A/N: Dang the last chapter was long huh? I wrote it long because I won't be updating much this week since I'll be focusing on school and I'm going to the GOT7 concert this weekend. Whoo!
Lucy had somehow manage to get home without running to anyone she knew along the way. Oddly enough, she hadn't ran into anyone from the guild...
So they must all be at the guild.
Her room was exactly the way she left it without a single paper out of place. Usually Natsu would always be at her apartment before she even got a chance to open the door. Somehow, he always manage to get to her home before she did.
But at least I get some time alone to prepare myself.
For the next hour or so, Lucy spent it pampering herself in the bathtub, trying out the new bathbomb scent she had just bought awhile ago but never got the chance to use it. The bathroom smell of vanilla and orange, much like the ice cream pop flavor orange creamsicle.
With her soaking up the products, Lucy began washing and conditioning her blonde locks; a usual routine for her.
When Lucy finally decided she had enough of the spa treatment, she opted out of picking a short skirt and a tight tank top to wearing a pair of tight jogging pants and long sleeves. She felt comfortable in these kind of clothes too. It was a look no one from the guild had yet to seen her in. Usually she would wear the outfit on the days she wasn't going to be visiting at the guild. Mondays were those days where she just wanted to relax at home and pamper herself.
Picking up her key holder, she was out the door, leaving a scent of orange vanilla behind in the apartment and of course with her windows open and headed to the guild.
Natsu woke up in a groggy stupor, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hands. Happy wasn't in his bed when he finally was able to see clearly.
"Hmmm Happy?"
Natsu called out, no response was given. Sighing, he stood up and walked through the house, calling out to his friend. When not even a sound was given, Natsu walked back to his room and notice a note beside his pillow.
Natsu, I am going to the guild before you!
See you there,
Happy.
Natsu tossed the note anoyingly to the side and went to do his bathroom duties, letting out a loud yawn.
When he stepped back out, Natsu is chirpier and more excited, remembering that Lucy was heading back today. Dressing in his usual vest and droopy pants, Natsu tighten his hold on the scarf before heading to Lucy's apartment.
Everyone at the guild had welcome Lucy back, congratulating her on a job well done. Mirajane treated her to a smoothie on the house while the girls gather around, excited to hear Lucy's stories of going on the mission alone.
"Really Lu-chan? Was that book good?" Levy's eyes sparkle as Lucy began telling her about the highlights of the book.
"Lucy-san, did you get hurt anywhere?" Wendy stood next to her, eager to listen about her battles at the school.
"Nope, nothing major. I only did get really tired afterwards, but! They really treated me well there, Lucy try to reassure Wendy.
Erza simply congratulated Lucy, "Mhm as expected of a member of 'The Strongest Team' in the guild. You did well Lucy."
"Ah thanks, Erza."
"So Lucy, did you miss Natsu while you were away? You know, Natsu was very depressed when you weren't here and we didn't see him yesterday as well. Plus he left the guild earlier than he usually does..." Mirajane commented, sliding Lucy's smoothie in front of her.
Lucy blush a little, "Uh well, it was really fun and rewarding to go on my own. Maybe in the future, I might want to go on some more. It... it felt lonely without Natsu and Happy..." Lucy emphasized the blue cat's name, "Only a little bit though."
Internally, Mirajane was laughing snidely while cleaning the counter with a rug, a dark aura surrounding her.
"So Lucy, are you doing anything tomorrow?" Erza asked, fully knowing what she'll be doing tomorrow. The girls perk up on the change of topic, looking at Lucy intently. Lucy is unaware that every girl standing there is in on Mirajane's devious plan. Only Levy knows what Lucy would be doing tomorrow.
Oh yea, I'm confessing to Natsu tomorrow and Levy to Gajeel so we're going to spend the whole day together...
AS IF I CAN SAY THAT! MIRAJANE WOULD DO SOMETHING... I JUST KNOW IT.
"Yes... Me and Levy are going to have a girl's day tomorrow."
