Summary: In which Lucy is the perfect gentleman that everyone wants to be their boyfriend and Natsu is…..well Natsu but with breasts.
Pairings: Natsu/Lucy, implied parental Aquarius/Lucy, sisterly Erza/Natsu, Gray/Juvia, Lucy/Juvia friendship, implied one-sided Lucy/Mirajane, implied Lucy/all girls, implied one-sided Bora/Lucy, Natsu/Bora, Edo-Natsu/Edo-Lucy, Lucy/Loke friendship, Natsu/Lisanna friendship, brotherly Gajeel/Natsu, Natsu/Gray friendship (and pairing in Juvia's head), and lots and lots of Natsu/Lucy.
YouTube Prompt: A Natsu/Lucy video to 'Marry Me' by Train.
Natsu was sick again.
And not the normal, train sickness she would also get, no this was different, and weird, and nuts, and…..it was just weird! One minute she was running excitedly towards the crowd screaming for Salamander, certain she would be in her father's embrace once again, and then the next she was looking at this drop-dead gorgeous guy, and her face was hot, her heart was pounding, and her knees was almost about to give out….
And then a blonde guy walked past, and she suddenly snapped out of it.
Suddenly the handsome guy she first saw was no longer handsome. In fact there was something undeniably creepy about him and annoyingly arrogant, she would much rather be home with Gray than stand anywhere near this guy (and trust her that was saying something).
She blinked and wandered what that weird illness was and why she suddenly recovered.
"Huh."
"Hello there," the Sleazy guy suddenly spoke up as he grabbed hold of the blonde guy. "You're unusually pretty for a boy. Very pretty."
The Sleazy guy was right. This blonde boy was a about a half a foot taller than Natsu which only meant that he was short in comparison to every other guy she knew (well apart from Happy, Master, and Romeo but cats, old men, and children didn't really count), he had very high cheekbones, big, dark, brown eyes, blonde hair that fell perfectly so, and there was something rather sweet about him.
Natsu suddenly felt sick again but there was something much more gentle and less unnerving than the first time.
"Erm," the blonde guy flushed slightly, "thank you?"
"You know," he Sleazy guy leered, "I usually prefer the company of women. They're so much more pleasing to the eye," all the weirdo girls that crowded this douchebag tittered stupidly, "but you're just as pleasing and I would very much like to enjoy your company at my party tonight."
The blonde boy looked at the Sleazy guy for a moment, a very long, drawn out, moment, and then –
"No, thank you."
He walked away.
Not that he got far, a hoard of insane woman suddenly grabbed hold of him and started to beat the crap out of him. Natsu would have intervened but the Sleazy guy put a stop to it, apologised for them, and presented a napkin with his signature on it as a way to make it up to him (which Natsu couldn't understand, who the hell would want someone's signature on a napkin?!) which the boy abruptly refused with another polite 'no thank you'…..and got beaten up again.
Fortunately the Sleazy guy left and the girls followed, leaving Natsu and Happy with the bleeding, bruised, pretty boy.
"My key!" the boy shouted. "No not my key! I only just got it!"
Natsu watched curiously as the boy crawled all over the floor as he mumbled weirdly under his breath. She wanted to ask what he meant by key but a shiny silver thing caught her eye and she found exactly what the boy was looking for.
"Here," she waved it in front of his face, "this is it, isn't it?"
"My key!" the boy cried out ecstatically as he snatched it from Natsu and kissed it. Natsu was weirded out and Happy couldn't help but laugh. "Thank you! Thank you! I only just got this, I would be the worst if I had lost it ten minutes after buying it."
"Uhuh."
"Hey," the boy smiled as Natsu's heart did a weird flippy thing that she would have to ask Mirajane about, "would you like to get lunch? As a thank you."
Natsu blinked. Would she like to get lunch? Was the sky blue? Was Gray a naked pervert? Of course she would love to get lunch!
"Sure."
The boy smiled as Natsu's stomach did weird fluttery things but it wasn't enough to put her off of food.
After all she had an empty stomach that took priority over everything.
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Luca Heartfilla had never met a girl like Natsu Dragneel before.
Well, in his defence he had never been in a situation where he would before. Having been brought up as the sole heir to the richest company and a minor noble family, Luca had only interacted with ladies before. The only woman in his life that had been remotely interesting and wild as Natsu Dragneel had been Mama Aquarius who went from doting on her 'precious little boy' to almost drowning 'her annoying brat that interrupted her date' depending on her mood.
Natsu was in a league of her own.
Not only did she eat like a monster (all his money….gone) but she was the real Salamander, the fire mage that destroyed everything in her path, and had no problems at all beating the crap out of the fake Salamander that had tried to kidnap Luca (Luca didn't want to talk about it but damn, why did Mama Aquarius have to be right about these things?!), and then turned out to be a Fairy Tail mage who made all of his dreams come true.
Luca cannot tell you how happy he was now. He was finally a Fairy Tail mage, he had a Nicola key which he called Plue, he had a friend in Natsu, and he beginning to make great strides in his novel attempt.
He would prefer it if Natsu stopped breaking into his home but overall she was harmless (and it would be ungentlemanly to do anything other than politely request for her to leave) and he would really appreciate it if he could pay his rent (not only did Natsu destroy another building – with Luca's help he might add – but she turned down the reward money because they, and he quotes, 'didn't finish the job'….it turned out that Natsu might be wild and destructive but she was a highly principled wild and destructive person), and he definitely wanted to punch the next guy that made fun of his pink guild mark.
Mirajane kept making weird remarks about Natsu's hair which might be pink but that had not been the reason why Luca picked the colour and his stammered, embarrassed, attempts to explain were brushed aside.
Not that Luca could ever speak to Mirajane properly to begin with. After all Mirajane was Mirajane, Luca had a crush on her since….well forever, and he prayed that no one, especially those nosey parkers called Natsu and Happy (can you believe they went through his boxers two days ago? How embarrassing…), will find his scrapbook with every article and photo-shoot Mirajane ever done.
He can just imagine the shouting Elfman will do before hauling Luca to be beaten up (and teach him to become more 'manly' whatever the hell that meant), and the leering Cana will send him, and the general jeering from the likes of Macao and Wakaba, and not to mention the disappointed look Levy-Chan would give him.
Anyway, point is Luca had never met a girl like Natsu before. Someone who was messy (every time he turned his back she somehow made a mess on his floor), intrusive, gluttonous, loud, uncaring of their appearance, destructive, and God so temperamental (the amount of times Gray easily set off Natsu with a snarky comment….)!
Luca liked her.
He liked how she didn't care about make-up and clothes, he liked how she kept him company, and he liked how funny she was when she started screeching insults in Gray's face.
There was no one else like Natsu Dragneel, and he was very correct in that assumption…..but there was no one else like Erza Scarlet either.
It started on a normal chaotic day in which Loke ran away from Luca again (Luca was used to this, there had been several males he encountered that were not comfortable round Luca due to their insecurity with their sexuality) only to come running back into the guild yelling that Erza was home. Everyone panicked as a redheaded, armour-wearing, girl burst through the doors, shot some horrible criticisms, terrified everyone with her heated glare, and then….
