So, what does Lucy and Natsu think about each other? Are they really soulmates? Why are their feelings growing? Brace yourselves because the finale of this story is incoming. Enjoy!
Disclaimer - I do not own Fairy Tail
"Levy!" Lucy whined as she stacked the shelves.
"I know, I know… I've been thinking about it too, just trying figure the whole thing out logically… ARGH!" The petite girl messed up her hair in frustration.
"It's easier for you though, you've found your soulmate." The blonde seated herself in a client chair.
"But finding him was the problem. Who would've known that me, a small, smart and beautiful girl, would end up with a thick-headed, big and dumb thing like him?"
"Gajeel loves you though, it's super cute." Stars sparkled in Lucy's eyes as she imagined a life like that.
"Well, Natsu loves you!" Giggling, Levy stuck out her tongue.
"You don't know that for sure! And we're not even soulmates so that makes things a little more complicated…"
"But do you love him…?"
"Levy! That's what I've been trying to figure out! I feel like I do but then I feel like I shouldn't because we aren't meant to be… but then again, both our parents never married their soulmates… Ugh! I haven't talked about boys like this since forever." Lucy scratched her head, sighing.
"You guys make a good couple nonetheless. The thing that's bothering me, is why you felt a spark when you tried to fit your Matchers. If you really aren't soulmates, then there shouldn't be anything at all." The small female pouted and furrowed her eyebrows.
"Yeah, I know. Like when I tried it with every other person, there was nothing. It was just anti-climactic. But with Natsu, we both felt something reach into us."
"And ever since that day, it hasn't been the same. You've started to have feelings for him and he's been weird around you…"
"Don't rub it in!" Lucy squirmed in her seat as she racked her brain for answers.
"Hmm… Why don't we go to the library at lunch? We could research the history about Matchers and maybe it'll tell us what you felt. I assure you, I felt the exact same thing you were talking about."
"That sounds like a good idea. Which library-" Lucy stopped herself as a customer came in. Jumping off the chair, she approached them. "Hi, is there anything you need help with?"
"Hey, ice princess!" Natsu screamed from one side of the store as he tried to escape from his doom.
"What?!"
"Help me!"
"I'm in the same boat as you!" Gray squealed.
"What boat?! There's no boat!"
"It's a saying, fire shit!"
"Well, I'm saying that I need help!" Natsu's bottom lip quivered as he looked down at his leg where a little girl hung.
"Mister, what's a fire shi-" the little girl was cut off from her question as someone scooped her up.
"Natsu… what did I tell you about cursing in front of them? It's your job to make sure they are taken care of!" The azure-haired male shook his head.
Gray shuffled in with 2 kids on each arm and 2 kids on each leg. "Jellal! This isn't some day-care we're runnin' here!"
"For once I agree with him! Why do we even have a kid play area?!"
"Well, for one reason, children are more attracted to comic books and figurines and the exact products we sell at the store. So, we need somewhere so that they will stay longer and the parents can buy them more stuff, thus, earning us more money. And secondly, we had extra space. The common area is a vital part to our store that many of our customers love." Jellal explained before picking up another child to bring back to the bean bags.
"We asked you a question but I didn't expect an English essay."
"Oh! Natsu, you cool to stay here and take care of the fort during lunch break? You'll get your lunch later." Jellal asked, plopping down the children and smiling at their parents who were browsing the shelves.
"M-me? But I have plans for lunch… with Lucy…"
"Oh… I thought you guys were a little… uh, off these days." Jellal scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.
"I-it's been normal, hasn't it?"
"Haven't you been walking to and from work like usual? I think, there's nothing wrong but everyone's been saying some things need to change." Gray yawned.
"What do you mean, 'everyone'?! People have been talking about us?"
"Well, yeah. The whole crew has been making bets about if you guys are gonna go out and when. The price is pretty high." Gray and Jellal chuckled as Natsu's face turned pale.
"Does Lucy know about it?"
"I'm not sure but probably. She's a smart girl."
Natsu sighed as he leaned against the shelves and rubbed his face. "What am I gonna do…?"
"Well, you guys checked your Matchers, right?" Jellal inquired as he sat himself down on the ground.
"Yeah… but our Matchers freaked out! Our bodies were all… weird! Like sparky, sparky!" Natsu motioned his hands like fireworks.
"Maybe you are soulmates but you did something wrong…" Gray furrowed his brows and hummed deeply.
"I thought that too because with Erza, I felt the same 'sparky, sparky' that Natsu was speaking about and we were soulmates." Jellal rubbed his chin and shrugged.
"Well, what did you guys do with those girls?" Natsu raised his eyebrow, asking a genuine question.
The blue-haired male swung his leg across the floor and tripped the pink-haired male. His arm and head thumped hard onto the ground and he rolled around groaning.
"Do not be a pervert, Natsu! How dare you ask such a vulgar question?! We did not do anything of that type!" The male covered his face, along with his red tattoo, in shame.
Gray just stood there laughing, holding his stomach as he hunched over.
"I'm not! I was just asking a real question! Like, what did you guys do, that I didn't?"
"Hmm… the only thing I can think of, that applies to both Gray and I, is that were dating already when we tried out Matchers. Maybe that's it? That's the missing link?"
"Dude, isn't there some Matchers' manual you can look at?"
"Who knows?" Natsu sat up from the ground, rubbing his arm and head.