Erza put down her tea cup and look over to Lucy, staring at her, "Really. And I'm not invited?"
Fearing what would happen next, Levy pulled on the scarlet mage's arms, "O-Of course you can come. You guys can come too! The more the merrier."
Levy gave Lucy an apologetic look in which the celestial mage just brush it off. "Yeah! It'll be totally fun."
The girls talk more, laughing and teasing each other. Romeo poke Lucy's shoulder, interrupting their conversation. "Lucy-san, there's a guest for you." Romeo pointed to someone sitting at the table in front of the guild.
Noticing who it is, Lucy immediately got up and smiled widely, "Zero~!"
The girls stare widely, shock at an unfamiliar person smile at Lucy and happily talking to her. While the two friends talked, the girls had relocated to the storage room in the back. Mirajane walked silently, thinking of an advantage to use in the plan.
Biting her lip, she turned to the girls, "Yes this will do. It's almost perfect."
Wendy and Carla simply stood aside from everyone else, listening intently. Her 'part' in the plan was finished since all she needed to do was make the decorations along with Carla and Levy.
Juvia is too excited at the possible thought that Lucy is in a love triangle without Gray. "Oh ex- love rival, Juvia didn't know you were so popular!"
Levy sigh and began to think about a Zero whether Lucy talked or mentioned him or not.
Nothing... I don't know him.
"Who is he...?" Levy whispered loudly, unknowingly.
Erza and Mirajane was thinking the same thing. They didn't seem to recall Lucy mentioning anyone name Zero.
Shaking her head, Mirajane push the thoughts aside, ready to cite the new plan. "We can use this to advantage! He looked like a mage to me, maybe he's interested in becoming part of Fairy Tail. And, he seems interested in Lucy that way." Mirajane wiggle her eyebrows, "If Natsu sees them, perhaps he'll just lose it. We'll just have to invite Zero back tomorrow for the 'celebration'. Then he'll be the distraction that will FINALLY make Natsu and Lucy get together."
Erza nodded. "Since it's come down to this, why don't we make it a Fairy Tail ball? We have everything ready anyways, we just need to tell Lucy, Natsu, and Zero about it. The other guild members have been prepping themselves too."
Mirajane patted her partner in crime's back appreciatively, "Great idea, Erza. That's the plan. Now, let's go."
Fortunately, the girls made it back in time for Lucy to not notice they had been gone and Zero was still there. The girls had voted Erza to go and inform the two of the ball since she can be aggressive if she doesn't like their answers.
"Lucy, sorry to interrupt." Erza stood beside the two, "But I need to inform you about tomorrow."
Lucy turn her head away from Zero and looked up, "What is it, Erza?"
"Listen up, there will be a ball tomorrow; Fairy Tail ball. Come dress nice and I wanted to tell your friend here, that he's welcome to come as well." Erza pause and looked at Zero closely, "You will come, right?"
Zero sweat drop and smile awkwardly, "O-O-Of c-course!"
"Good. It will start at 6pm and the guild will be rearranged." Having all she wanted to say, she left, back to the counter.
Lucy smile shyly at Zero, "Sorry about that. I had no idea there was going to be a ball tomorrow."
Zero wave her apology off, "Don't worry about it. I can't wait to come tomorrow."
The sun's brightness almost blinded the pink haire mage. Hiding away from sunlight for the past two days has definitely affected him more than he thought. His muscles were tight from not using them for long since Natsu had always been active.
Natsu leap in the air, jumping from roof to roof, breathing in the fresh air. It has been a while that he has gotten this kind of feeling. The feeling of excitement, the feeling that made his heart beat faster as Lucy's apartment came into view. The feeling that went away immediately when he realized Lucy's wasn't at home. Nonetheless, the scent Lucy let behind was enough to spiral him in the direction she was headed: the guild.
As Natsu bounded to open the doors of the guild, Lucy's scent was so close and delicious that he was drooling. He had been a good boy for the past two days and hopefully Lucy misses him as much as he missed her.
Lucy's laugh rang in his ears as his onyx eyes landed on the blonde girl who sat in a circle with the other female mages.
