Ch. 2- A Crush
Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima
Story and OCs © Me
Later on, Natsu and Lucy arrived at the guild... or rather, the guild construction site since it was still in the middle of being rebuilt. There, they saw everyone sitting around on the makeshift tables that Mirajane and Elfman had set up, just so the members could hang out. Erza was no longer supervising construction (to the others' relief), and Gray was seen sitting with Haru and Blue Fang, again while Happy sat at the table, eating yet another raw fish. Elektra sat at another table nearby, her arm and leg still in casts, but smiling happily, nonetheless.
All in all, everyone was just doing their own thing, as always. It was almost as if the guild was never destroyed.
"Hey, there they are!" Haru exclaimed as she noticed Natsu and Lucy approach. "Hey, guys!"
"Hey," Lucy greeted as she sat down on the table. "Hey, Mira, can I get some toasted bread or something? I didn't eat breakfast this morning."
"Sure thing, Lucy!" Mira answered.
"Wait, you didn't eat breakfast?" Gray asked. "Why?"
"Are you on a diet or something?" asked Happy. "You could really use it, considering how heavy you are- OW!"
"Be nice!" Haru chided as she pinched the cat's ear, again.
"I didn't eat breakfast because all my food is gone," Lucy said with an irritated look on her face, "thanks to a certain somebody."
"...Who?" Natsu asked, dimly. "Gray?"
"I'm right here, you idiot!" Gray barked while Haru groaned.
"Okay, Lucy, what did my brother do, this time?" asked the Beast Wizard.
"Well, since you asked," Lucy began, "I wake up this morning, getting ready to make myself a nice simple breakfast of eggs and toast, but instead, all my food has disappeared! Where'd it go?" She jabs her thumb over her shoulder at the Fire Dragon Slayer behind her. "Inside Natsu's greedy gut!"
"Natsu, are you serious?" Erza asked with a glare.
"For the last time, I left her a PUDDING CUP!" Natsu argued. "Mavis above, stop acting like it's the end of the freakin' world!"
"Natsu, you still ate all my food!" Lucy argued. "You can't just come into my apartment whenever you want and act like you own the place! I'm lucky that my landlady hasn't complained about you, yet!"
"What's the big deal?!" Natsu asked. "Haru gets to come over whenever she wants!"
"I actually ask permission to be there before I go in!" Haru countered. "And I don't eat everything Lucy owns, unlike you, you bottomless pit!"
"Whatever," Natsu muttered as he sat down next to Lucy, who promptly sneered at him before she scooted away... and he scooted closer, causing her to scoot away further, and yet he still insisted on getting closer, causing Lucy to groan as she got up and walked to a different table and sat there... but once again, he was there, much to her growing ire.
"Okay, Natsu, will you stop?!" Lucy asked.
"Stop what?" Natsu asked with this cheeky grin. "I'm not doin' anything!"
"Yes, you are!" Lucy argued. "You're being a pest!"
"Am not," Natsu countered.
"Are too!"
"Am not."
"Are too!"
"Are too."
"Are not! D'OH!"
Natsu laughed while Lucy groaned in further irritation as she dragged her hand down her face... and all the while, Haru's eyes went wide at the display, and even Blue Fang and Happy were gaping in disbelief. As for Elektra, she could only cover her mouth with her good hand in an attempt to stifle a chuckle with a knowing gleam in her eyes.
"Here you go, Lucy," Mira said as she put down a plate of toast and a couple of fried eggs as well as a glass of water. "Enjoy!"
"Thanks, Mira," Lucy said as she took a bite out of the toasted bread and her eggs... but as she ate, she suddenly felt a slight tug on her side ponytail, causing her to glare up at Natsu in annoyance. "Did you seriously just pull my hair?!"
"What?" Natsu asked as he still had that same cheeky little grin on his face like he had done nothing wrong. "I'm just playing with your hair."
"OKAY, THAT'S IT!" Lucy shouted as she shot up to her feet, startling the young Salamander. "Natsu, you are so insufferable, right now!"
"Thanks!" Natsu replied.
"That's NOT a compliment!" Lucy shouted before she stormed away. "That's it, forget it! I'm going on a job!"
"Ooh, I'll go with ya!" Natsu exclaimed as he prepared to follow her.
"NO!" Lucy yelled, causing him to jump back. "Forget it, Natsu! I need a Natsu-Free Day! AWAY FROM YOU!" With that, she turned and stomped to the job board before she grabbed a couple of requests (since she needed extra to buy groceries), then prepared to head off.
"Lucy, hang on!" Erza called as she followed her. "I'll go with you. I don't think it's safe for you to be off on your own, even though the war with Phantom Lord is over. Besides, I need to make a bit of money, myself."
"Sure, Erza," Lucy replied. "Anybody's fine as long as it isn't Natsu. I just can't with him!"
