A/N: HOLY TOLEDO I LOVE NALU WEEK! I'm super-hyped! There have been some amazing stories coming out!

And so, here is my next installment. The prompt today is: STRANGER.

If you read my work, you know I don't like sticking to the most obvious definition of the prompt. I like thinking outside the box. Unfortunately, I couldn't decide which direction to take - so you get 2 one shots today!

Lemme know what you think, okay?


STRANGER

Story #1


"Anchovy and chicken pizza!" Droy called out, downing an entire piece.

"Some would argue that's not unusual," Mira argued, "You'll have to do better than that! No point for you! Jellal - you're up!"

Droy's shoulders dropped, but he backed away from the table to let Jellal take the spotlight.

"I'm out too! I was going to put vinegar on my strawberry shortcake," he cast an anxious glance over his shoulder to see where Erza was, "But I'm a little worried about the repercussions of wasting good cake that way."

The participants nodded their agreement, patting Jellal on the back for making it this far.

"It's down to Natsu, Gray, and Gajeel!" Mira announced to the watching guild, "Who will emerge victorious?"

"It'll be me!" Gajeel bragged, "I have an iron stomach!"

"Shut up, Metalbreath!" Natsu warned, "Iron stomach be damned! I've got a fire in my belly!"

"Okay! You know the rules!" Cana interrupted, laying out 3 shots of fire whiskey for each player, "Down the contents, then call out your next combination!"

"I can't watch," Lucy whined as she put her head down on the counter.

Mira patted her head supportively. She could hear the empty shot glasses go down one by one. In addition to putting repulsive things in their stomachs, each man was ridiculously drunk.

"PIEROGI AND PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH!" Natsu announced, "WITH AN OLIVE ON TOP!"

He plugged his nose, downing the delectable (and possibly deplorable) treat in a single bite.

"PICKLED PLUMS!" Gray retorted.

He took a large one from jar in front of him, eating it slowly like an apple without flinching...until the taste began to register. Wendy fought the urge to throw up as his lips puckered and he gasped for air.

"Deviled eggs!" Gajeel said calmly, his eyebrows furrowed in determination.

"What's so bad about that?" Elfman demanded, "Real men like devilled eggs."

Gajeel held up his finger, signifying he wasn't done with his announcement, "Devilled eggs...that have been left out on the counter for 3 days!"

The entire guild let out a collective, "Ewwwwwww!"

Gajeel held the egg up like a trophy, then put his head back, swallowing the egg whole.

Natsu chuckled when he turned green, "Whatsa matter, Iron Breath? Is your iron stomach corroding?"

Gajeel couldn't answer as he bee lined for the bathroom, Levy on his heels.

"You and me, Fire-for-Brains," Gray chided.

He waited for the shots to be poured out, downed his 3, then picked up a jalapeno. He dipped it in yogurt, "Bottoms up!"

Natsu growled as he reached for a piece of raw chicken and rolled it in blueberry jam. The crowd ooohed as he lifted it to his mouth, everyone leaning forward in enthralled anticipation.


Lucy had Natsu's arm around her shoulders, half-dragging him down the street. He could barely stand up under his own power. He was ridiculously heavy and she was, once again, thankful for the extra crunches Erza had had her doing recently.

"Luce...I feel so gross."

"I wonder why," Lucy lamented as she rolled her eyes, "Seriously, Natsu...what are you trying to prove?"

"I won, didn't I?"

He groaned, his stomach lurching. Lucy stood back as he hurled in some bushes. He emerged, wiping his mouth. His face was flushed, indicating that he would be sick for awhile yet.

"That's not the point," Lucy sighed, "You know what the outcome will be, so why do you do it?"

"I have to," Natsu insisted, heading back to her arms. As soon as she had him supported, he resumed dragging his feet, letting her do most of the work of getting him back to her apartment, "I can't just let them win."

"You could, you know," she smirked, "It's very simple...you just say no."

She paused at the bottom of the stairs, knowing she wouldn't be able to drag him up there.

"Natsu...can you get up the stairs on your own?"

He shook his head, the next wave of nauseousness overtaking him, "Nope… you'll have to carry me."

"I can't carry you, Natsu. You either have to do it yourself or sleep under the stairs."

He groaned as she let him go, doubling over to his knees. His attempt to climb the stairs was pathetic. One arm grabbed the stair above, then he slowly heaved his body to the next. She sighed, debating how much he actually deserved her mercy. He was both drunk and sick to his stomach - it was entirely his doing!

Still, the soft spot she held for Natsu won out.

"Open - Gate of the Golden Bull - Taurus!"

There was a ding-dong before the perverted bull appeared.

"Miss Luuuuuucy! You haven't call in quite awhile! I almost forgot how moooooooovelous your body is!"

Lucy face-palmed, "Yeah. Okay, Taurus. Can you help me take Natsu up to my room please?"