"Natsu-Chan!" Erza smiled warmly. "My little sister," she slammed Natsu's head against her armour. "How I have missed you."
"Gah!" Natsu screamed against the armour. "Erza, I can't breathe! And I'm not your little sister!"
"You are my chosen sister. We share a great bond of sisterhood that no one can rival! After I, was I not the one that taught you to read?"
"You tortured me with reading lessons!"
"And was I not the one that helped you with your hair and make-up-"
"More torturing sessions!"
"- and," Erza continued as if Natsu had not spoken at all, "Have I not taken you shopping and shared every female bonding activity imaginable including bathing together!"
Luca couldn't help but choke and then blush at the far too vivid image that had conjured. "Shut up!" Natsu screamed as several of the male members decided to make a crude comment or two.
Unsurprisingly it was Erza that shut them up with a swift punch that knocked them out. "Now then," Erza cleared her throat, "what is this I have heard about you bringing a boy home?"
Natsu wrinkled her nose. "What, Lucy?"
Luca felt his eye twitch but didn't snap. As much as it irritated him, he refused to react to Natsu's deliberate mangling of his name. He knew she did it on purpose because she had a damn twinkle in her eye and Happy always started to snicker. The little menace…. "Luca," he corrected calmly.
Erza's dark eyes shifted onto him. Her cheeks suddenly went pink as she staggered towards him, sword at the ready. "And who are you exactly, Luca?" she hissed. "What exactly are your intentions towards Natsu?"
Luca tilted his head slightly. "What, Natsu?" he asked bewildered. "I have none. We're just friends. I'm sorry but who are you exactly?"
"I am Tatiana, Erza Scarlet," Erza said proudly, "an S-Class Mage for Fairy Tail."
"Please to meet you," Luca said, and then, thanks to years of etquite lessons, he automatically took Erza's hand and kissed her knuckles. Natsu and Happy looked absolutely gobsmacked and then suddenly terrified. "I am honoured to make your aqutiance."
"Y-y-yes," Erza stammered for some reason, her face bright red, "You should be. Natsu!" she barked suddenly causing the smaller, pink-haired, girl to stiffen. "This is a good one, don't let him go….." she then narrowed her eyes and yanked her hand away from Luca. "What exactly have you done to yourself?"
"Erm…"
Luca was confused now. As far as he could tell Natsu was the same as always. Messy, bushy, hair standing on end, dirt smeared everywhere, clothes ragged, slightly torn, and a general carefree, hippy-ish, appearance in general.
"Ladies," Erza suddenly turned to the girls in the guild, "it appears we are having another session today."
"What?!" Natsu shrieked. "No!"
"Come on Natsu," Happy flew over to Erza, "it's not that bad."
"Easy for you to say they don't use torture implements n your nails. Your nails, Happy!"
"Of course not," Happy looked weirded out at that, "I'm a cat. I don't have nails."
Luca watched, bewildered and very confused, as Erza grabbed Natsu by the collar of her t-shirt and then began to drag her out of the guild. Natsu held out an arm, shot a pleadingly wide-eyed look at him, and screamed, "LUCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! HELP ME!"
Luca did nothing, because no matter how much he cared about Natsu, he wasn't stupid. You'd have to be a moron to intervene between Erza and her mission.
The next day Luca sees Natsu, Natsu looks weird.
All cleaned up, in a skirt, and her hair forced into little plaits. She actually looked adorable and cute, which was definitely not what Natsu wanted to hear.
He had to stop laughing when Natsu decided to rip the plaits out and throw herself into his bed and refused to come out all day.
He had to sleep on the sofa that night.
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Natsu was furious.
In fact, that was an understatement to how she felt.
They had been tricked – trapped – and now Gramps was going to pay for it! That stupid, moronic, dark guild was going to murder her parent, and there was nothing she could do because she was fucking trapped in a building thanks to wind of all things.
With an enraged scream she charged at the wind barrier and punched it with a flaming fist. Her fire went out and instantly she was pushed back onto the floor.
"Oi, Natsu!" Gray shouted. "Calm down!"
Natsu ignored him, she pushed out her annoying hair from her face, and charged again. This time when she was sent flying, she was prepared, and flipped back onto her feet safely.
"Natsu!" Erza yelled.
Natsu pushed against the barrier, this time able to stay near it, and began to punch, again, and again, and again, she was going to fucking punch a hole this stupid fucking barrier, and then she'll punch the fucking windy bastard who put this annoying crap in her way, and then she'll rescue Gramps.
And then suddenly Natsu felt boxed in, caged by human arms, and yet for some inexplicable reasons she felt warm and safe and calm.
She felt someone's chin rest against the top of her head and a pair of hands tighten round her stomach. "Natsu," Luca said gently, his warm breath suddenly making her aware of everything, "I know you're angry but this isn't helping. We need to clear our minds. We need to figure things out. Charging into things is not going to help."
Natsu blinked as she stared down at the pink mark on Luca's hand.
Luca.
Luca, who was kind, and clever. Luca, who could see things more clearly than anyone else, Natsu didn't think anyone could see that Melon Book thing was a secret code, apart from maybe Levy. Luca who had contracts with Spirits. Luca who Virgo said was –
Virgo.
And Luca.
Natsu grinned. "You're right. We shouldn't charge into it, we should dig under it!"
Luca blinked bewildered, Erza looked confused, and Gray just muttered; "the fuck she's on about?"
That was when Happy presented Luca the key, who, ungratefully, accused them of stealing, before happily accepting the key and calling out Virgo.
Virgo appeared with a radical transformation, instead of being the sturdy, terrifying, gorilla woman, she was now a petite, pretty, girl, and that unsettled Natsu. Just as it unsettled her when Virgo said; "Am I to be punished Master Luca?"
Luca grimaced. "Please," he said tightly, "just call me Luca."
"Lord Luca?"
"No…..just no…."
"Young Prince?"
Luca still looked unsettled and ready to argue but he could plainly see the irritation Natsu's, Gray's, and Erza's face, their impatience to get going before it was too late, and sighed heavily. "Young Prince is fine," he said dejectedly.
"Lucky bugger," Gray muttered to Natsu as Virgo dug a hole for them, "he gets hot bird like that who is obviously into all kinds of shit call him Young Prince."
Natsu doesn't cate what Erza says about being team mates and family…Gray deserved that fucking punch.
The pervert.
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
When Luca came to, after having almost been drowned by some stoic psycho girl, there was a creepy man leering over him. Absolute clichéd, creepy, dark haired villain with goatee and all…..like some of the many kidnappers in Luca's past (his father had no problems pissing off the world with his business dealings).
"Well then Master Heartfilla," the man leered, "Do you know why you're here?"
"Oh dear," Luca gasped melodramatically. He would have put a hand to his cheek to complete the effect but sadly his hands were still tied behind his back which thoroughly spoiled it all. "It appears Mama Aquarius is right. I'm finally being kidnapped for my good-looks in which I shall be repeatedly raped by a perverted, middle-aged, man."
"What?!"
Luca blinked innocently at the creepy man. "Well," he said sweetly, "why else would you kidnap me?"
