A/N: sorry updating took so long, this week I have a cold and I focused on my Nalu Love Fest stories the week before.
"Natsu! Stop sniffing me like a dog!" Lucy swatted ineffectually at the slayer.
Scrunching up his nose, Natsu suddenly pressed it to Lucy's wrist and snuffled up her arm. He took several deep inhalations at the juncture of her neck. Lucy squealed and pushed hard. Natsu backed up a couple of steps, his face a mixture of embarrassment and shock.
"S-sorry Lucy!" His eyes went wide and then dropped. "I don't know exactly what came over me."
"Natsu, can you go back and wait for dinner in the living room?" Lucy picked up her wooden spoon and stirred the sauce, trying to get her brain to calm down.
"I could, but no." Natsu watched Lucy busy herself at the stove. "I'm serious about this coupling business, and I'm gonna talk about sniffing you 'cause you asked for honest communication on your list."
The blonde turned down the heat on the stove, wiped her hands on a towel and faced her partner, "You pick now to listen to me?"
"I always listen!" Natsu looked away and down at his feet, "I just don't always do what you want." He squared his shoulders and leaned his face closer to Lucy. "I will try to give you want you want, I'd like to win the special spread over the other two couples. We're great partners and I know we can do it."
Lucy would've lost her grip on the spoon if she'd been carrying it. We can do it? Great idea! Fuck eating dinner! Let's do it all night long! The giddy excitement dancing in the pit of her stomach made her breathe a bit faster, the hairs on her arms rose up and she swore that she experienced a phantom orgasm.
Natsu was smiling, his earnest and innocent face shining clean of any libidinous thoughts. He easily registered Lucy's response, but concluded she was merely gung-ho over winning. "You're the brains, I'm the brawn - as partners we are unbeatable!" His grin was so blinding, Lucy had to close her eyes to organize her thoughts.
Fully intending to distract Natsu with anything later, Lucy nodded and smiled. "You're more than just brawn, Natsu! We're a great team, but the food will be ready soon. Aren't you hungry?" Yes, make him think of his stomach...
The pink haired slayer nodded, "We still need to talk. If I get a story, I need to give you something more."
"Natsu, not everything can be equal." Her smile weakened, "I appreciate the thought you're putting into this, but the food will not cook itself!" With her hands on his shoulders, Lucy ushered her partner out of the kitchen and returned to finishing dinner.
Happy flew behind the slayer as he exited the kitchen. "Natsu! Aren't you curious what Lucy wrote on her first paper?"
"Sure, I guess." Natsu tilted his head in thought, "She did have a lot written on it. I don't even know what kinds of things a couple should be doing anyway."
The exceed gleefully rubbed his paws and floated over to the far corner of the room and gestured to Natsu to join him. In a whisper he conferred with his partner. "She's got the first list in her pocket, liberate it and learn what couples should be doing." The blue cat looked left and right and added in an even softer whisper, "I bet there's lots of good information on it."
"Great idea!" Natsu agreed heartily. "Using her ideas to win the special spread, Luce'll be amazed!"
His eyes shining round and bright, the devil cat giggled and nodded. "Amazed!"
The museum was as boring as Gajeel feared, and crowded with all sorts of unique individuals. Levy wandered freely, examining the art pieces with a critical eye. She gave another apologetic smile to her metal pierced companion. "Sorry! If I hadn't taken so long changing, we'd have been here before the multitudes descended."
"What's it gonna take for you to believe me? You were fast changing and I hardly noticed the wait." The slayer crossed his arms and wrinkled his nose. "One of these 'masterpieces' isn't cured properly."
Levy's eyes brightened, "You can tell that?"
"I'm a dragon slayer, the nose knows."
"Which one is it?" Levy pointed to a bright blue table covered with faux food. "Is it that display?"
Gently Gajeel cupped her elbow with a hand and bent down to whisper in her ear. "How bad do you want to know?"
"Oi! How long does it take to make pop-corn? Our drinks are getting warm!" Gray shouted this from his slouched position on his couch. "I dumped the candy in a bowl and I'm going to start eating it if you don't get out here!"
