Summary: Inspired by an episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun. Modern AU! Natsu is desperate to find Lucy the perfect Christmas present while Zeref is desperate to keep Natsu from causing trouble…..and Mavis is just there for the fun of it.
Pairings: Natsu/Lucy, brotherly Zeref/Natsu, Natsu/Mavis friendship, and Zeref/Mavis.
YouTube Prompt: A Fairy Tail tribute to "The Times They Are a-Changin'" by Bob Dylan.
The best thing about winter is that Natsu had the perfect excuse to touch Lucy all the time.
All he had to do was wait for her to shiver (which happened very quickly because Lucy was so sensitive to the cold) and then he gets to drape his arm round her shoulders and pull her close to him. Lucy would then, like she was now, snuggle in close, and he got to enjoy the scent of her shampoo, the feel of her golden hair beneath his cheek, and the fact that no one else gets to touch her like this.
They reached Natsu's front door and Natsu very reluctantly had to pull away in order to unlock the front door. "Are you coming in?" he asked. "I could make Zeref make you a hot chocolate."
"No thank you," Lucy smiled warmly, "I have to go home do the finishing touches to your Christmas present." she shot him a teasing look. "It's utterly perfect. The best Christmas present ever," she bragged.
"Yeah?" Natsu responded instantly. "Well I've got you the perfect Christmas present ever. It's so perfect that it'll blow your mind!"
"Have you?!" Lucy asked excitedly.
And it was then when Natsu realised that not only had he not gotten Lucy the perfect Christmas present ever but he hadn't even gotten her a Christmas present yet…..fuck, he was so screwed.
"Yeah," Natsu laughed nervously, "it's so perfect that you'll never want to part with it…..heh, heh, so erm," he glanced round anxiously for an exit, "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Of course," Lucy beamed. She shifted onto her tip-toes, wrapped her arms round Natsu's neck so she wouldn't fall over, and pressed her lips gently against his. The sweet kiss was way too brief for his liking as she immediately pulled away. "Good night Natsu," her eyes sparkled, "I can't wait for our gift exchange."
"Heh," Natsu tried to grin, "neither can I….." he waited until Lucy had not only left his front garden but his street entirely before he let out a strangled scream, tugged at his hair, and swore up a storm. "ZEREF!" he bellowed as he kicked the front door open. "I NEED YOUR HELP – NOW!"
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
There was a lot Zeref would do for his little brother.
Help him with his homework even though it was usually a guarantee for Zeref to get a headache? Absolutely. Intimidate any of Natsu's bullies? Definitely. Fight imaginary bad guys to keep Natsu entertained? If he had to. Help Natsu find the perfect Christmas present for Natsu's girlfriend? Of course!
But this was where Zeref was going to have to draw the line.
It was one thing to stand in a ridiculously long queue in a hot, stuffy, shopping centre, crowded with horrible, loud, whingey, children but it was an entirely different matter when you were queuing up for the –
"Natsu," Zeref hissed through gritted teeth, "how does going to the Santa Grotto help you find Lucy the perfect Christmas gift?"
Yep, that's right.
Natsu and Zeref, a seventeen year old boy and a twenty three year old man, were waiting in line to see Father Christmas.
He kids you not.
"Duh," Natsu said as if Zeref was a complete moron, "he sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good. If anyone is going to know what Lucy wants for Christmas it's going to be Santa," he then cracked his knuckles and cricked his neck, readying himself for a battle, "and then I'm going to kick his arse for perving on Luce in her sleepwear."
Zeref face palmed at that.
"Natsu!" he huffed lightly. "You do realise that there's no such thing as Santa, right?"
"SANTA'S NOT REAL?!"
Zeref paled rapidly as he heard a dozen children shout behind and in front of him. Several of them even started to cry and Zeref became keenly aware that parents were glaring at him furiously.
"Well done," Natsu snickered, "crush all the little kid's dream's why don't you?"
"Shut up!"
Zeref's hell had now been made a hundred times worse but thankfully, after what felt like an eternity waiting, they were greeted by the cutest Helper Elf ever but of course Zeref was incredibly biased as he was dating her.
"Hi Mavis!" Natsu chirped cheerfully. "How are you?"
"Hi Natsu!" Mavis replied equally cheerful, she turned her radiant smile in Zeref's direction and her cool jade eyes took an evil, mischievous, expression. "Hello Destroyer of Childhood Innocence." Zeref moaned pathetically as he wondered if he would ever live this one down. "I'm all the better seeing you two. Have you come to tell Santa what you want for Christmas?"
"Nah," Natsu shrugged, "just need to pick his brains on a present."
"I see," Mavis said sagely, "would you like a photo with Santa? Just five pounds extra."
