yoooo its 2 am lmao and I'm monkeying around
I should go to bed after this but I wanna write some more eep
Lucy never thought she would have to hide a relationship from the people she cared about. Part of her knew that someday her father would attempt to introduce her to a son of one of his colleagues, and she hadn't found anyone on her own at that point. It didn't seem like the worst option available. If the guy was a jerk, she could just kick him where the sun didn't shine and leave. As Capricorn so lovingly taught her.
When she saw Natsu for the first time, she had to talk herself off a ledge.
He was hot, in a bad way. The way his eyes happened to catch her, his smirk spreading on his lips when they first walked past each other, was bad.
He was the least ideal candidate for her, because everyone knew who he was without having to ask. It would float by whenever girls were fawning over him.
Natsu Dragneel, son of Igneel Dragneel, one of the most notorious 'business men' in Fiore. No one could prove that they really operated a mafia family, not even the police on a lucky day.
And plus, he just gave off the aura of a guy who you knew your parents wouldn't want to meet.
The Heartfilia Konzern couldn't affiliate itself with such a seedy company, so she looked onward. Even as Natsu continued to tease her with his gaze from afar.
They got to know each other in minimally invasive ways during their first year of high school, Natsu bothering her whenever he had the chance. Between classes, at lunch, after school before she was picked up. Lucy was always direct, scowling and telling him to screw off. While silently finding her stomach in knots in his presence.
Lucy didn't know how he ended up with her phone number, but was she really surprised? He probably had an updated booklet of whoever came in and out of that school.
He started with good mornings and good nights, Lucy refusing to respond for the first few days. He dorkingly sent messages about how cute she looked as she passed him in the hall. He sent texts like;
You should wear your hair in a ponytail more often. I like seeing the back of your neck.
I wanted to hold your hand and walk you to class today, but I know you would've just slapped me.
Your lunch looks really good, you should cook for me sometime.
If you bent over just a little more, Dan would've seen your panties. I'll have a talk with him about staring at my girl.
I hope you don't mind me saying it, but you're definitely mine, Luce.
She frustratingly slapped her phone onto her pillow every night, knowing he could see that she read those messages. And one night, he called her after she accidentally read his good night text as soon as he sent it.
"Can't sleep? It's already almost midnight,"
"I like to stay up on Friday nights, not that it's any of your business."
He chuckled, his voice deeper over the phone than she would've thought.
"You doing anything? I can pick you up if you're bored."
"P-Pick me up? We're not even old enough to drive. And I don't see why I'd leave my house with you in the middle of the night."
"Oh, come on, I learned how to drive ages ago. And I wouldn't invite you out if I knew it was unsafe. Just once, hm? I want you to trust me a little."
"I don't even know you," She mumbled with a nervous pout, twisting her hair as she felt those knots in her stomach. "Why should I trust you?"
"We have to start somewhere, now don't we? I'm practically beggin' here, Luce. I just want to see you."
She paused, wondering for a moment if he was actually being genuine. She never thought that he could be a genuine person, especially with the rumors surrounding him. The good-looking son of a mafia don could have whoever he wanted, even without asking.
Girls at school liked to gossip; there was no way he didn't have women around town waiting at his beck and call. But it wasn't like anyone really knew what or who he did during his free time. It was unfair to make these assumptions just because of his family's business. That plus her own family business…she didn't know how to make this decision.
"I assume you know where I live…I can meet you outside in ten minutes?"
"I'll be right there,"
She could almost hear him smiling on the other end, her heart flipping as her brain tried to convince her otherwise.
He was bad news, not the kind of guy she should be getting mixed up with. But he wanted to see her. He was asking to see her, not anyone else. And if she had the guts to ask, she could about the rumors. Or maybe he'd offer up that information himself.
Tonight she wouldn't force herself to make a decision, but to get to know him, just a little bit more.
He rode up on her street on a motorcycle, flipping his helmet open to grin and hand one for herself. She grunted and begrudgingly put it on, thinking that he would've shown up in a car. Of course not.
She was glad to have chosen a pair of jeans, swinging herself on to sit behind him, holding her arms tight around his torso.
"Just close your eyes if you get scared."
She nodded and carefully laid her head against his back, listening to the hum of his bike as they took off.
Cana would surely flip, there was just no way she was doing this right now. Sitting on the back of Natsu Dragneel's bike, going god knows where. Lucy was trusting him to not take her into some alleyway where she'd never see the night of day again. She was trusting that he could be this genuine person and not a supposed criminal. She was trusting that maybe he really did like her, as much as she refused to admit her miniscule feelings for him.
He took her to a park with a bridge that overlooked the river that flowed through the opposite end of town. There were lights strung around, reflecting off the water, making it an utterly too ideal place to have a midnight date.
She couldn't focus so much on the beauty when Natsu was standing so close to her. So close that his elbow was poking against hers.
"I'd like it if you could look me in the eye," He chuckled, leaning into her line of sight as he waved a hand. "I know I said I just wanted to see you, but I would like to talk to you too."
"What do we even have to talk about?" She half-laughed, hoping her heart would calm down as she turned to look at his cheeky grin.
"I heard from some people that you like reading," He rested his hand under his chin and sighed. "So tell me about that."