"Forgive Juvia, but Gray-sama must be the worst ice-mage ever if his drink is getting warm!" Juvia will tease Gray-sama like Juvia would with Gajeel-kun! Gray-sama is treating Juvia like a friend, friends tease each other.
Almost against his own will, Gray laughed. A short bark in reply to Juvia's humour that grew into a chuckle and lasted a good two minutes until he had tears in his eyes. He was knuckling away the traces even as she came into the room bearing a giant bowl of popcorn. She grinned, happy that her joke had met with success.
"Juvia is glad Gray-sama is her friend." The water mage sat down on the couch leaving a respectable distance between herself and Gray. She put the bowl down, "Juvia thinks we should watch Gray's movie first."
Gray clicked the remote and shook his head. "You took too long, your choice is already queued up." He dug his hand into the popcorn and fed himself. "This is really good!"
"Thank you Gray-sama!" Juvia blushed, drew her legs up and nestled into the far corner of the couch. Gray couldn't help his eyes being drawn to Juvia's long toned legs. She had shed her signature boots but was still wearing her silky stockings. The thigh-high slit in her dress acted as a magnet to Gray's eyes. With every little shift Juvia made to get comfortable, the ice mage found himself looking over to see more smooth stroke-able skin.
The opening credits played and Juvia sat entranced with the movie. She was spellbound, laughing and being concerned for the actors on screen in turns. Gray watched the film with only a portion of his attention. He spent more time taking in his companion's reactions to the comedy.
The candy was barely touched and the popcorn was mostly eaten as the end credits rolled. Gray took the finished bowl away to the kitchen and hollered to Juvia, "You want another drink? Same thing or something stronger?"
"Juvia does not want to be a bother, whatever Gray-sama is having is fine with Juvia."
"Okay, can you put in the next movie?"
"Yes!" Juvia padded over to the lacrima player and switched out the movies. She snagged the bowl of candy and placed it on the end table near her side of the couch. "What is this one about?" The water mage had raised her voice for Gray to hear her better in the kitchen, but he exited as she was speaking, causing her to blush and lower her volume.
Gray gave Juvia a frozen mug of beer, "I forgot about that candy. Are you not going to share?" He sat down with his drink, taking a deep draft. He turned expectantly to Juvia who was taking a dainty sip of her beverage.
"Would Gray-sama like Juvia to get another bowl?" She started to get up, but Gray restrained her with a light touch of his hand on her elbow and shook his head. Juvia sank back down in confusion. "Juvia does not know what Gray-sama wants."
"I think friends can eat candy out of the same bowl, we managed with the popcorn."
Juvia hesitantly nodded and moved the much smaller bowl to the middle of the couch.
Gray took another gulp of his drink to hide a smile. "Sit closer and I'll hold the candy, that way it doesn't spill. It would be a shame to feed the couch." He clicked the remote, settled it on his end table and waggled his fingers, reaching for the candy bowl.
Trying to keep her features calm, Juvia gave her crush the candy. She couldn't keep the heat from rising in her cheeks as Gray patted the sofa cushion beside him. After a second of hesitation, she slid over and sat stiffly upright. Juvia let out a gasp as Gray slung an arm around her shoulder and pulled her against his side. "Just consider this more training - and making it easier to share the candy."
Wordless, Juvia glanced over and nodded. Gray gave every appearance of detachment as he clicked the volume of the movie higher and dropped the remote next to his drink. The water mage curled her legs to the side and slumped over a bit to rest more fully against Gray. He didn't react, so Juvia relaxed further.
"I hope you like scary movies Juvia."
"Juvia should have warned Gray-sama about that..." With an almost pained expression, Juvia angled her head to look over at Gray. "Juvia's imagination runs away with her." She set her lips in a firm line and gripped the hem of her dress. "Juvia might get very scared."
"I'm prepared for that," Gray reached over and turned off the lamp. Juvia shivered and Gray squeezed her closer. "Try to relax and enjoy the show."
