Lucy sighed after reaching inside her apartment as she closed the main door behind her. Even though she had only been gone for thirty to forty minutes, she was really exhausted. The team had just returned from a week long mission today in the morning, Lucy had planned on relaxing for the rest of the day and maybe she would occassionally write a few pages of her due novel. Yeah, that's pretty much what she had wanted to do but unfortunately, the blonde had totally forgotten about emptiness of her big fridge. Thanks to a certain dragon slayer and his cat!
So the tired girl hadn't stopped by her home, choosing to go straight to the market. Had she somehow got inside to even leave the extra bag, her fatigue certainly wouldn't have let her go anywhere except to her bed. And Lucy possibly couldn't starve till tomorrow. But now, finally, she was back home and was about to get some much needed alone time. The key mage had warned Natsu and Happy, they better not barge in today.
Lucy shook her head off the thoughts and set down her grocery bags on the kitchen table, eventually taking the stuff out and putting them in the frigde.Then she made her way to her bedroom. The blonde wanted to take a bath first, she was all sweaty and she could use the scented bath bombs that Cana had gifted her! Lucy felt excited like a little girl. Age is just a number anyways right?
When the stellar mage opened the door to her room, she was greeted with the sight of an asleep dragon slayer. He lay on the floor, leaning his back against the wooden bedframe. Huh, he would never not break into her house, considering he slept in her bed almost everyday. It was quite funny that Lucy had actually expected Natsu to not visit her, even if it was for a singel day. It was vain to protest at all, which Lucy had nearly stopped doing anyways, after all those years of knowing him.
The blonde slowly walked over to the pinkette, crouching down in front of him. Honestly, he could sleep on the bed like always. Not that it would be something new. Lucy could hear his light snores and the sound of his peaceful breathing. She couldn't help but smile at the whole situation. She closely took in all his features, Natsu looked really cute while sleeping. Though she would never say that aloud! The stellar mage traced her shapely fingers along his cheeks, she stiffled a laugh when his face scrunched up a bit at the sudden contact but then he relaxed into her touch. He made a whining sound when she withdrew her hand.
"Aww...he's such a baby," she said to none in particular.
Lucy was indeed lucky that she got to see this side of Natsu after a long while. But for some reasons the fire mage was alone, the girl couldn't find Happy there. She figured she would ask the boy once he woke up and opted to let him sleep till she finished taking her bath. Lucy grabbed a tank top and shorts from the wardrobe and padded to the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
At the sound of the bathroom door closing, Natsu's eyes snapped open instinctively but he instantly relaxed when he recognised the familiar scent of his partner. He heard her hum a tune in the bathroom and smiled to himself. He hadn't planned on falling asleep but it was natural since he was extremely tired from the heavy work on job. And now, his stomach rumbled in hunger. The pinkette eventually got on his feet and made his out of the room, towards the kitchen.
"Food, here I come!"
Opening the fridge, a smile stretched across the dragon slayer's face. Lucy had a lots of delicious stuff! But before he touched any food, he remembered that Lucy was upset with him. He had yet again destroyed a huge amount of property during their mission and as usual, their reward had been reduced by the client. She hadn't talked to him the entire way back, only warning him and Happy to not disturb her for the rest of the day before going her own way.
Although Natsu had at first decided to give her some space till she cooled down but he soon figured how uncomfortable it made him when she wasn't nearby. So Natsu had made his way to the familiar Strawberry Street after some time, only to find her apartment empty. Waiting was the only option!
As weird as it was, Natsu was incapable of spending much time without seeing Lucy. He had never been like that with anyone else and it was... embarassing, kind of. It made him restless whenever she was away. At some point, Natsu had started sneaking into her bed at nights at a regular basis, because of how edgy he had started getting without her. Not that he had actively tried to fight that, since Lucy grew accustomed to his actions after some days of kicking him out in the morning, followed by loud yells. Nowadays, he and Happy rarely spent nights at their cottage.
Which was good for him because now he, as well as Happy had a free access to Lucy's house without her getting mad. But she was mad at him right now and naturally she wouldn't talk to him or even let him hold her at night. Which was a torture for Natsu, he groaned at the thought. The pinkette needed to convince her soon into forgiving him.
Natsu's face lit up when an idea popped into his brain, pancakes! Yeah he could make her some pancakes and probably she would forget about earlier. The boy felt like a literal genius. Even though Natsu Dragneel was horrible at cooking, he wasn't that bad. The dragon slayer was confident that he would do just fine, he had made pancakes earlier. With his favorite blonde so he was knowledgable about how she wanted them to be made. Yeah, pretty much.
The boy excitedly grabbed eggs, milk, cream and butter from the fridge and flour, salt and baking powder from the cabinets. He quickly set the pan on the stove and heated it with some butter on it. Natsu wanted to finish before Lucy came out so he could surprise her, also hoping to not mess up anything since that would only make the situation worse.
