Chapter 10: Lucy's Apartment

Natsu and Lucy stood in front of the elevator, Natsu observing the foyer and Lucy steaming a bit from embarrassment. Natsu had asked super loudly about the cherub paintings on the walls, and they were now receiving odd looks from her neighbors and the doorman. Not only was the pink haired man ridiculously loud, the pair were soaking wet on a dry day. Finally, the elevator dinged, signalling its arrival. Lucy stepped in first and pushed the button for the third floor and Natsu followed like a little puppy nodding his head to show his appreciation of the decor. "Fancy place, ya got here." Natsu observed, as the doors closed.

Once they were shut in the elevator alone, Lucy flailed her arms and her red face was pointed directly at Natsu's, "How could you not know what cherubs are!? And why on EARTH did you have to ask that so loudly? We're already soaking wet, I don't want to be kicked out of this place because I look like some irresponsible..."

"Woah! Woah! Woah! Luce!" Natsu quickly let out, grabbing her arms and pushing them down to her sides, "I was mostly just trying to get a rise out of you, but I didn't think it would upset you."

Lucy felt tingles up and down her whole body, starting from where his hands gently held her, just above the elbow, "I-I know. I don't know. I'm sorry, I guess I just felt a little embarrassed being wet." She felt the tingles increase as Natsu pulled her closer to his chest, enveloping her in his arms.

"Well, at least you invited me in then. Imagine how much worse it would have looked if you had come in alone!" Lucy's eyes popped open as wide as they could go.

"Oh my god, you're right. Ugh this is all your fault." She blamed. Natsu noticed she wasn't holding him back and frowned a bit before letting a fake shocked look come over his face and moving back to just holding her arms.

"My fault!?" He asked, pretending to be taken aback, eyes wide and mouth stern.

"Yes, your fault! If you hadn't walked away from me, when I wasn't expecting you to, I wouldn't have fallen in!" Lucy lightly pouted, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"Ha! You're just clumsy!" Natsu teased. He grinned as she started on a tirade, but was interrupted by the elevator reaching its destination. Quickly letting go of her before the door opened, he sighed in relief as he looked out and saw the little blunette from the other night looking in on them. Moving out of the elevator Lucy rushed forward to hug her roommate.

"Oh! Lucy! I was worried! You didn't answer your phone. I left you a message. I'm heading out for the night, I'm going over to Erza's." Levy rushed out, not noticing Natsu.

"Oh, hey Levs! Sorry, Natsu pushed me into the fountain, and it must've killed my phone!" Lucy said, glowering at Natsu as she rushed out the explanation. Natsu started to defend himself, but Levy interrupted his argument.

"Oh, Natsu! I didn't see you there! Thanks again for the other night," she smiled, "I don't know what would've happened if it hadn't been for you and Elfman."

"Wait, you didn't tell me Natsu was there?" Lucy squinted, while tilting her head to the side, looking between the two.

"You're welcome," Natsu grinned while nodding, "Feel free to call me if you ever get worried, and we can do a sweep by the store, 'kay?"

"Of course! Any how, I'll see you two later!" Levy said, reaching out to push the button to call the elevator. The door opened immediately, and as the doors started to close Levy rushed out to hold the door, "Oh! LUCE! I finished the alfredo, but there's still the fire chicken and rice!"

"Oh ok. Thanks! See you tomorrow!" She waved watching the doors close. Lucy turned around and pulled on Natsu's arm, "alright, come on! Let's get inside." She walked down the hallway to the third door on the left. Natsu followed looking around, the hallways were a lot less decorated than the foyer, but still gave off a posh feel. These walls were a plain, tannish yellow and had gold faceted lamps on the walls. The carpet was deep purple and looked really rough. This place didn't really seem comfortable. Even the door knockers and numbers seemed super expensive, and Natsu scrunched his nose a bit.

"This is not what I pictured your apartment would look like."