Lucy dished up the plates and yelled for Natsu and Happy to join her. Almost immediately, Natsu raced over and sat down in his usual chair. Happy flew over and perched in his seat. The blonde sat down and picked up her fork, bemused by Natsu patiently waiting for her to dig in. "What's so special about tonight that you're waiting for me to eat before stuffing your face?"
"Dunno, just thought it was some sort of couple thing." Natsu had the grace to appear a little embarrassed. "Thank you for cooking, Lucy."
Happy and Lucy exchanged glances, mild surprise and uncertainty being chief. Shrugging their shoulders, the other two members of team Natsu began eating dinner. Natsu ate his customary three helpings slathered in hot sauce and extra chilli flakes. Lucy got up from the table first and started to clear away the dishes. Happy dumped his dish in the sink and flew back over to whisper something in Natsu's ear. The slayer nodded and gathered the rest of the plates to bring to the kitchen.
Happy rubbed his stomach and gave a satisfied burp. "I'm going to visit Charle!" Without waiting for any replies, the exceed used his aera and flew through the living room and exited out of Lucy's apartment via her bedroom.
"So Lucy," Natsu mumbled, "I, uh, wanna talk about my earlier actions." He picked up a dish towel and began drying the plates on the wash board.
Lucy felt like her skin was too tight, the food she'd eaten had been so appetising earlier, now felt like solid lead in her stomach. "We don't have to talk about it." She kept her hands plunged into the warm soapy water, washing and re-washing the silverware.
"I need to talk about it." Natsu hung his head and sighed. "It was kinda like an accident. You smelt so good and my instincts kinda took over."
"Instincts?" Lucy set the pots and pans to soaking. She wiped the splashed water clean and drained the rinse water. "What are you talking about?" Lucy dried her hands and turned to look at her best friend from under her lashes.
"Uh, well..." Natsu blushed, "It's not that big a deal. I had an impulse to see where the scent was strongest." He dropped the towel on the counter and patted Lucy's upper arm. "Sorry."
"Um, okay." Lucy wanted to be done with this conversation. If glossing over this 'instinct' answer made him move on, then she'd not probe further. "Let's go into the living room and pick a game to play."
"Great idea!" Natsu smiled easily, "I'll even give you a choice. How's about truth or dare, twister or cards?"
Lucy could feel her anxiety come rushing back. Each choice was fraught with danger; 'truth or dare' was to be avoided at all costs, 'twister' was too physical and cards? Cards seem harmless.
"Cards sounds good, Natsu." Lucy went over to her storage bookcase and picked up her deck of playing cards. Her pink haired friend had dragged over the club chair and placed it across the coffee table. Lucy watched Natsu scamper back to the kitchen and heard him rummage around. She sat down on the couch in exasperation. "What are you doing?"
Natsu came back brandishing several shot glasses and a huge bottle of sake. "We need this for cards! Dragons Wild poker! You're gonna love it Luce!"
"I was thinking more along the lines of gin rummy, hearts or euchre." Lucy bit her lips and clenched her hands together. Sober I can barely restrain myself from touching him! Drunk? He's gonna get more than he bargained for. "Maybe there's some other game you'd rather play?"
"But you agreed, we have to learn to couple!" Natsu sat down and allowed the bottle and glasses to thunk down on the coffee table. "This'll be fun!"
Lucy watched Natsu grin, exposing his canines in a blinding display of enthusiasm. She gulped, she could feel the treacherous thoughts in the back of her head growing stronger, hissing to the angel perched on her shoulder. We can handle getting drunk! It's just a game...look at his happy little face...look at his smokin' abs...later we can touch them and blame the booze...
Natsu could smell more of the exhilarating scent wafting off of Lucy. He was of two minds over the matter. He knew precious few things of how females thought, but he had his own knowledge of Lucy. Deciding to not worry over things out of his control, he inhaled and enjoyed the warmth stirring his nerve endings. It felt as soothing as a bellyful of fire and yet made the animal part of his brain clamour for more.