As they left, Natsu found himself staring after Lucy... feeling his stomach doing that annoying squirming again, followed by his heart pounding.
"So... you mind telling us what that was all about?"
"Huh?" Natsu muttered as he turned around to face his younger sister, who had sat down beside him. "What do you mean?"
"I'm talking about how you were teasing Lucy!" Haru answered. "What was that about?"
"I wasn't teasing her!" Natsu retorted. "I was just provoking her and making fun of her in a playful way!"
"...What you just described is teasing," Haru pointed out.
"Well... it's not it's my fault!" Natsu argued. "She started it!"
"What do you mean, she started it?" Happy asked as he flew over.
"I mean... whenever I look at her, my stomach feels all weird!" Natsu answered. "And then my heart starts beatin' like crazy and... my face gets all warm! Hell, it happens whenever I actually start to think about her and... why are you lookin' at me like that, sis?"
Haru's eyes were wide and her mouth was gaping open... before she snorted, and even Happy was snickering as he covered his mouth with his paws.
"What's so funny?" Natsu asked in an annoyed tone.
"You liiiiiike her~!" Happy exclaimed.
"What?" Natsu asked. "Of course, I like her! She's my friend!"
"No," Haru said. "He means... you have a crush on her!"
Almost instantly, it was like all of time had slowed to a stop for Natsu. His eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and his brow twitched... and his cheeks turned just about the same shade of pink as his hair, if not pinker.
"Oh, my gosh, look at your face!" Haru exclaimed. "Oh, my god, I thought you might have been attracted to her, but I didn't believe it until now!"
"Sh-shut up!" Natsu spat.
"What's goin' on?" Gray asked as he walked over.
"Natsu has a crush on Lucy!" Happy exclaimed.
"No, I don't!" Natsu shouted.
"Wait... are you for real?!" Gray asked before a big, shit-eating grin on his face. "Oh, my god, I knew it!" He then turned to everyone else. "HEY, EVERYONE! LISTEN TO THIS!"
"NO! SHUT UP!" Natsu shouted as he tried to cover the Ice-Make Wizard's mouth, only for Gray to pull his arms away.
"NATSU HAS A CRUSH ON LUCY!"
Everyone in the vicinity stopped whatever they were doing and stared at Gray upon hearing his announcement... before they all burst into laughter, to Natsu's further embarrassment.
"Pay up, chumps!" Cana exclaimed as she held her hand out to Jet and Droy.
"Dammit!" Droy cursed as he and Jet handed her some money.
"Aww, Natsu, that is so cute!" said Mirajane.
"Aww, look at his little blush~!" Elektra added in that usual fawning motherly tone.
"Shut it~!" Natsu complained as he covered his head. "I do NOT have a crush on Lucy!"
"Then why are blushing so much?" Haru asked. "Face it! You're crushing on her bad!"
"I am not!" Natsu yelled.
"The fact that you're so quick to deny it only proves our point, man!" Gray said while holding his stomach in laughter along with everyone else, and even Blue Fang seemed to be laughing!
"Natsu and Lucy, sitting in a tree!" Happy sang. "K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"
"Will you guys just leave me alone?!" Natsu questioned as he covered his ears.
"Oh, come on, Natsu!" Haru said. "You gotta admit, it is kinda funny!" She then gasped. "Oh, man, can you imagine if Lisanna were still here?! Imagine the look on her face if she ever-"
"WILL YOU SHUT UP?!" Natsu yelled as he got in her face, nostrils flaring, eyes glowing red, and fangs bare as he seethed angrily, flames seeping out of his clenched teeth... and the whole area fell silent, all eyes on the Fire Dragon Slayer as he glowered down at his sister, who stared at him with wide, glassy eyes... which slowly began to well up with tears, causing Natsu's expression to soften as the realization slowly began to dawn on him.
"Uh..." he muttered. "H-Haru, I-"
"Forget it," Haru interjected in a slightly breaking voice as she got up and walked away, with Blue Fang whimpering worriedly as he followed after her.
"Haru, wait!" Natsu called as he reached out after her, but she was already too far away... and not long after, Gray slapped him in the back of his head, giving him a disapproving glare. "Ow!"
"Nice goin', man," he said before he hurried after Haru. "Hey, Haru, wait up!"
"Oh, dear..." Elektra muttered while Cana sighed before she chugged down her barrel of wine.
"Natsu, why did you do that?" Happy asked, sadly. "Haru wasn't being mean."
"Well... I mean... she... it's just...!" Natsu stammered, trying to find the words to say... but then, out of nowhere, a hand placed itself on his shoulder, causing the Salamander to glance back and see Elfman towering over him while not too far away, Mirajane had a sad, disappointed look on her face.
"Natsu," said Elfman. "You and I need to have a man-to-man talk."
Uh-oh...!