"Because your father hired me to!"
Luca stiffened then, and that was when his kidnapper decided to introduce himself as the Master of Phantom Lord, and then gloated how every painful thing that happened to Fairy Tail these last two days was Luca's fault. It was Luca's fault that the building was destroyed, it was Luca's fault that Levy, Jet, and Droy were in hospital, and it was Luca's fault that Master was now severely injured….
"Ha!" The man said smugly. "Not so full of yourself now, are you? How does it feel to know you're the bl-AAARGH!"
It wasn't easy, but Mama Aquarius had trained him well, the moment the Phantom Lord Master was distracted with his own gloating, Luca kicked him hard in the balls, and then used his leg to twist the older man's, tipping him over.
It was even harder to keep the kicking man down as Luca searched for the keys, with a very painful move of dislocating his wrist, Luca escaped from his bindings, snatched the key, and escaped as quickly before.
His ambushed kidnapping had made him lose his keys but he still had his whip, and the random members of Phantom Lord he encountered were too surprised that he had escaped to put up much of a fight.
He was breathless by the time he got out of the front door and instantly collided into Natsu.
"Luca!"
"Natsu!" Luca cried out, startled by the pink haired girl suddenly flinging her arms round him, "What are you doing here?"
"Rescuing you!" Natsu snapped. "What were you thinking, letting yourself get kidnapped like that?!"
"Natsu," Luca sighed exasperated, "it's not like I asked to be kidnapped."
"Are you sure?" Happy asked as he hovered nearby. "Because that sounds like the sort of weird thing you would be into."
Deep breaths, Luca thought to himself as he and Natsu began to make the long journey home, deep breaths, it's not like Happy realises what a crap time you've been through….
Despite this, Luca still had a terrible urge to kick Happy in the head…..Natsu must be rubbing off on him.
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Juvia did not know what to make of Luca Heartfilla.
Her first impression had been made when she was still Phantom Lord, and he had been far too easy to capture. Therefore, it was obvious, that she couldn't help but think of him as a spineless, weak, and rather pathetic excuse of a mage.
Then she had seen some of the damage he had left on her guild members in his escape. "Typical Fairy Tail shit," someone had muttered. "They're lunatics."
And after hearing from Gajeel-kun how the boy had allowed him to beat him up and grinned like a maniac in retaliation, Juvia was inclined to agree.
But then Juvia fell in love with Gray-sama and began to follow him wherever he went, and Gray-sama spent a great deal of time with Luca Heartfilla. And unlike everyone else, Luca seemed to notice Juvia was following, she had caught him looking in her direction and instead of reporting her, or confronting her, or even just telling he to go away, he left her blankets outside of their hotel room, he slowed the others down so she could catch up, and he would smile politely every so often.
He was nice.
And when poor Erza-san had been kidnapped, and Juvia's beloved Gray-sama had been attacked, there was no choice but to reveal herself and help Fairy Tail rescue their friend. Natsu-san glowered at Juvia the whole time while Luca-san was so….so…gentlemanly. He held his hand out for Juvia to step down or step up onto something, held the doors open for Juvia and Natsu-san, and Gray-sama, kept the small talk with Juvia running.
And then Juvia was turned into a terrifying, shameful, punk that felt like a bit of a slut considering how tight Juvia's jeans were on her, and attacked Luca-san but Luca-san fought Juvia head on and washed Juvia's curse away his magic which was radiant and strong and not all weak.
Juvia fell onto the floor after her union raid, exhausted, soaked, and strangely elated to know she had a friend.
"Here." Juvia blinked when Luca-san held out a pale blue, soft, jumper. Where on earth did he get that from? Juvia couldn't help but wonder and Luca-san immediately flushed in reply of Juvia's blink. "I have learnt to always keep a spare in my dimension pocket with Natsu around. You look chilled, so please take it."
And then he smiled.
A sweet, dazzling, charming smile that would make every man's – including Gray-sama's – seem pale in comparison.
He was Prince Charming! Juvia's very own Prince Charming!
"AHHHHHHHH!" Juvia screamed as she scrambled to get away from Luca-san. "JUVIA WILL NEVER BETRAY GRAY-SAMA NO MATTER HOW CHARMING LUCA-SAN IS! JUVIA REFUSES TO BE LUCA-SAN'S GIRLFRIEND!"
"….erm," Luca sweat-dropped. "Okay?"
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Evergreen had never been so humiliated before in her life.
Today was supposed to be the day that Laxus-sama and her friends proved that they were better than the rest of the muck that dares call themselves Fairy Tail mages. It was supposed to be the day when they take over the guild and make Laxus-sama Master. It was supposed to be a day of purging the weak….
And Evergreen was defeated by the weakest of all, the blonde, pathetic, celestial mage. Luca Heartfilla, the unnatural girly boy with his big brown eyes and rosy lips, defeated her, Evergreen, the Queen of Fairies.
The day had started wonderfully. to get the likes of Mira and Erza petrified with her magic was amazing feeling, she only wished she could have gotten Natsu too, the annoying brat had destroyed one fairy figurine in Evergreen's room too many, but the idea of Natsu in a beauty pageant is laughable, and Evergreen would have never caught her unawares any other way. Then it was smugly satisfying to see Freed's runes trap everyone in to battle, and it became all the more satisfying to grind Elfman's stupid fat face with her high heel.
And that was when her day began to go downhill.
She had taken the first few steps away from the destroyed florist stand and Elfman's unconscious body when Freed's runes suddenly reactivated and a purple barrier got in her way.
She turned and laughed delightedly at the furious expression on the blonde's face. He looked like an indignant child. A little weakling with fiery eyes.
"You want to play, kiddo?" she flipped her hair smugly, "I'd like to see you t-"
She barely dodged the whip, it missed her face which was probably the intended target, but the top of her shoulder burned with sudden pain.
"The girls are my friends," the boy said with an undertone of steel that caught Evergreen by surprise. "Some of the best friends I ever had, and you turned them into stone. What for? Because they were prettier? Because Laxus told you too?" She was about to angrily retort how it was none of his fucking business and how dare he speak to her like that. She was the Queen of the Fairies, and what was he? Some spoiled brat that ran away from home and caused damage to hers. He was nothing. "Turn them back," he ordered her.
Evergreen threw her head back and laughed. "Or what?" she taunted the child. "You'll make me?" she mocked.
"Yes."
Evergreen burst into hysterical laughter which was suddenly cut short when the brat's whip caught round of her ankle and pulled her to the ground. She barely got out of the way when giant bull with an axe was launched at her.
And that was when the toughest battle in years commenced, Evergreen actually had to work for a victory, and against someone who wasn't Laxus or Freed or Bickslow. There was dodging, surprise attacks, hand to hand combat, she easily swatted some of the boy's spirits like flies, but others made her sweat, and all the while Luca Heartfilla fought alongside them, looking like an avenging angel.
Evergreen was winning (barely) until Loke came out.
Loke changed things as the pair made the best tag team Evergreen had faced since that time Laxus and Freed decided the best way to help Evergreen train was to gang up on her.