Grinning, Natsu ran towards her... and hugged her relentlessly, "Luigi! You came back ~ I'm so proud of you." Natsu grinned happily but then had a change of tones, "How dare you leave without letting me know! You could have been injured... Something could have happened... And I wouldn't have been there to protect you..."
Natsu buried his face in her hair, seeking comfort for his loneliness he felt the past days.
"Natsu..." Lucy looked at the girls meekly while patting his hair gently. Natsu's hold on Lucy tightened.
The girls winked at Lucy and left the table soundlessly, leaving the two mages alone.
When Natsu's hugging went on longer than five minutes, Lucy gently pulled him away with much resistance. His pink hair seem sad today, usually spiky, its locks flop on his head. "Lucy... don't ever do that again, please." He begged her without looking at her as his hair covered his eyes.
"Natsu..."
"Luce, please."
Lucy gave a long sigh, stood up and headed to the doors without saying anything. Natsu sprung up from his seat and follow the mage, watching her quietly from behind.
The girls watch the two leave from the counter and cheer happily at a possible successful attempt. All except for Mirajane who held her plan tightly in her hand, tears dripping down her face.
"Nooo I had everything planned out." The white hair mage cried out.
"Mirajane-san, we won't know what happens until tomorrow. If anything, Lucy-san isn't one to break a promise." Wendy spoke carefully.
"Yeah! Besides, Lu-chan still thinks I haven't confessed yet."
Erza sigh, rubbing her temples in circles, "Really Levy, I can't believe you broke your promise on the first day! Right after you promised Lucy too."
"Hey! I couldn't help it. I just went along with the flow." Levy crossed her arms.
"Yes... And perhaps the flow was too smooth, Levy-san." Juvia grinned happily at her companions success.
"Nevertheless, I suppose I can wait until tomorrow to find out." Mirajane gently smooth out the paper creases.
Natsu walked behind the girl, keeping an eye on her from fifteen feet away with his hands behind his head. Man, did he miss her. Her prescence, her figure, her blonde hair, her laugh, her voice... her scent.
Her scent...
Her scent is stronger than the last time he smell her. It was enough to flare his nostrils and become completely surrounded by her scent. Vanilla with a hinch of ... something tropical. Whatever it was, it made him drool. Luckily Lucy is walking in front of him. Otherwise, if she turn and say this sight of him, who knows what she must think of him.
She'll probably think I'm starving or something.
Yeah, that seems like a Natsu thing. After all, no one really knows that he has a sensitive side to him as well.
He laughed out loud at that. Sure he knew he acted indifferent around girls and icky romance stuff and maybe he wasn't exactly a womanizer like Loke... But ever since Lucy came around, he had begin to think about those stuff. Natsu noticed everything regarding Lucy. How she easily became fluster whenever he gets close to her. How she's actually really insecure about herself. How she doesn't know that whenever she walks down the street, every man's eyes turn to watch her. How she's beautiful and perfect to him. How at one point, Lucy became a very precious existence to Natsu. Someone more than a bestfriend and nakama. Someone he wouldn't mind spending an eternity with. Someone he loves more than Igneel.
And he never thought there would be a day when he'd be able to think that someone can easily take his heart and love.
Lucy sudden stop made Natsu alert and frantically searching for any enemies.
There... in front of Lucy's apartment was a tall boy leaning against the door wearing a coat and pants. His white hair blew along with the wind. Besides his feet was a basket with a red cloth on top of it. The smell of freshly bake bread seethe through the cloth.
"Zero? What are you doing here?"
Lucy walked up to him who straighten up after seeing her and grinned. "Pops sent me here with food seeing as you liked our bread so much." He looked curiously behind Lucy and whisper in her ear, "Did I interrupt something?"
Shaking her head, she opened the door and invited Zero and Natsu in.
A/N: Heheheheheheh
yeah... Zero and Natsu finally meets! Hmmm I wonder what'll happen next chapter?
I guess you'll just have to find out! Well see you all then~