Includes: Natsu/Lucy

Lucy POV

Freaks and Creeps

Part 1

.

.

.

I didn't want to be one of those people, I refused to be. It wasn't my place to assume and judge and think that I always had the right answer, but in all honesty I couldn't help it. It was out of concern, if that makes it any better, and seeing him every day and basically knowing what he was doing just made me really upset.

He smoked. I mean he had to, there was no other reason or explanation why he smelled like smoke every time I saw him. Smoking was terrible, it didn't make you a terrible person if you did, and I can understand why some people found comfort and solace in it, but it just never sat well with me. Habits are hard to break, especially bad ones at that, but didn't those drug seminars we were forced to see in school mean anything to people?

It was none of my business, I know. He was an adult, so was I, and he didn't need me, somecustomer breathing down his neck about what was right for him. It was unfair, and who knows why he began in the first place. Maybe someone close passed away or something awful like that, I couldn't really blame him right?

Though he was always a beam of sunshine when I saw him. It was always a part of the day I looked forward to when I got to step into that cafe, because I knew he would always be right there, standing behind that counter with the most bored expression you could imagine on a person. He always smiled at me though, and I always made myself squirmy by thinking he only smiled at customers like that when it was me.

His name was Natsu and he was honestly so nice. He was goofy and friendly and considering I always arrived at this addicting coffee shop when I was stressed and pissed from college work, him cheering me up always seemed to work better than the giant cup of caffeine I gulped down. He was…cute. In both and every way possible. His demeanor and aura and silly grin could all be marked down as the most adorable sight within a twenty mile radius.

It really bummed me out to think that someone as nice as him was poisoning himself like that. I mean, considering where I went to college, I can understand why some people wouldn't find this as such a big deal. We were different from the others, our bodies and minds were built to withstand and comprehend things that other humans couldn't, but it still didn't mean that inhaling all those toxic fumes wasn't dangerous. We were different, not immortal.

At least, I think most of us were.

The university I went to was sort of an unwritten safe haven for the freaks and creeps. We could do things others couldn't and a number more, and believe me, some of us were way past the age of being Frat boys.

We hid in plain sight, most of us being lucky enough to where we looked normal out the outside, and those who didn't had to make a special effort to think of a disease that caused hair to grow in odd places. It was okay though, there weren't any manhunts or riots or anything dangerous like that, though the stares that lasted a bit too long to those sensitive about themselves did cause some tension.

Other than that, everything was peachy! I was also one of those weirdo's; apparently being able to see and converse with cosmic beings wasn't something other people could do? I learned that pretty quick when I caught a mermaid taking a bubble bath in my bathroom when I was five.

And, I didn't mean ghosts when I said "cosmic beings", I meant literal celestial beings. Like from the universe, and others. (Yes, apparently there are others). They've lived since the beginning of time, so, needless to say, they told some pretty interesting stories.

Ironically, thanks to the fellows I've gotten to meet, I decided to major in astrophysics. It was interesting and I was curious to learn about what else our universe had to offer, on my own terms. I didn't want to offend the guys, but the way they explained things was way out of my comprehension, so I figured taking it slow along with the other humans was probably a better choice than having an existential crisis every Saturday night.

It was hard, lots of math, but also easy considering my inside help. I drained myself easily trying to explain all those theories and math equations, so that was when I went to the cafe to refuel. There were tons of coffee shops around campus actually, but I loved this specific one because I could actually drink their coffee.

I was lactose intolerant, (I suppose having cosmic abilities did come with a price), and so actually finding a cafe that offered a substitute for regular milk was like a prayer answered. Natsu worked there and I found myself liking the place more and more after every visit, so usually after every day I went and got a coffee to help keep myself awake to study for finals.

Sometimes if the place was quiet enough I would sit and do some work there before heading back to my dorm, and considering the walk there was almost half a mile after a day of running to and from classes, getting to sit for a minute was what I really needed.

I entered the cafe, the sun already set beyond the horizon and my legs begging for a break. I was just about to go home and maybe sleep for a decade, but I remembered at the last minute that I still had yet to start my black hole theory paper due by Friday. Deciding I was going to need some serious caffeine, I spun around and headed straight back to Direwood's Coffee and Tea.

As soon as I stepped in my eyes fell on the server that always seemed to be of the verge of death by boredom. He stood slumped over the counter, his cheek in his palm and his eyes just about to flutter shut, before he jerked them back open again and repeated the process. A few stray students hung out around the sofa's and tables, a quiet murmur drifting through the sweet air that left a cozy feeling inside of you; I guess it was a pretty slow day.

"Waiting for me?" I called out, catching his attention with a rather intense jerk of his body. He popped right up behind the counter and flicked his eyes towards me, a warm glow filling them at the sight.

Natsu smiled, that same smile that I already felt cheering me up, and gave a playful shrug. "More for my shift to end, but I guess you're the next best thing."

I felt a flattered tingle in my gut, but quirked an eyebrow at him in response, "Number two? And I thought we were closer than that, what a betrayal."

Amused by that, he leaned over the counter and gave me a challenging smirk, "Sorry 'bout that. Tell you what though, you can be my number one if you do one thing for me."

I waited for him to continue, slightly wary at his desperate demeanor.

"Order the hardest thing on the menu." he told me, as simple as that. I laughed and he shook his hands, his outlook completely serious, "Really! I'm dying here. Give me a challenge, please?"