"Well this is the hallway, so I would hope not. Are you coming in or not?" Lucy asked looking up at him from across the threshold of her door. Natsu shook his head and smirked slightly and nodded before barging in and running all over her apartment.

Lucy's jaw dropped watching him practically bouncing off the walls, but shaking her head muttered, "Sure make yourself at home. Not like you needed my permission anyway." She disappeared down the hallway to her room, and called out to the man-child running around her home.

Natsu looked at her apartment thinking this made a lot more sense. The walls in her were a light blue and the carpets were fluffy and tan. The kitchen had hardwood floors (that he had enjoyed sliding on) with matching wood cabinets and dark gray and black marble counters (that he had narrowly missed with his head when he fell) and black appliances( that were spotless until he had to hold onto the fridge to get up). He noticed the hallways had the same plush carpet as he followed Lucy's voice back trying to find her. "Luce, where are you?" He called out looking frustrated. All the doors were closed, Lucy pulled her door open just a fraction and looking out to him.

"Here's the shorts and I found a big shirt," she held out a pair of black shorts with a tiger emblem on the front and a multi-colored T-shirt. Natus grabbed them and lucy stammered out, "Oh-oh uh, the bathroom is the door at the end of the hall." Natsu nodded gratefully and opened the indicated door. He took in his surroundings. It was the exact same wood floor and cabinets as the kitchen, but the counters were white to match the shower/tub combo and the toilet. Natsu started to strip, before remembering it might be a good idea to get a towel. Not thinking about it, he walked out of the bathroom without his shirt on and knocked on Lucy's door. Opening the door and peaking her head out, Lucy made to ask what he wanted, but found herself speechless. There stood in front of her was the most perfect specimen of man she had ever seen. Tan skin, taut muscles and damp hair plastered to his forehead. She followed a droplet of water down to the edge of his pant, and she subconsciously licked her lips before remembering to speak, "uh-uh-what's up? Did they not work?"

"Nah, I was just wondering if I could borrow a towel?" Natsu grinned, seeming not to notice or care about (she didn't know which) her obvious ogling. Blushing, she looked down at the floor.

"Oh yeah! I forgot about that! Uhm... Close your eyes, okay?" she smiled worriedly up at him. Titlting his head to the side and crinkling his eyes and eyebrows, he nodded and covered his eyes. Lucy waved her hand in front of his face before being satisfied that he wasn't looking out. She rushed out in her towel, holding it tight around her and headed into the linen closet, pulling out a towel and rushing back to him, feeling exposed. Turning around, she could've sworn she saw his fingers move back into place over his eyes, but that wasn't like Natsu. He didn't look at her like anything other than a friend. And neither did she. He was just insanely attractive.

"Hey, uh Luce, you there?" he asked behind his hands.

"Oh yeah, sorry, just had to find a towel," she muttered a little embarrassed she had stood there for so long. He reached out to grab the towel eyes closed, and she placed it in his outstretch hands. "'Kay, so I'll just finish getting changed. Meet in the living room?" She asked looking at the floor trying to make it to her room.

Natsu chuckled and she looked up indignant,"What?!"

"Just thinking..haha..about..ha.. you falling into..hahahaha..the fountain again." He said laughing hard again. Lucy stomped her foot and closed her eyes, embarrassed once again, and started off to her room again before turning and smacking into his chest and starting to topple over backwards, again, while flailing her arms and shrieking, again. But before she could fall this time, she was pulled to Natsu's strong chest, "told you you're clumsy," he whispered to her, looking down into her big, brown eyes. Natsu mentally shook his head and let her stand, "You okay?" she nodded and he reflected the motion, before turning around and heading to the bathroom wondering what just happened to his brain.

Lucy silently shrieked while running into her room and sliding down the door.

"What the hell was that?" They both asked themselves, before shaking off the feeling and finishing getting changed.

Lucy walked out to her living room and took a few calming breaths when she heard the bathroom door open.

"Hey, Luce?"

"Yeah?" She asked turning to face him.

"Why do you have a giant unicorn T-shirt that says 'I Shit Glitter'?"