Within an instant Loke had Evergreen blinded and Luca swooped in with a kick hard enough that it sent Evergreen flying.
She landed on top of Elfman and temporarily lost consciousness which caused her magic on the girls to break and Freed's runes to declare Luca the winner.
"Here."
She blinked rapidly, a hand was swimming before her, and a very dazzling smile that was almost as blinding as Loke's light.
"Why?" she whispered. "Why are you helping me?"
"We're fellow guild members, right?" Luca asked kindly. "That makes us family."
Evergreen did not blink back tears no matter what Loke claims later. She did swallow a little and feel incredibly uncomfortable. No one in the guild apart from Laxus, Bickslow, and Freed had ever called her family before. None of the girls wanted anything to do with her. All the boys were too intimidated by her beauty. No one had ever once offered their hand to her until now.
She looked up and didn't see the pathetic, weak, boy anymore.
His beauty made him look ethereal, and his kindness made him princely, and before she could stop herself, she blurted out;
"You're like a Fairy Prince!"
Luca and Loke exchanged bewildered (and slightly disturbed) looks. "Do you think she might have a concussion?" Luca asked worriedly.
"Probably," Loke smirked, "let's draw on her face before she recovers."
"….how do you have so many girls like you when you're such a jerk?"
"Oh Luca," Loke placed an arm round Luca's shoulders, "I am so glad that you asked. Now that we are the best of friends, I shall treat you to be a ladies man, soon you'll have all the pu-"
"Finish that sentence and I'll tell both Erza and Mama Aquarius that you tried to corrupt me."
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Luca was exhausted.
These last couple days he had been from one emotional upheaval to the next. First, there was meeting the possible love of his life, an intelligent, passionate, girl who happened to be a writer, and she loved celestial spirits, which he destroyed utterly when Natsu's green eyes widened with sadness and hurt, and he suddenly just had to go on that job with her even though they could go on hundreds of jobs on any other day.
The girl ended up in the arms of Loke, who Luca sent by way of apology, and whatever could be was well and truly dead now.
Then there was the weirdness of his own feelings.
All Mira's fault. She was the one that put the idea of Natsu liking him in his head, and so when Macao and Wakaba made their jokes, and Natsu got all blush-y around him, Luca couldn't help but think-
No not just think, feel. His heart skipped a beat, his cheeks burned, and his palms began to sweat as Natsu swatted a strand of pink hair out of her face and fluttered her eyelashes.
The disappointment that Natsu didn't want to go on a date, and only wanted Virgo to dig up something, was a bitter pill to take. One that Luca took with as much dignity as he could muster and though they never found the blackmail pictures (it turned out Master found out Natsu might have an inkling where they were and move them the day before, he was not pleased about all the holes Luca and Natsu made, and they had to refill them WITHOUT magic…..urgh….), they had a good laugh with one another.
And then finally, the worst, Luca had another encounter with his father.
He hadn't seen his father since he yelled at him, pulled a Gray and stripped out of the confining clothes his father made him wear, and walked out with his head held up high.
His father made unreasonable requests, screamed at him, almost ended up in a hostage situation (though it turned out Luca just overreacted and saved a group of innocent people who weren't his father), and then reveal to not be all that bad but rather stupid and oblivious instead.
Luca left his father with the urge to run back and hug him which he mostly certainly did not give in to…..there was still a lot of hurt, anger, and frustration to work through before Luca could think about really forgiving his father.
So honestly, after all this crap, Luca was not in the mood to be approached at all. Least of all by Gajeel of all people.
"Oi," Gajeel barked, "I want a word with you about Salamander."
Luca tried to not moan in despair at this. "What did she do now?" he asked.
"Nothing she did," Gajeel growled, "though I will pay her back for breaking my guitar." Luca would like to see Gajeel try especially since Natsu broke that damn evil thing with the blessing of everyone in the guild. "Just wanted a word, man to man…..well man to foppish pansy."
Luca rolled his eyes at that. Apparently, according to Gajeel, because Luca was polite, got all better with girls, and wore smart jumpers, he was a pansy.
"Well say your word and then get lost."
"Gihihi," Gajeel sniggered, "are you trying to grow a back bone there, pretty boy?"
"Gajeel, I am warning you," Luca said quietly, "I have had some very tough days and if you keep pushing, I'll push back with my whip."
"Urgh, you keep your kinky crap to yourself," Gajeel said disgustedly, "and away from Salamander! You fuck with her and break her heart and I'll break your face, got it?"
"That's hypocritical seeing as a few months ago you tried to beat her up into a pulp."
"Oh shut up!"
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Natsu had been feeling weird recently, and it was all Luca's fault.
He was just so fucking nice. To everyone. And it was fucking frustrating because Natsu now had no idea which way she was going with this guy.
On one hand, he was everything that no other Fairy Tail guy has ever been to Natsu. Polite, emotionally supportive (he definitely did more than cheer her on from the side lines with his physical presence on her 'futile searches for her father', long-winded but encouraging speeches, and sweet smiles when she was feeling down), and entirely focused on her. His dark eyes bore into her as she spoke, his hand was always there to help her up, and he had no problem letting her invade his home (okay, he might have a problem but he always sighed, slumped over, and gave in to her entirely within five seconds). He gave Natsu the impression that she was….well….you know, his. And he was hers.
But then Luca was equally nice to everyone, especially the other girls. He was just as focused on Levy when she was talking about books, or smiling at Juvia when she was getting incredibly insecure about Gray (God knows why, that guy is an utter dick), or helping Mira with every little thing at the guild, or buying Erza a cake when she was down. And then there were his spirits, he seemed to dote on the evil hag that was Aquarius, he was literally served on hand and foot by Virgo (the sight made Natsu grit her teeth but what set her on a fire with rage was the sight of Luca helping Virgo up and firmly telling her she was his friend not his servant before kissing her cheek), and she heard him fight for Aries rights with a reckless passion he had never shown much before.
He was kind, and devoted, and princely to Natsu and everyone else.
He was like Loke but without their terrible lines and the kissing with tongues that Cana said Loke likes to do.
(Natsu really didn't know or care, she never had, and never will, kissed Loke.)
This has left Natsu feeling incredibly pissed off, and jealous, and confused, because she wasn't into Luca, right?
Natsu had never been in love, she really wouldn't know, but her stomach ached, her heart hurts, and she wanted to punch the girls' teeth out so they wouldn't be so pretty anymore.
To make things worse Luca was currently brushing Wendy's hair as she sat on his lap. He had never allowed Natsu to sit in his lap before, and the sight of someone else, no matter how nice and young they were, pissed her off to no ends.
Natsu groaned and collapsed over the bar.
"What's wrong with you, Ash Brain?" Gray snorted. "You ate too much again, didn't you? God you're such a pig. One of these days you're going to-"
Gray never got to finish his sentence because Natsu whirled round and punched him hard in the nose. He staggered back, screaming like a pathetic girl, then once the flash of pain passed over, he glowered at her before he suddenly launched himself at her.
Natsu kicked him, hard, in the groin, and used his temporarily loss of sense, to run as fast as she could out of the guild building. It had been her favoured tactic when they were kids and she discovered the dangly bit between boys' legs were really sensitive, but unfortunately Gray was way too used to her kicking him there, and recovered in time to freeze her legs together.
