Ch. 3- Back Then

Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima

Story and OCs © Me

The walk through town was... well, simply put, it was very awkward. Ever since they left her apartment, neither Natsu nor Lucy said a word to each other. While Natsu had his hands shoved down his pockets, Lucy just held the strap of her purse as she walked alongside, occasionally glancing at him before she quickly turned her head away when it seemed like the former caught her looking out of his peripheral eye.

Lucy never really imagined that her first date would start out like this. In her mind, the one she pictured was a rather dapper individual who took her out on a romantic evening, maybe have dinner at a café, and sit in the park to watch the stars before he brought her back home. This... this was nothing like she had pictured it. It was a lot more awkward than she thought it would be... and, again, she never once thought that Natsu, the one who has been her best friend since she joined Fairy Tail, would be the one to ask her out.

Natsu wasn't doing much better. He would give Lucy the occasional glance and when it looked like she was about to look his way, he'd tense a little before he looked the other way, a light blush forming on his cheeks. He scratched at the back of his head, slightly embarrassed about this whole thing. It had to have been at least 15 minutes since they left her apartment, but it felt like hours since the whole time, they'd been quiet.

As Natsu opened his mouth to speak, both he and Lucy tensed as they heard a distinct rumbling noise. It didn't take long for either of them to know where it came from.

"Umm... are you hungry, Natsu?" Lucy asked as she glanced over at Natsu, who had his hands over his stomach.

"Uh... not really," Natsu lied, a sheepish grin on his face. "I-I had a big breakfast this morning."

His stomach clearly didn't agree with him, growling so loudly that it caught the attention of any passersby, and the young Salamander couldn't help blushing in embarrassment, causing Lucy to sigh.

"Natsu, it's okay," Lucy said. "To be honest, I was getting kind of hungry, myself."

"Uh... are you sure you don't mind?" Natsu asked. "I mean... maybe we could go to that little café that you like."

"No," Lucy shook her head. "With your appetite, the food there won't be enough to fill you up. Where do you wanna go to eat?"

"Umm... well... there is one place I like to go," Natsu replied, sheepishly.

"Then come on," Lucy said. "Let's go and get a bite to eat."

"Are you really sure?" Natsu asked.

"Yes, Natsu, I'm sure," Lucy reassured. "Now come on, take me to this place you like to go."

Though Natsu was a little hesitant, the grumbling in his belly left no room for argument. With a sigh, he nodded his head before he walked away, leading Lucy along. However, not too far away from them were Erza and Gray, both of them peeking from behind the shrubbery.

"Follow them...!" Erza whispered before she and the Ice Wizard did just that.

XXX

A while later, Natsu and Lucy were sitting in a booth at a restaurant together, the former stuffing his mouth with any and all kinds of food he could grab. While the other restaurant patrons watched with either or disgust (and perhaps a bit of both), Lucy could only sigh in resignation, not at all surprised at the Fire Dragon Slayer's table manners. In fact, even as bits of food were flying all over the place and Lucy found herself being pelted with sauce, she couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu.

'This is just like when I met him and Happy back in Hargeon,' she thought. 'He was making a pig of himself back then, too.'

Natsu swallowed his food before he opened his mouth, causing a roaring belch to erupt from within him before he went back to eating. Sitting a few tables away from them, Gray rolled his eyes as he watched the salmon-haired boy devouring his food while Erza was eating a strawberry parfait.

"Why am I not surprised?" Gray asked. "The first thing that Dragonbreath wants to do on a date is cram food down his gullet."

"It looks like he and Lucy aren't even talking," Erza pointed out as she took a bite out of her parfait.

"Yeah, Lucy actually looks kinda bored," Gray pointed out. "I don't think this is going well for her. You think maybe we should step in and help?"

"Not yet," Erza answered. "Let's see how things go, first."

As Natsu finished slurping up a whole plate of pasta, he let out yet another belch before he sighed and slouched back against his seat, patting his bloated belly in satisfaction while the table was covered in many dirty dishes.

"Ahh, that hit the spot..." he groaned.

"Glad you liked it," Lucy said, slightly embarrassed by Natsu's loud burp... and yet, for some reason, she had a smile on her face.

"What's up?" Natsu asked.

"Sorry, I was just thinking," Lucy replied. "This is kinda like how we met back then... remember? Bora used his Charm Magic on me and all those other girls and then you and Happy appeared out of nowhere. You didn't know it at the time, but you actually helped me break out of that spell he used... and after that, I took you and Happy out for lunch."

"Oh, yeah, I remember that!" Natsu exclaimed before he grinned. "You were really nice, Luce! You even paid for our food and everything!"

"I only did it because I felt like I owed you guys one," Lucy said, smiling fondly.

"Speaking of owing," Natsu replied as he reached into his pocket, "I guess I owe you for lunch, so I'll just... uh..." He trailed off as he realized his pockets were empty, and suddenly, a look of nervousness appeared on his face.

