, I'm sorry about this."
"Natsu, you idiot."
She didn't know why she did it.
She just embraced him.
"Oh, you're still as warm as ever, Natsu!"
Natsu was unsure how to react. "Lucy?"
"I liked this plan very much!" She laughed lightly.
She appreciated his effort very much, maybe not to impress her but to make her smile.
The thought was very nice.

"Natsu, maybe we should actually steal her jewels next time," Happy suggested.