She collapsed onto the floor and he leaped on top of her, and thus commenced their sixth brawl this week (which was not a bad thing since it was Thursday and the week was almost over. they had been too busy recently to really wind one another up).
It was a tough fight, as much as she hated to admit it, Gray was her equal in strength, magic, and fighting ability. They had an equal amount of wins in their fights, and both took their losses with bitterness. This one was going to be Natsu's to win, Gray might have the moral upper hand as Natsu made the first punch, but Natsu was extremely pissed off and frustrated about Luca, and that fuelled her better than Gray's indignation.
Gray fell back on the floor with a grunt as Natsu straddled him and pinned his arms to the floor so he wouldn't use his magic, she was just about to head-butt him into a coma when a dark, evil, aura started to swirl behind her and the temperature dropped.
Natsu screamed and leaped away from Gray. She was about to beg Erza for forgiveness when was taken by surprise at the sight of an extremely pissed off Juvia.
"Love Rival!"
And that was how Natsu spent a whole afternoon being chased by a psychotic rain woman determined to drown her for stealing her 'precious Gray-sama' (Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! Not even if it snowed in hell, Gray was such a fucking dick with his immaturity, sarcasm, temper, eagerness to fight with his fists, and…..okay, maybe Gray and Natsu were more alike than she wanted to admit but that was even more reason to not like him like that, who wanted to date themselves?). All because Luca made her feel funny and Gray was being a prick as always.
"I still don't understand how it's my fault you made Juvia jealous, I wasn't the one all over Gray" Luca said calmly from his desk later that evening, "and must you wear my shirts? You keep singeing the cuffs."
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
When Luca is the only one that could read the request for a girl to find something valuable, it was decided his gender didn't matter, and he ended up being sent to the girl's dormitory to investigate.
It was likely to be a prank but both Mira and Nab were worried it wasn't and pushed Luca out of the door with hasty orders to check in with Erza first or he might end up face down in a puddle of mud, bleeding, like the last guy to visit without asking.
("Poor Laxus," Mira sighed, "sometimes I wonder if that's why he decided to get Evergreen to turn us into stone.")
Luca was then ambushed by an old lady, who tutted at him, bemoaned how he was male, and then promptly took all of his clothes off, redressed him as a cat, and announced A Cat Prince will have to do before sending him off to find something 'shiny'.
He definitely thought it was a prank, and a very mean one, when all he found in the secret tunnel from the attic was a peep hole in the bathroom.
(And much to his horror all the girls were bathing, weren't they all just in their rooms doing their own thing a couple minutes ago?)
It wasn't until he found the box of jewellery n the tree and Erza and Natsu found him, that he realised what had gone on.
He had been hired by a ghost to give Erza and the girls their inheritance.
"Thank you," Erza kissed his cheek, "for being my Cat Prince."
Luca flushed and then took an involuntary step back when he caught Natsu's furious expression, though why he did not know, she had no reason to be cross. "It was nothing," he said sheepishly, "just fulfilling a request. I best be going, it's late, and don't you have a no boy's policy?"
"You are kind and honourable to follow our rules," Erza complimented him.
"Erm…." Luca sweat-dropped. "Thank you? Before I go, I have to warn you, I was up in the attic looking for these when I found a peep hole looking into your bathroom. You might want to have it filled."
Natsu and Erza flushed. "What?!" they screeched in unison. "I will find this dishonourable scoundrel and have both of his heads for besmirching mine and all the ladies that live in this house, virtues." Erza continued, her eyes flashing menacingly. "I will serve them up on a silver platter to M…..Luca," her eyes narrowed dangerously and her voice turned into a soft growl. "Why are you naked?"
Luca belatedly realised that his clothes have vanished into the spiritual realm with the old lady but before he could come up with any sort of explanation, Erza punched him.
She punched him so hard that he fell back, hit his head, and blacked out.
When he finally regained consciousness again, he found himself in a dark, messy bedroom, swinging in a hammock. His eyes widened as he took in the chaotic mess that was Natsu's home, the stray rocks, the disgustingly growing pile of dirty laundry, a mannequin with the maid's uniform he had once worn (don't ask, it was not something Luca ever wanted to relive), and the walls plastered in all the job requests Natsu had once been on.
It was a little breath-taking.
"Tee-hee!" Happy snickered as he hovered over Luca, "Natsu brought you home naked," he whispered teasingly, "and she dressed you with your clothes she stolen," she did what to his clothes? Really, Luca belatedly scolded himself silently, you shouldn't be surprised, she always takes your shirts as it is. "And then put you to bed like a baby and got in."
Luca's eyes almost popped out when he realised the heavy, hot, blanket, thrown over him wasn't a blanket after all but Natsu.
He tried to wiggle out from beneath her but it only made her moan, frown slightly, and hold onto him tighter.
"Luca," she mumbled, "don't go."
Luca flushed.
"Tee-hee!" Happy giggled. "She liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikes you."
Luca swears this had been the most humiliating and terrible day of his life.
(He later learns it could have been much worse as the boys had been tasked of cleaning the swimming pool and discovered a peep hole underneath it. After being severely traumatised by seeing far too much of Master than anyone would ever want to see. They had all taken to alcoholism for the week.)
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Lisanna couldn't get over how different everything was.
The three years in Edolas had made her appreciate just how beautiful, and light, and kind, and lovely Earthland was. She had missed her home but she didn't realise how much until she was greeted warmly by the locals on her way to the guild building.
Elfman was bolder, louder, and stronger here than he was in Edolas, and Mira was exactly the same which was weird because when Lisanna 'died' she had been tough, scary, and fierce, not sweet, openly kind, and smiley.
And then there were the changes in her old friends. Erza was a little more open about her girly side, the Thunder God Tribe actually spent time with other people, Gray wasn't as closed off, Romeo had grown, and Natsu…..Natsu had changed the most.
Natsu had always been Lisanna's best friend. They were soul sisters, they knew everything about each other, and spent every possible moment together, they were joint parents to Happy, they hadn't spent a day when they weren't working apart…..Natsu was loud, brash, wild, and a force of nature.
That part hadn't change. But their friendship had.
Because now Natsu spent every waking moment with Luca, and every so often, a different Natsu made an appearance, a slightly shyer, quieter, Natsu that shot the same big, wide, grin, but would look at little hesitant when Luca paid attention to someone else.
That Natsu reminded Lisanna of another different Natsu. Edo-Natsu was so quiet, and shy, and sweet, she had hidden under tables, and blink back tears every five minutes when someone frightened her. Edo-Natsu was only ever wild and out of control when she got behind the wheel.
Edo-Natsu liked Edo-Luca as well.
Now that was a difference Lisanna really couldn't get over, it was strange to see Wendy as a sweet, innocent, child instead of the mysterious beauty she was in Edolas, and it was even weirder to see Juvia being an obsessive stalker to Gray instead of the reverse, but the weirdest, strangest, thing of all was how…preppy, and sweet, and smiley, Luca Heartfilla was.