Lucy sighed in relief as she emerged from the bathroom, only to find her favorite dragon slayer missing. Did he leave? Lucy almost felt disappointed before she heard some noise, coming from her kitchen. It was undoubtedly him and the blonde rolled her eyes in both amusement and disbelief. She had just brought the groceries and he was already down to finishing it. Lucy smirked when an evil plan formed inside her head, what if she just scared him from behind. He always did that to her whenever he got the chance and now he was busy emptying her dear fridge so Lucy deserved to have some revenge. He might have kin senses but he was much distracted while eating. She could at least try once!
Lucy ever so slowly strolled to the kitchen and peeked from behind the wall separating the dining room. Her brown orbs widened at the sight before her, the prank plan long forgotten. There, Natsu was, mixing what seemed to be pancake batter in a bowl and he had droplets of it on his face. He was... making pancakes? Lucy almost laughed out loud when the dragon slayer tsked for some reason, he looked annoyed. Most probably the batter wasn't good enough. Poor boy!
Lucy contemplated on whether she should go to him or wait till he finished. But ultimately she made herself comfortable on her heavenly couch, not even turning on the TV lacrima, thinking that might disturb him. He was a bad cook, and honestly, the stellar mage was afraid to leave him alone in there but he seemed so determined... she couldn't bring herself to bother him. She was willing to wait this time.
After a while, Natsu exited the kitchen with a sad face only to be surprised himself, seeing the blonde sleeping on the couch. So she had seen him making pancakes, huh, it had taken him longer than he had thought. Being to busy, the fire mage hadn't even smelt his partner. Natsu smiled down at her sleeping form as he went to carry her. Naturally, she was tired too like him. Just when he was about to, Lucy woke up and glanced at him hovering above her. Her face instantly flushed and she gradually sat up, the pinkette took the place beside her.
"Did your pancakes go well?" Lucy teased. Natsu was glad that she didn't seem angry at him but he dejectedly replied, "uh no, they turned out not so well..." It almost made Lucy feel guilty as she smiled and gently squeezed his shoulder, "It's fine. You'll get better eventually! And I have some canned food if you don't feel like eating the cakes anymo-" "No, that's not... I-I had made them for you."
Lucy stared at him for a moment before finally speaking up, "For me?" Natsu nodded. "You were mad at me for what I did on the mission, I'm sorry. I promise to try my best next time... I know I can. I didn't even burn down your kitchen!" He said. Lucy only blinked a few times before giggling, she had really forgotten about that. "You're a dummy Natsu, but thanks, now shall we go and eat the pancakes?"
Surprisingly, the pancakes were better than how Natsu said to her. Yeah, they had turned out a bit flimsy but nowhere near bad. He was worth appreciation. "You know, you did pretty good since it was your first time alone." She smiled, placing the dishes in the sink and the pinkette's cheeks tinted pink. A blushing Natsu was rare!
"Thanks... you're not mad at me Luce, are you?" He asked and she instantly shook her head, "I promise I'm not." Finally, he smiled back as he joined her in her work. It was always more fun when they did something together.
After they finished doing the dishes, Lucy slumped on her bed, so did Natsu. He looked at her as she laid beside him, glancing up at the ceiling, lost in thoughts. "Lucy?" "Hmm?" She turned his way. He patted his lap, "rest your head here. You always do that when I'm sick right? Since you're tired from the job, let me put you to sleep today." He suggested and the blonde visibly turned red. "Umm, it's fine Natsu. You're tired too." She reasoned and he shook his head. "Not more than you though, I've got more energy!" He laughed, earning a smack on his head.
"Shut up!" Lucy pouted, hmphing as she looked away from him. Natsu sat upright and used the opportunity to pull her by the arm so her head landed on his lap, the blonde squeaked at the sudden pull and peered up at him with a perplexedly. "Natsu!" "Just relax and close your eyes weirdo," he pretty much ordered her. Lucy rolled eyes at him before closing them, easing into his body. Fine, she would listen to him after all. But it was real nice to see him being so caring.
"Where's Happy?" Lucy asked.
"Where do you think he's?" And Lucy giggled, "At Wendy's hmm?" "Aye sir, right answer!" Natsu grinned. Her hair was one of his favorite features and he ran his long fingers through her silky blonde locks, just like she did to him when he needed. Lucy hummed and sighed in bliss, making the pinekette feel proud. He gently massaged her scalp and rubbed soothing circles onto it, adding to the pleasure and coaxing the blonde to a peaceful sleep.
"Natsu?" Lucy called.
"Yep?" But he continued his ministrations.
"Thanks, for everything..." the blonde muttered before drifting off to sleep.
The dragon slayer smiled in response.
He could try being the caring type more often. Yeah, he definitely would.