"If there was, wouldn't our parents tell us how to find our soulmates? Like when we were younger." Gray deduced. "There probably isn't a set way to find your soulmate because it's meant to be fate anyway."
"That's true. It would be too much pressure for people who don't want to find their soulmate and stuff like that."
"Guys? This still doesn't help me."
"But dude, why the heck are you askin' us? Go ask your old man."
"That's actually not a bad idea…"
That afternoon, like every other, Lucy waited outside to pick him up.
"You ready to head home?" Lucy smiled as she reached to help hold Natsu's things.
"Well, how about visiting my old man this afternoon? I need to talk to him and you can hang out with Wendy. It won't be for long?"
"Yeah! Of course! I love visiting your dad, he's hilarious."
With simply that, the pair were on their way to the red house, neither telling each other what had happened that day or what was to come with their relationship. It was just good ol' banter. Once they reached the house, Igneel opened the door in a robe, with only boxers underneath.
"OH MY- SHIT!" The dark red-haired man ran back into the house, screaming profanities and just… screaming. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOUR GIRLFRIEND WAS COMING?!"
"Dad…" Natsu sobbed as he walked into the house, smiling an apology to Lucy who giggled.
"It's fine Mr Dragneel! We're just here for a quick visit so there's no need to do anything rash!"
"Dear, dear, dear! Call me Igneel. Now, what calls for such an occasion that you've come?"
"Um… I'm not sure." Lucy glanced at Natsu before continuing, "he wanted to talk to you about something."
"Dad, where's Wendy? I thought she's staying since Auntie is on holidays?"
"Wendy's out with friends but her cat is still here. Why?"
"Uh… sorry, Luce. I need to talk to my dad about something private. Maybe you could-"
"No, no! It's completely fine." The blonde dusted her skirt and smiled. "So, where's this cat you speak of?"
Once Lucy was far enough that she couldn't hear, Igneel led his son to the kitchen and pulled out two chairs.
He leaned in close. "So, what's the deal? You thinking about marrying her? That's why you're being so urgent?"
"Dad! What?! No!"
"Lower your voice, son. She could still hear us."
Natsu sighed as he shook his head. Whispering, the male tried explaining, "dad… that's not why I'm here."
The older male stood up, throwing his hands in the air. "Oh my! I completely forgot! I'll be right back."
Igneel ran out of the kitchen and up his stairs. Not too long later, the male came stomping and jumping down the steps, a velvet blue box in his hands. Jogging over to the kitchen, he carefully set it on the table before sitting down.
"What… is this?"
"This, my boy, is something that I've been looking for around the house since Lucy first came to visit. I found it last night and…" Igneel sighed and shook his head, "and I was in tears." The male pushed it closer to Natsu.
He reached for it, his hands shaking. As soon as his fingertips contacted the box, his breath seemed to push out of him. Instantly, Natsu jolted back, his eyes wide.
"What is it?"
"It's Layla's Matcher." Tears were already in his eyes as he looked at it dearly. "I had completely forgot that I had kept it."
Gingerly, Natsu scooped it up into his palms and his heart began to calm. Exhaling deeply, he felt all his worries disappear. "Why are you showing me this? Shouldn't you let Lucy have it?"
"Well… based on my observations, I think you and Lucy are soulmates. I pondered over that fact for weeks and concluded that Layla and I couldn't be together because you and Lucy are meant to be."
"That's why I'm here, dad. We tried our Matchers and we aren't soulmates. Gray and Jellal suggested that I should ask you if I'm doing anything wrong."
"Just… give her this and tell her how you feel. Then, try it again. Trust me, you are soulmates. There is an intangible bond that holds you two together but it's not very strong unless you do something about it." Igneel ruffled his son's hair, grinning. "I did a good job raising you, just look at how you've turned out!"
"More like I've done a good job growing up! You've got nothin' to do with it!" Then, as quickly as the banter started, it ended. Looking seriously into his father's eyes, Natsu became serious. "Dad… I'm so, so sorry for everything I did when I was younger. I was so stupid and I know that it hurt you. Thank you for still believing and not giving up on me."
"Hey now, no need to get sappy. I won't abandon you."
Natsu slipped the deep blue box into his pocket and started farewelling his father.
"Luce! Luce?!"
"Coming!" Not too long after, the blonde came bounding down the steps, holding a white cat in her arms. "Isn't she the cutest?"
"I thought you were a dog person…"
"That's not the point! I can still call other animals cute!" Lucy tickled under the cat's chin as it purred.
"It's not that cute… Happy's cuter." Natsu pouted as his father nodded in agreement. "Anyways, we should get going, Luce. The sun's going down and we gotta get you home."
"Yeah, yeah Mr Responsible." Lucy plopped the cat onto the couch and farewelled Igneel before leaving. Once they were outside and on their merry way, the blonde asked, "did you talk to your dad about what you needed to?"
"I guess so… but he's not much help."
"Well, if you ask me, maybe I'll know the answer."
"U-u-uh, no, no I think I should be ok. I don't need the answer straight away." Natsu stuttered as he reached into his pocket.
"Alright then, if you insist." Lucy puffed out her cheeks, pouting. Then, an idea popped into her head. "If you won't tell me, then can you give me a clue about what it's about?"
Blushing, the male whispered, "soulmates…"
What will Lucy think about Natsu's conversation? What's he going to do with Layla's Matcher?
Next time:
"Luce, for a while now, I've been in lo-"
OH MY! This is obviously Natsu speaking but is he finally going to confess his feelings? What led up to this moment?