Taurus picked her up instead, "I'll moooove you there first!"

Natsu groaned, his stomach heaving again.

"Just take Natsu!" she ordered, "Before he chucks all over the stairs! The landlady will make me pay extra to clean up the mess!"

Taurus threw Natsu none-too-gently over his shoulder and took the steps two at a time, even with both Natsu and Lucy hanging off him.

"Gee, Miss Luuuuuucy - I haven't been in your bedroooom before!"

He unceremoniously dumped both Natsu and Lucy on the bed. Natsu landed directly on top of Lucy, making them both grunt with the impact.

"Thanks Taurus! We'll see you next time!" Lucy snapped, closing the gate before he had the chance to make the situation even more awkward.

Taurus disappeared, leaving Lucy alone with her sick Dragon Slayer.

"Natsu," Lucy huffed, "Get off me."

"You're comfy," he murmured, "You make a really good mattress."

She beat on his shoulders lightly, "Yeah, and I don't want you to spew on me OR my mattress! Get off the bed! I'll make you a bed on the floor."

"Luce?" Natsu asked. His voice was muffled from being buried between her shoulder and the bed. He had no intention of moving...and she knew it, "I'm never going to go in an eating contest with them again. I feel so gross."

Lucy sighed, resigned to the fact that she was going to be there for awhile. He wasn't going to move on his own.

"That will last until the next contest," Lucy replied, "And then your resolve will dissolve and you'll be back in this position by sundown. We've been best friends long enough that I know how this works."

"I really mean it this time," Natsu whimpered.

She stroked his hair, her resolve to be hard on him to prevent a future occurrence waning, "I know, Natsu. And maybe this time you'll follow through."

"Don't know why you put with me," he murmured, "But you're here every single time. You never let me suffer more than I have to."

She was pretty sure he'd drifted off into an unsettled sleep. She stayed where she was, partly because she couldn't move if she tried. Nonetheless, he startled her when he spoke to her out of the blue.

"I love you, Luce."

She froze, "That's the alcohol talking, Natsu."

"Uh uh," he denied, "Nobody else would do everything you do for me. You love me too, right?"

She sighed. There was no point in denying it to him. He was drunk and he wouldn't remember in the morning anyway.

"Yeah, Natsu...I'm in love with you too."

She paused, stunned at the words. She DID love him. She'd known that for awhile...but it was possible she was also in love with Natsu.

Did she really mean that?

She thought back to all the times he had saved her, looked for her approval, and sacrificed for her. In a way, he was the last person she thought she would end up with.

She sighed contentedly, setting into his arms for the night.

In love with Natsu…

Well...stranger things have happened...


STRANGER

Story #2

(unrelated to the story above)


Lucy's face was a deep crimson as she tried to skirt the outsides of the guild room without being seen.

It was a futile attempt, however, especially when Macao's eyes bugged out of his head. He pointed, letting out a shocked, "DAMN!"

Of course, that turned heads toward her immediately. She had the attention of the entire guild now...and so the grilling began.

"How come you're wearing the library curtain, Lucy?"

"Where are your clothes, Lucy?"

"Did Natsu do this to you? That moron! Come here! You can use my shirt to cover up!"

"I'm good!" Lucy assured them, edging her way to the doors. She pushed on them, fleeing the guild hall without looking back.

"I suppose someone should make sure she gets home safely," Gray lamented, standing up as he swigged the last of his beer.

He was immediately pulled back into his seat by Juvia, darts flying from her eyes as she too watched Lucy scuttle down the dirt path in front of the guild through the wide open door.

"It doesn't need to be you!" she seethed, then caught herself as she caught a second figure racing through the guild, "Stay here, Beloved! Natsu will go after her!"

All eyes turned back to the Dragon Slayer, who stalked through the crowd wearing the other library curtain. He slammed the guild doors shut behind him, preventing his nakama from gawking further.

"There's a story there," Cana laughed, chugging back the last of her keg, "Natsu probably burned all their clothes off again. I can't wait to hear what that was all about."

"I'm sure we'll hear it tomorrow," Mira assured her as she retrieved a new barrel for her friend.

"For someone that's always calling her the weirdo, he's just as bad!" Gajeel roared with laughter.

Levy sighed, still watching the closed door. She hoped her friend would be okay.

"He is just as bad," she agreed, returning her attention to the card game she was playing with Gajeel, Gray and Juvia, "Perhaps even a little stranger."


A/N: And that's it for today! I do hope I kept you entertained for a little while!

Please be sure to check out Wordsaremyspells 1331, MorriganFae, and Professor of Gallifrey! Wordsaremyspells1331 is writing a large story with all the prompts involved - it's called Evermore! Look for it!

See you tomorrow for Prompt # 3 - LOST

Just sayin'...it's my favourite so far.

~Shana~