"Sure!"
"No!"
Somehow, despite being the eldest brother, Zeref was completely overruled. Natsu happily climbed onto Santa's lap (ignoring the fact that Santa was grumbling at how heavy Natsu was) and started to pull faces at the camera. Zeref would have been content with his embarrassment by hiding behind the camera with Mavis but he had been pushed to stand behind Natsu and forced to smile.
Not that smiling was that much of a chore when the photographer was Mavis dancing about in candy-cane stripped socks, a little green and red dress, and a pointed hat with bells on.
The sight was so endearing and adorable that Zeref had to smile.
Soon enough the photos were done and Santa turned his attention to Natsu. "Aren't you a little too old to be asking me for presents?" Santa grunted.
"Oh it's not for me," Natsu said dismissively, "it's for my girlfriend. You see she said she had the perfect Christmas present for me so I had no choice to say that I had the perfect Christmas present for her. But I don't! So what do I get her? Is there anything on your list for a Lucy Heartfilla?"
"All right kid," Santa sighed, "I'll give you a hint. Buy her something super expensive and she'll be yours forever."
"But I don't have any money!" Natsu whined. "Isn't there something that she would like that costs less than ten quid?"
"Pfft!" Santa snorted. "Not if you still want a girlfriend by New Years. If you don't buy her something nice and expensive, I promise you that you'll be dumped before Christmas Day is over."
"No way!" Natsu scowled. "Lucy is not like that at all. She hates money and wealth and all that crap."
"Trust me kid," Santa said bitterly, "all women are gold-digging whores and your girlfriend is no diff-"
Natsu, who was never good at keeping his temper especially when someone was insulting Lucy, snapped and punched Santa. As if Zeref's morning couldn't get any worse, Natsu pulled back and then punched him again.
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
If Mavis as bothered about losing her job as Santa's Elf thanks to Natsu, she didn't show it…..but then again not only had she apparently not only broken protocol by letting Natsu and Zeref into the Grotto in the first place, but she continued breaking it by cheering Natsu on and giving him tips on how to really beat up Santa.
Zeref was starting to see why Mavis didn't keep a job for very long.
She had no problem with being fired, and after snatching up Natsu and Zeref's photos, and 'liberating' the candy canes, she happily joined Natsu and Zeref in the Food Court to brainstorm on what to get Lucy.
"Obviously," she drawled out as she sucked on a candy cane, "you have both been needing a feminine touch if you have gone this long without reaching the most obvious answer for a situation like this."
"And what's that?" Natsu asked desperately.
"Jewellery of course!" Mavis trilled. "Diamonds are, after all, a girl's best friend."
Zeref suddenly had a sinking feeling that Mavis was going to be very disappointed with the book he got her for Christmas this year.
"I see," Natsu said thoughtfully as he sucked his own candy cane, "well then!" he jumped up. "To the jewellery shops!"
"Aye Sir!"
And that was how they ended up in the very expensive, up-market, jewellery shop with Natsu eying up the engagement rings.
"No!" Zeref said immediately, and calmly as possible while trying to not have a heart attack, "you're too young."
Natsu turned to him with a confused facial expression. "Too young for what, you weirdo?" he asked bewilderedly.
"Never mind," Zeref sighed in relief, engagement was obviously not in Natsu's mind and that was all that mattered. "Have you any idea what Lucy would prefer?"
"No!" Natsu wailed in despair. "It's all too sparkly and shiny and cold. I see nothing that I think Lucy would like!"
"Ah," the shop assistant approached, "First Christmas with your girlfriend?"
"Yes," Natsu nodded enthusiastically, "and I don't know what to get her."
"May I recommend this?" the shop assistant herded Natsu towards a glass case of necklaces. Zeref followed like a looming, worried, shadow and peered over Natsu's shoulder to see the shop assistant pointing out a dark, dusty, pink heart-shaped gem, surrounded by little diamonds on a silver chain. "Real crystal with real diamonds and only a few hundred. Utter bargain."
"And Lucy will definitely like this?" Natsu asked doubtfully.
"Absolutely," the shop assistant said, "all the ladies have taken a liking to this style of necklaces."
Natsu looked almost sold on the idea but something was bothering Zeref. "Erm, Natsu," he murmured, "I have a question…..how exactly are you going to afford that necklace? You told Santa that you're skint."
"Oh that's easy!" Natsu said cheerfully as he rummaged through his pocket. "Tada!" he held up a gold plastic card. "Dad hides his credit card in the vegetable drawer!" Natsu grinned. "He thinks I won't look there 'cause I hate vegetables."
Zeref starred at the card with the utmost horror.