"What's wrong?" Lucy asked, puzzled.

"Umm... I might have left my wallet at home," Natsu answered, sweatdropping comically.

"What?!" Lucy questioned. "But Natsu, I don't have enough to pay for all your food! What do we do?!"

Natsu blinked at Lucy, contemplating what he should do... before an impish grin appeared on his face.

"I have an idea," he said, causing Lucy to gulp.

'Why do I have a bad feeling?' she thought.

XXX

"HEY! YOU GET BACK HERE!" shouted the restaurant manager Natsu, who had slimmed back down to his regular frame, ran out of the establishment while dragging a shocked Lucy behind him.

"RUN, LUCE, RUN!" Natsu cried while Lucy ran as fast as she could behind him.

"NATSU!" Lucy shrieked. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

"COME BACK AND PAY FOR YOUR FOOD!" yelled the manager... and meanwhile, Erza and Gray only watched in disbelief.

"I saw it coming and yet I'm still surprised," Gray muttered.

"I'm beginning to think that maybe this was a bad idea," Erza added as she put some money on the table. "Let's go, Gray! We don't want them getting into any more trouble!"

"Yeah, you're right," Gray said as he prepared to follow her.

"Just one thing," Erza pointed out. "Put your shirt and jacket back on!"

"Huh?" Gray muttered before he looked down and saw that he was topless. "WHAT THE-?! WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?!"

XXX

Natsu and Lucy both panted as they sat in an alley, the former glancing around the corner to check and see if they had been followed.

"I think we lost him," he said before he looked over at Lucy, who was trembling slightly, causing him to wince. "Uh-oh... now, Luce, I know what you're thinkin', but-"

Suddenly, Lucy just threw her head up, bursting with laughter, to Natsu's surprise.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

"I'm sorry," Lucy replied. "It's just... that was such a rush! I can't believe we did that! I mean, I can, but I can't at the same time!" She then held her stomach as she kept laughing, causing Natsu to snicker.

"You think that's funny?" he asked. "That's a regular Thursday for me!"

"Thursday?!" Lucy repeated before she laughed even more, then sighed as she looked over at Natsu. "You know... you did that back then, too."

"Did what?" Natsu asked, puzzled. "Pull a dine-and-dash?"

"No, silly," Lucy corrected. "I was talking about when you invited me to join Fairy Tail. Remember that night? After you saved me from Bora, you grabbed my hand and we ran away from the army together... and I remember feeling so happy when you invited me to join up with you guys."

Natsu blinked before he flashed her a fang-toothed grin. "Heheh! I was pretty happy, too, Luce!"

"Really?" Lucy asked.

"Yeah!" Natsu replied. "It meant we had a new member of our family!"

"You sure acted like you didn't want me around, at first," Lucy pointed out.

"Oh, yeah," Natsu muttered. "Well... I didn't really know you that well, back then... but now I do! You're a really nice person... and not just because you paid for my lunch that one time. Remember when we went to go save Macao? You risked yourself to come and help, even though you didn't know what you were gettin' yourself into... and you helped save him and me from falling off that mountain... along with that cow."

"Taurus," Lucy corrected.

"Right, him," Natsu said. "Plus, you also wanted to make sure that Mr. Melon got his dad's book back! And you're pretty strong, too!"

"I... wouldn't call myself strong," Lucy said, sheepishly. "I might know my way around a whip, but I'm not so freakishly strong that I'd smash buildings everywhere I go."

"And when Phantom Lord came and started that war," Natsu began, "even when you thought it was all your fault, you were so brave. You were even willing to give yourself up to save Haru. Not to mention you saved Loke from disappearing for good and even stood up to the Celestial King. Plus, you took down one of the Thunder Legion! That takes real guts!"

"I didn't do it alone," Lucy pointed out. "Loke helped me, you know."

"But you still managed to take him on!" Natsu added. "That's why I think you're so great!"

Lucy smiled, feeling her cheeks grow warm as they turned a light shade of pink... and nearby, Erza and Gray both smiled, as well.

"He's right about her, you know," Erza said.

"Heh," Gray smirked. "Flamehead really can pick 'em, after all."

"Thanks, Natsu," Lucy said. "That means a lot, coming from you."

Natsu chuckled as he gave her a beaming grin... but then, he felt something wet drip on his nose, followed by another, and as he and Lucy looked up to the sky, they saw thick dark gray clouds beginning to form overhead. Soon after, raindrops fell, starting out as a light drizzle before quickly turning into a downpour.

"Ah, crap!" Natsu cursed before he grabbed Lucy by the wrist again. "Quick, let's get outta here!"

"Okay!" Lucy nodded as the Fire Dragon Slayer led her away, once again with Gray and Erza following after them from afar.

A pretty short chapter, but I think it made its point.

Review, please!