Edo-Luca, Luca Ashley, was a dark, brooding musician, his eyes were always outlined with black make-up, he had never worn a colour other than black, and usually preferred black leather trousers and a t-shirt, and he rarely said a word.
He had also been the leader, the never-faltering, calm, and yet terrifying Master of Edo-Fairy Tail, and he never hesitated to hit someone when he thought they deserved it.
He never hit a girl though. He might terrify Edo-Natsu half the time but he never once raised a hand to her. In fact she had seen Edo-Luca act an utter gentleman as he helped Natsu up, tutted, and then wiped the car oil from her face with his thumb.
And as Lisanna watched this princely version of Luca, with his smart shirts, jumpers, and ever-constant smile, help Natsu up from her latest brawl with Gray (it ended with Juvia spraying Natsu so hard with her water that Natsu went flying into a wall), tutted, and then use a handkerchief to dry Natsu's face, Lisanna couldn't help but smile.
"You know," she sighed blissfully, "things aren't really that different at all."
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Natsu gritted her teeth.
It was bad enough that to become S-Class, Natsu had to leave Luca behind to take the tests, but now, one billion times worse than before, Luca was the competition as he decided to help Cana of all people.
Natsu wouldn't mind (and would think it's really nice of Luca to help a fellow guild member, and enjoy the challenge of fighting him. she never had done before but she knew he was good) if it wasn't for the fact Cana was all over Natsu's partner.
She was borrowing him for the exams not for life.
So she could get her grimy hands off of him.
Luca looked unnatural and uncomfortable in his shorts and short sleeved shirt but he looked even more uncomfortable when Cana draped her arms all over him and rested her chin on his shoulder. "Oh Luca!" she cried out dramatically. I need help with my sun lotion! Will you please, please, please put some on me?"
"Erm…."
"Thanks!"
Natsu trembled with barely suppressed fury as Luca began to rub lotion into Cana's back and Cana was obviously enjoying it.
Her whole body burst into flames.
"Oi, Natsu!" Bickslow, who happened to be the nearest, yelped. "I know you get motion sickness but is it necessary to flame up? It's boiling as it is."
Natsu caught sight of Cana leaning into a reluctant Luca's touch and lost it. "SHUT UP!" she punched Bickslow, hard, in the nose, and sent him flying.
He immediately crashed into Juvia, who landed on Gray's naked lap, but the full force of two people sent Gray flying out of his chair and into Wendy. In Wendy's defence (for her honour, innocence, mental health, and physical health was all besmirched by an entirely naked Gray), everyone else leaped up and moved to punch Gray.
Comically only Mest got the hit in, Cana managed to hit Lisanna, who poked Loke in the eye, which caused Loke to punch Elfman, while Elfman smacked Freed, Freed slapped Evergreen who got Gajeel, who bumped into Levy, and she knocked Luca, who flailed and managed to smack Cana in the face….
This instantly started a brawl.
Natsu would have been safe on the side lines (with Happy who was eating fish) but Gray managed to grab hold of her ankle; "This is all your fault!" he hissed before he pulled her right into the brawl.
"ENOUGH!" Master roared furiously. "If you want to beat each other so much then you can wait until we're on dry land. Until then, will you all fucking behave?! Who started this?"
Everyone leaped away from one another and all pointed at Natsu. "She started it!" they yelled.
Natsu responded this, as a wave of nausea took over, by vomiting all over Cana's bare feet.
Master raised an unimpressed eyebrow as Cana shrieked.
(Ah, sweet justice, Natsu couldn't help but think as Cana ran off to clean her feet and Luca stayed to rub comforting circles on Natsu's back.)
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Trying to get used to the fact that they had been missing for seven years was difficult.
Everything had changed.
Their home, Fairy Hills, were a shambles with half of their things looted ("Not that you can tell in Natsu's room," Erza said disapprovingly. "MY SAFE IS GONE!" was Natsu's only reply.), their other home the guild building was taken over by Ogres (quite literally) and they were all stuck in a shack, their friends all looked different, Kinana had lost weight while Droy had gained it, Macao and Wakaba looked older, Romeo was no longer the cute six year old, Alzack and Bisca had a child, their guild had lost a lot of standing in the world, and then, perhaps the worst of all, bad things had happened to those who had been gone…..well, two of them, Jellal had broken out of prison (bad for Erza because she will now worry all the time and a worried Erza means more beaten up people in the guild) and Luca's father died.
Natsu never liked the arsehole, she had never met him either, as he had tried to crush everything that was Luca – his kindness, his magic, his strength and defiance, his love of literature and history – and replace it with a calculating, dutiful, businessman but for some reason Luca loved him, and his father's death really affected him.
(Though that could have been partly down to reuniting Cana with her father, Gildarts, making Luca nostalgic (Levy taught Natsu that word years ago, so shut up Gray!) about his father.)
Everyone was left hurt, empty, and a little unsure of the world, and everyone decided to embrace all the differences in true Fairy Tail style….party, shopping, fighting, and then some more partying.
It was the shopping bit that unnerved Natsu, a lot instantly agreed that they should all get new looks to show their acceptance of the new world they were in (apart from Gajeel who insisted his look was timeless and was instantly laughed at), Erza got another new armour, Gray a whole new outfit that he still kept losing, other girls new dresses, Juvia a new hat, and Natsu was determined to change her look as well.
After several hours of torture (never again will she say "Erza, can you help me with a new outfit?" as it had caused Erza, and every other girl, to squeal delightedly and drag Natsu to every fucking shop and torment her for every second of the day) Natsu now stood inside the guild, by the door, wearing tight black leggings and a matching cropped top, with a red skirt thrown over them, and matching trainers, and her hair finally tamed into a braid, staring unabashedly at Luca.
"What are you wearing?!"
"You could talk!" Luca retorted, his face all weird and pink, "are you wearing a skirt?"
"At least I look like a normal person," Natsu snapped, "You look like Loke."
And he did.
Sort of.
He wore a suit like Loke, only blue, with a white shirt, there was no sunglasses, thank God. Luca looked really embarrassed especially as Loke chose this moment to put in appearance and drape an arm round Luca. "And what is wrong with that?" Loke purred. "My brother in arms now looks like a snazzy lady-killer. All he needs is-"
"No," Luca interrupted coolly.
"But the sunglasses would really improve the look!" Loke whined.
"I said no," Luca said firmly, "I'm wearing this because it was one of the birthday presents my father had sent and my landlady has worn all my jumpers. They're stretched out now."
Luca mourned for his jumpers, and Natsu had to admit she did too. They were nice and soft and smelt like Luca, perfect teddies.
"Those jumpers," Loke scoffed, "were pathetic. Now you're a stylish young man ready to face the world."
"I liked those jumpers!"
"So did I!" Natsu scowled at Loke. "They suited him."
"Thanks," Luca smiled, "I liked your old look too. It was….well you."
Natsu couldn't help but feel really, really, hot in the cheeks, it was so Luca's fault as she tried to run a hand through her hair and got it stuck in her brad. "T-thank you."
"You liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike each other!"
"SHUT UP HAPPY!"