She snuck out a few more times, on random Friday nights when the sound of his bike's engine unfortunately became very recognizable.
When their first year ended, he wanted to hang out all the time. And she was scared to even have the thought of wanting to spend time with him.
Because he wasn't supposed to be this kind or this cute. He had a life that he couldn't share with her, a life that he probably wouldn't be able to share with anyone outside of it.
It didn't feel like that, sometimes, since Natsu was such a happy-go-lucky person whenever they were together. He didn't seem like this dark and dangerous being that she knew she should probably be afraid of.
Not even when he knocked someone out right in front of her.
They usually hung out at night, when Natsu could get away from his life for a moment to see her. It worked out for them both, since Lucy also couldn't risk being seen with him. Even if they were just friends.
She was warming to the gesture of having her hand held and his jacket on her shoulders. They would talk about school and summer homework, food, movies, and other random things.
He was so easy to talk to and they ended up connecting in a way she hadn't experienced before, even with her friends.
Part of her was starting to wonder if he would ever get around to asking her out instead of jokingly labeling her as 'his girl'.
His voice was smooth and comforting, matching the subtle breeze that indulged the park.
Lucy leaned against the wide berth of a tree, pinned down by Natsu's allured gaze.
"Let me grab you something to drink. It's getting kind of warm out, don't you think?"
"I guess," Her pouts at this point were for show, but he didn't seem to mind.
"Wait right here, okay? I'll be right back," His smirk crumbled her wall of rationality day by day, Lucy nodding as he walked over to the nearby vending machines.
She closed her eyes and sighed, pulling the ends of his jacket closer to her; it wasn't warm at all that night. Pointing out her persistent blush and warmed cheeks made her want to kick him just a little bit.
Lucy listened to the quiet hum of the crickets chirping, the slight rustle of the leaves accompanying. There was a nearby crunching of grass under someone's shoes, an involuntary smile spreading on her lips.
"What'd you pick ou—"
"Hey, cutie," She flinched at the sickly sound of a stranger's voice dripping like a thick venom. "What's a hottie like you doing out here so late at night? Waiting around to find a date, maybe?"
"No," Lucy said with a quick sharpness, turning to hope that Natsu was only a few steps away.
"Oi, oi, don't think you can just walk away," He laughed, snatching her wrist firmly in his grasp. "I know what you're selling and I'm willing to buy. Don't act like you're too good for my money, bitch."
Lucy felt her stomach drop as he stepped into her personal space, his smile falling into an annoyed scowl.
"Act like a good girl why don't you, and maybe I won't have to turn you against this tree and take—"
Lucy felt her blood run cold at the sound of what was probably this guy's nose breaking. He let go of her as he fell back, screaming in agony as Natsu now stood between them.
He writhed on the ground, clutching his nose, and gasping for air. Natsu settled into a squat as he watched him, Lucy unable to see the calm expression he sported.
"B-Bastard! Who the hell…! Do you think you are!" He screamed through his pain, raising his gaze to face Natsu's. "P…Pink…"
"Next time you think about harassing my girl, remember that the only reason that you're alive is because I need to get her home before it gets any later."
Lucy took in a deep breath, not realizing she'd been holding it until Natsu stood back up. She swallowed the nervous lump in her throat, Natsu facing her with a gentle, reassuring smile.
"I'll take you home now, Luce." She nodded slowly as he took her hand in his, leaving behind the growing pool of blood behind them.
It felt different sitting on the back of his bike that night, Natsu's back resembling a wall she couldn't leap over.
"Bye, Luce. I'll call you tomorrow," She frowned as he offered her a half smile, not even bothering to get off his bike to give her one of his usual smoldering goodbyes. Lucy didn't realize how spoiled she was by this point, coming to expect him to shower her with sweet nothings and an obsessive behavior.
"Really?" She crossed her arms, dropping her weight on one hip as he watched her.
"What? You know I will," He found a bit more of his lost smile, wanting to laugh as she managed a glare in his direction.
"I don't like the way you're acting," She huffed, nearly stomping her foot as he managed a breathy lilt. "That guy deserved to get punched, I'm not freaked out or anything."
"You sure? You're a girly girl, Luce. I wasn't tryna let you see anythin' that might make you upset." He kicked down the stand of his bike, standing up with a nervous sigh as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. "My life's not for you, all that blood, you know? I have guys that get their hands dirty for me, but still."
"I didn't know you were self conscious," She let out a laugh of her own, Natsu stepping into her space, resting his head on her shoulder. "Your life and our relationship are two different things."
"Our relationship?" If it were possible, she imagined a fluffy pink tail wagging behind him.
"Well, we are friends," She tightened her lips to hide her smile as he rolled his eyes.
"Just tell me that you're mine already," He groaned, his hand falling to settle on her hip. "I don't know how much longer I'll be able to send you home without giving you a proper kiss goodnight."
"And it wouldn't just be a peck on the lips." A blush crawled up her neck as he stood flush with her chest, leaning to whisper hotly in her ear. "I'd leave you begging for more than just a taste of my tongue. I'll leave you addicted, Luce. And I'm dying to get you my hook. So please just give in and tell me you want me just as bad as I want you."
Casually I started writing a public smut scene for Gray and Juvia but idk if I should finish it lmao
But I'll probably write one outside of the spectrum of this story?