The way his eyes seemed to grow twice as big when he pleaded nearly had me wanting to pinch his cheeks. "And my incessant needs for fake milk isn't a challenge enough?"

He shrugged, lackadaisical, "Nah, I've gotten used to it…"

He let those words drip off his tongue with a certain intimacy, and I think he recognized it at the last second. The rest of whatever he wanted to say drifted unspoken in the air, and I had no idea why I felt so privileged that he remembered my order every time I came in. It was actually pretty nice. We had really only known each other for a few weeks at the most, our conversations short and basic, so this really was the first time our talks went past three sentences.

"Well, I'll have my usual I suppose. Though you can add some cinnamon if you really need that 'challenge'." I joked.

Natsu grinned at me timidly, giving a quick scratch of his head and muttered a "yeah", before setting off to make it. I paid and got my coffee and headed back towards a table by the window. I pulled out my laptop and all my notes and decided that I could at least finish my outline before I headed back home. I got myself all situated before I even took a sip, and I think once I did I was more than surprised.

Almond milk. Not lacto-free? That was so weird, I thought they only served lacto-free here. I mean, I had asked for other flavors and substitutes before, but Natsu said that was all they carried here. Maybe they offered it now? If they did that would honestly be so great, because it really did taste so much better than before.

I stood up and went back over to Natsu doing something to a machine I couldn't see. I called out for him, "Hey?" he looked at me, "Did you guys start serving almond milk?"

Natsu's movements slowly halted, glancing down to the cup in my hand and back up to my eyes. He wiped his palms on his pants and I watched as his lips curled up into a sheepish smile, a faint shade of pink crossing over his nose and onto his cheeks. He turned to me like he had just been caught stealing cookies out of a jar.

"Well, you always ask if we have that type of milk, so I got some specially for you." he answered, scratching his nose to hide the obvious blush he had.

I stared at him, nearly speechless for a second, and laughed. "Really?"

He nodded at me meekly, trying so desperately to seem casual and careless about the utterly sweet manner, and I couldn't help but 'aw' out loud. I felt myself get all squirmy again, flattered beyond comprehension, and felt a blush of my own. I really couldn't believe he did that? Like he actually went out and bought me milk with his own money?Just for me?

What did I do to deserve this? That was literally the sweetest thing that's ever happened to me before, oh wow.

"That was so nice," I said, my voice getting all shrill and sappy like it did when I was overly happy.

Natsu only seemed to find this more embarrassing and grimaced, turning around with a cup to make himself busy and avoid my insufferably loving gaze. "It really wasn't anything, I was just at the store and I…thought of…"

He waved a hand to dismiss himself and the rest his statement. Me? He thought of me? I bit down on my lip to muffle my giant giddy grin and saw him come back up at my silence. I couldn't help it, if I opened my mouth then I knew I would laugh at him. Well, not at him, but you know. It was so sweet I couldn't help but want to laugh.

"Thank you." I said, after a moment of composure. I leaned on the counter towards him and I saw something flicker in his eyes that I couldn't decipher. "Really."

He shuffled in his place, seeming a bit restless, and finally let loose the dorkiest, cheekiest, most crooked grin I had seen on him yet. He scratched his nose again, shrugging a careless shoulder. "No problem."

Natsu had taken an unconscious step forward at that, and I felt his smoky scent waft up into my senses. My spirits felt a bit discouraged as I remember the habit I was sure he had. He smoked. He had to, there was no way his scent could be so strong if he didn't do it as often as I thought he did. I mean, I liked it. I liked how he smelled, it was mixed between something earthy and sweet and I admired it, but I didn't like the idea of someone as nice as him killing himself like that.

I pondered on whether I should mention it. I constantly told myself that it was none of my business, but I actually liked him! It was out of concern, he was a friend and I didn't want him to get sick like he inevitably would. I would feel so terrible if something happened to him just because I didn't warn him in enough time.

But…tonight was such a nice night. He was super sweet and I didn't really want to nag him about his life choices after he went out and did that gesture for me. Maybe I could do it later. Tomorrow maybe?

"Are you going to say something?" Natsu's voice slipped back into my mind, dragging me back into reality.

He was staring at me expectantly, and I realized then I must've been on the verge of spilling my guts out about the diseases smoking caused. I smiled at him despite, and lightly shook my head. "No, just uh, thanks. I think I'll work for a bit and head home for tonight."

He nodded at me, casually, and I went back to go work on my paper. I didn't get very far on it, another rush of people came in and finally gave Natsu that challenge he had been looking for, and I for some reason found him working much more interesting than what the inside of a black hole could be.

Deciding if I wanted any actual work done, I packed up my stuff to go back to my dorm. I strung my bag over my shoulder and headed for the door, catching a last second glance from Natsu. I waved at him and smiled, and he merely nodded at me, now noticing how both his hands were full at the moment. He grinned though, crooked and childishly, and all I could really wonder at that moment was why I suddenly felt so happy whenever I saw it. It was like pure sunshine.

Sounded like a question I might have to save for my cosmic friends. God knows my brain will never be able to comprehend it. Maybe theirs can.

.

.

.

This is basically a Monster University series, the POV's and certain characters will vary every chapter. Some storylines are connected, some aren't, some don't really have any plot lines at all and are just fun drabbles :)

I have an overwhelming love for the supernatural so this is very satisfying for me, I hope it is for you too :D