(Natsu and Happy were so busy arguing, and Luca too distracted by the urge to dig a hole and curl up and die in it, that none of them noticed Loke and the others making bets on when Natsu and Luca will finally become a couple. "Any day now," Loke pushed his sunglasses up and smirked, "any day.")
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Natsu couldn't remember most of her first night at the training camp.
She vaguely remembered having a bath, and then putting one of the light cotton blue robes on, before heading into the girls' room to find that they had all somehow gotten hold of bottles of sake to enjoy.
"Have a drink, Natsu," Erza encouraged her, "today is a holiday. Tomorrow is when all the hard work begins."
"Okay!"
And somehow, one drink turned to two, and then three, and then a few more, and then Natsu really doesn't remember anything. She has a vague sense that Erza tried to kill someone, and Juvia spent the night crying, and Levy laughed too much, and for some reason she has a dreamy notion that Luca carried her back to her room.
Her memory clears up for the second bath when all the girls had sobered up enough to feel disgusting.
That was when Gray, Jet, and Droy were discovered to be big fat perverts. Natsu happily helped fry them to death but really Erza didn't need much help in exacting vengeance upon them.
"Those guys!" Levy fumed. "How dare they perve on us?!"
"Especially since Wendy is with us," Charle agreed furiously, "when I get my claws on them…." She hissed dangerously.
Wendy said nothing as she covered herself in shame and embarrassment.
"Juvia is delighted that her Gray-sama was so eager to spy upon Juvia's naked body but at the same time Juvia is greatly distressed that Jet-san and Droy-kun had also seen Juvia's naked body, now Juvia is unworthy for marriage with Gray-sama!" Juvia babbled tearfully. "GRAY-SAMA!" she wailed.
"At least Luca wasn't with them," Erza said as she patted Juvia comfortingly on the back, "it's nice to know there is one honourable man in this world."
"Yeah," Levy agreed, "Luca has manners. Unlike those arseholes!"
Juvia, Wendy, and Charle were also eager to talk about how polite and un-perverted Luca was compared to the other guys while Natsu sat in silence. A thought occurred to her, well, a question really….why hadn't Luca been part of the Peeping Tom group? Was it because he had manners…or was it because he had no interest at all?
Everyone did say how girly he was and how gay his jumpers looked…..
Determined to get her answer now, Natsu leaped up, and made a mad dash to Luca's room. Fortunately the other guys were still unconscious by the hot springs which meant Luca was left alone in his room reading when Natsu kicked the door open.
"Natsu?!" Luca yelped dropping his book. "What are you doing here? Are you drunk again? Because if you are, I'm not taking you anywhere this time."
Natsu scrunched her nose up at him. "What are you on about, you weirdo?" she asked bewildered but when Luca tried to answer, she immediately dismissed him, "Never mind! Why weren't you perving on us with the others? Don't you think we're attractive enough or do we have to be like Gray and Loke for you to be even remotely interested in us?"
"Natsu," Luca raised an eyebrow, "do you want me to spy on you like a pervert?"
"Well…..no, yes, how the hell should I know?!"
Luca merely stared at Natsu as if she was being the weird one and not him.
Unable to take such an irritating stare for much longer, Natsu decided to just blurt out her worry. "Look," she snapped, "are you gay or not?"
"W-w-what?!" Luca spluttered.
"Are. You. Gay?"
"No I am not!" Luca shouted. "Why would you think that?!"
"Because you didn't perve on us-"
"Yeah," Luca interrupted, "because I have manners. Not because I fancy guys."
Natsu sighed in relieve at that but something prickled at her conscience and she decided to ask something else that had been bothering her for a while. "Do you think I'm pretty?" she asked.
Luca stared at her for what felt like an eternity which instantly made Natsu want to steal Virgo's key so she could have her very own hole to hide in, but then that pissed her off, and she suddenly wanted to destroy something. Like Gray's neck. She could happily break that.
"….Yes," Luca said eventually, "I think you're…..very pretty."
"Then why won't you kiss me?!"
"I…..do you want me to?"
"Yes!" Natsu jumped onto Luca's bed and crawled up close to him. "Kiss me!" she ordered imperiously.
For a moment, one very brief and all too short moment, Natsu thought Luca would obey her…..instead he just patted her on the head. "You don't know what you're saying," he said sadly, "you're still drunk. I can smell the sake on you."
"Then kiss me tomorrow."
"Okay," Luca agreed, "but only if you remember tomorrow."
"I will remember," Natsu promised, "and then you will have no choice but to kiss me."
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Natsu did not get her kiss even though she remembered, and that totally pissed her off but she hadn't had the chance to tell Luca that. First, his spirits kidnap them for an awesome party, then Jellal, Meredy, and Ultear appeared and helped them unleash their powers, and then it was straight to the magical games which got very busy.
Sure they had a date, sort of, Happy was there, but there had been nothing more than hand holding.
Natsu decided to wait until their obvious victory. Then she had the full right to demand a kiss like a hero in those books that Levy used to read to her sometimes.
Unfortunately, until then, Natsu had some serious fucking competition for Luca's attention.
First it had been Flare, the psycho Raven Tail girl that was obviously cheating in her battle against Luca (he was so strong and brave to stand there and be tortured in order to keep Asuka safe) who, for some reason, had taken up stalking Luca.
She was a creepier and more demented version of Juvia.
Then there was Yukino, the other celestial mage in the competition, who was brutally treated by her guild and sought comfort from Luca much to Natsu's irritation. She was nice, shy, and kept gazing at Luca as if he was a prince.
She was indignant that Yukino had been treated so cruelly and fought for her rights as she tried to beat the crap out of that big dick of a Master but she couldn't help but be pleased that Yukino left the inn and was far away from Luca.
Then there was the wedding cosplay (God knows how Natsu ended up in the frilly, lacy, wedding dress, she certainly hadn't put herself in it) where she had to fight for Luca from the likes of half of Mermaid Heel, Laki, Kinana, and that creepy Master Lady from Lamia Scale.
Poor Luca seemed scarred for life but at least Natsu made her claim clear from those crazy harpies.
And now, it appeared the entire world now fancied Luca.
It was the bloody game's fault, what sort of pervert came up with the idea of a giant water ball that people had to be half naked for?! Juvia and the other girls that were competing were fine, some (the Blue Pegasus girl who was as creepy as the male members if you ask Natsu) relished it actually, but Luca looked incredibly uncomfortable to be wearing nothing but his swimming shorts and the Quarto Puppy member.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, I'M NOT ONLY TURNED ON BY THE LOVELY GIRLS IN THEIR BIKINIS BUT I AM IN AWE OF THE BEAUTY THAT IS LUCA HEARTFILLA'S BODY. WHO KNEW WHAT A SEXY BODY THAT KID WAS HIDING UNDER ALL THOSE LAYERS! WE ARE SPOILED WITH CHOICE WITH FIVE BEAUTIFUL LADIES AND ONE DASHING GENTLEMAN!"
"Oi!" the Quarto member yelled. "What about me?!"
"….WHO ARE YOU AGAIN?!"
The Quarto member sunk to the bottom of the water ball in depression. Not that anyone noticed as all eyes were either on the beautiful girls or the surprisingly broad shoulders, strong chest, well-toned muscles and thighs, and hard abs, which was an intoxicating combination when paired with Luca's beautiful face…
"Oh my," Erza murmured as she covered her nose, "I didn't realise how attractive Luca was physically until now."
"Sixth," Mavis said solemnly, "You have found a treasure in that boy, you should hold onto him."
"Mm…." Bisca hummed in agreement, "Shame I'm married."
Natsu's eye twitched as half the stadium began to shout their appreciation for her Luca's body. Even some guys were yelling. "THAT'S IT!" she screamed. "LET ME AT THEM!"
"Natsu!" Gray yelled as he tried to pull Natsu back. It was a bit of a difficulty as Natsu wasn't only just squirming and kicking but she was on fire as well. "Calm the hell down! You can't beat up every women and guy that fancies Luca."
"Watch me!"
Natsu didn't calm down, even when the games continued before them, and Luca held on valiantly while the other guy was kicked out instantly, and the other girls fought each other out. Juvia was unfortunately kicked out fourth when she was distracted by Luca's abs rippling as he swam away from the Mermaid Heel girl, and screamed; "JUVIA IS NOT DISLOYAL TO GRAY-SAMA!", and soon enough it was just Luca and the Sabertooth girl. Minerva.
Natsu's fury went out as if Juvia had dumped a river on her as she watched in wide-eyed horror as Minerva brutalised Luca.
A new, more smouldering, dangerous, anger took place instead.
Any good feeling from the games died an instant death right there and then.
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
It had been over a year since the games, and Natsu still hadn't gotten her kiss.
(Well, not the one she wanted, Asuka once won a competition against Natsu and got to order her about one day. One of her orders had been or Natsu to kiss Luca but the freaking gentleman had stepped away and told Asuka why making commands like that was wrong and inappropriate instead…idiotic weirdo.)
A lot of shit had happened since then. Luca recovered quickly from Minerva's beating only to be captured by royal guards and threatened with execution (Natsu was beginning to agree with Happy, Luca must enjoy freighting them like this), and when Natsu went to rescue him she was not entirely surprised to see that he had given his jacket to Yukino and was working on picking the lock to get them out. Sadly their adventure didn't end there, after beating the crap out of Executioners or whatever they called themselves, they encountered a Luca from the Future who told them about a worse fate to come, and then he had been murdered. A version of Luca had been murdered. Natsu had lost all sense then, it was a hundred times worse than that stupid game with that Sabertooth Bitch, and before she knew it Rogue was eventually defeated and that fucking stupid gate was destroyed.
Fairy Tail won the competition and that restored everything from the Seven Year gap, they were all instantly so busy with different jobs and missions and personal requests (urgh, Natsu had to work with Gray).
There was a huge mess with the Sun Village, and then suddenly Tartarus attacked, and Natsu's life fell apart.
She found her Dad.
He had been there the whole time.
And now he was gone, forever.
Tartarus had been such a hellhole that it had literally been sheer luck and sudden strength from everyone that they managed to win with their lives intact. Natsu gave it as much thought as she gave anything, and decided she needed time alone to train.
Luca would have been too much of a distraction.
As it turned out, he was too much of a distraction away from Natsu. She missed him insanely more than she missed her friends from the guild, and she kept having psycho Juvia-like thoughts about Luca meeting someone else as well. He was turning her into a fucking weirdo and it was driving her nuts.
A year had passed and she was definitely stronger. Stronger than she ever had been. And it was well past the time to go home, she heard about the Magical Games, and knew exactly how to make her entrance.
By beating the crap out of Laxus, Erza, and Gray which will impress Luca so much that he would give her that fucking kiss finally!
It was a huge fucking disappointment to find that no one in the guild had made it in the competition. It was a bombshell to discover that it was because Fairy Tail had been disbanded the very next day after Natsu left. But what really rubbed salt in the wound was that her fantasy reunion with Luca shattered into pieces, Luca didn't admire her, he didn't run out and grab her, and he seemed a little bitter about being left behind.
Though not bitter enough to make Natsu find a place to sleep. He once again kindly gave up a shit for her to use and his bed to sleep in.
"Goodnight, Natsu," he smiled softly….
…and that was it! He hadn't even hugged her! Urgh, the whole gentleman thing was beginning to grate on Natsu's nerves. All the others could find it romantic as they like, they weren't suffering from frustration.
Natsu fumed as she stared at Luca's bedroom wall, he had, apparently, been tracking everyone as all their pictures and articles relating to them and reported sightings were all plastered up on this wall.
She was going to find them.
This resolution, this promise, jolted her into realising something.
She wasn't a princess. She was a dragon, she didn't need Luca to make the first move because she was no helpless damsel in distress. She was the monster guarding the princess.
"Happy," she said quietly, "take my pouch and go and get supplies. I have something to do."
Happy opened his mouth, likely to whine about how late it was, but when he caught sight of Natsu's face, he smirked at Luca's bedroom door, and did as he told, leaving via the bedroom window.
Natsu virtually ripped the bedroom door off its hinges as she stormed into Luca's living room and pushed, a very startled, Luca onto the sofa.
"What about us?!"
Luca stared up at her in disbelief. "Erm…." He said gormlessly. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean," Natsu put her hands on her hips, "you told me once that you'd kiss me and you never did. I've been waiting this whole fucking time but enough is enough, what are we to you, friends or more?"
"Wait," Luca blinked, "you remember that?!"
"Hell yeah, I did!" Natsu snapped. "And you chickened out on your end of the deal!"
"Natsu," Luca pinched the bridge of his nose, "You never told me that you remembered."
…..
"Oops?"
Luca spluttered, it then turned into a chuckle, and then he was full out laughing at Natsu.
"DON'T LAUGH AT ME!"
"Sorry, sorry," Luca wheezed between hiccups of laughter, "it's just…..that's so typical of you Natsu. You would forget your own head if it wasn't screwed on." Natsu glowered at Luca, her arms crossed, and her lip jutted out slightly. This was so not how she imagined the evening going. Luca stood up and gently grasped Natsu's shoulders. "Sorry," he grinned, "you have to admit it is funny."
"No it bloody well isn't!" Natsu snapped.
"It is," Luca insisted as he ran a hand through Natsu's hair, "you grew it out," he mumbled in a strange awe that stopped Natsu's argument to a halt. "It's nice. You suit it."
"It gets tangled in everything," Natsu wrinkled her nose, "and it's harder to put up in a braid or whatever."
"If you like," Luca said quietly, "I can get Cancer to cut it for you."
"That'll be great, Luca," Natsu beamed, "thanks."
And then he kissed her.
Just the smallest, gentlest, presses of his lips against hers but it was a kiss, and it set all the weird feelings inside Natsu off, her stomach flipping, her heart skipping, and her cheeks burning.
She pushed Luca onto the sofa, straddled him, and hastily pressed her lips against his.
The next morning, after Natsu pissed everyone off but using her flames as a spray paint, they ran away together, hand in hand, ready to start a life of rebuilding their guild.
(Typically Luca kept shouting apologies to everyone as they ran past. Weirdo.)