"Natsu!" he exclaimed. "You can't steal Igneel's credit card to buy Lucy a Christmas present!"
"But I can't afford one otherwise!"
"I think Lucy would rather no present and not have you arrested for fraud than have a present and visit you in prison!" Zeref snapped. "Give it back to me, now!"
"No!" Natsu cradled the card to his chest. "I am buying Lucy the perfect Christmas present no matter what. Screw the consequences!"
"Give. Me. The. Card. Now!"
"No!"
"Natsu," Zeref hissed, "stop being such a big baby and give me the- "Zeref lunged forwards in hopes of surprising Natsu but Natsu jumped back in time and left Zeref to stagger forwards. Zeref's eyes narrowed dangerously and as Natsu crowed his victory, he leaped at his little brother and tackled him to the ground. "GIVE ME THE CREDIT CARD!"
"NEVER!" Natsu bellowed as he squirmed out from beneath Zeref and kicked Zeref, hard, in the stomach. "YOU HEARD SANTA! LUCY NEEDS SOMETHING EXPENSIVE!"
"No," Zeref snarled as he used a knee to pin Natsu's stomach to the ground and scrambled for the card, "she doesn't!"
"Yes she does!"
CRASH!
Natsu had used all his strength to push Zeref off of him and the pair of them instantly rolled into a glass cabinet which, of course, caused it to topple over and break on the floor. Diamond and sapphire covered bits of gold and silver flew everywhere.
"THE JEWELS!"
Wordlessly, Zeref held up Igneel's credit card to cover the damage expenses…..they were all then kicked out by the shop assistant which left Natsu moping that he still hadn't gotten Lucy anything, Mavis highly amused as she unwrapped another candy cane, and Zeref wondering how long it would take before he could pay Igneel back…..
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Unfortunately they left the shopping centre having not brought Lucy a single thing. After being kicked out of the jewellery shop, Zeref firmly confiscated Igneel's credit card and kept a stern watch over it which promptly forced Natsu to go back on his budget of this month's pocket money.
Natsu scowled, sulked, and muttered darkly until they ended up in a book shop ("Because Lucy likes to read, doesn't she?"). Sadly, Natsu's good mood lasted roughly two minutes and he wandered round the shop hopelessly, dismissing any books either Zeref or Mavis suggested with a mumbled, "I don't know," as he scratched his head in confusion.
It was inevitable that Natsu would lost his temper.
"Natsu," Mavis called out sweetly, "how about this book?" he held up a dark green paperback with a redhead on. "It's all about demons and fairies and witches, do you think Lucy would like this?"
"I don't know," Natsu mumbled grumpily. "ARGH!" he suddenly roared as he clutched at his hair. "THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONES SHE OWNS! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TYPE OF BOOK SHE DOESN'T LIKE! I DON'T KNOW! I DON'T KNOW! I DON'T KNOW! I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE TO GET HER!"
At this Natsu flung an arm out and accidentally knocked the small revolving bookcase down…..they were instantly kicked out.
The same happened in the perfume shop. After Mavis was traumatised by persistent shop assistants that were trying to get her to test products, Zeref's ever-growing migraine, and Natsu look more and more lost each second, it was no surprise at all Natsu exploded.
"NONE OF THESE SMELL LIKE LUCY!"
This time round Zeref was pleased to say they left the shop without destroying anything…..but it was a close call, Mavis looked like she wanted to shatter the next perfume bottle that was shoved in her face. Zeref had to yank her away before she could even lift her hand.
They then ended up in a toy shop in search of something cute, and cuddly, and instantly Natsu got distracted by the Marvel superhero toys…..and Mavis was cooing over some sort of Princess Barbie doll.
Zeref was asked to make them leave because they were scaring the children.
In the end they stood there in a chocolate shop as Natsu stared dejectedly at the various boxes of sweets.
"A box of chocolates," he mumbled hopelessly, "Lucy is going to give me the perfect gift ever and I'm going to give her a bloody boring box of chocolates!"
"There, there, Natsu," Mavis patted Natsu's arm comfortingly, "we don't have to get her a box of chocolates."
"What else is there?" Natsu cried out. "I can't afford much, I don't know what book she would like, I can't find her perfume that makes her so Lucy, and…..and…I don't know what else to get her!"
"You don't have to buy her anything," Mavis said firmly, "after all Lucy is not going to care-"
"Santa said she would," Natsu interrupted.
"Santa is a moron, remember?" Zeref jumped in. "He doesn't know Lucy like you do. After all, doesn't Lucy hate the fact she's rich and wealthy?"
"Yeah…."
"So then you know that Lucy won't think diamonds and perfume and all sorts is a perfect gift," Mavis continued, "you know that for her, it's the thought that counts, and so maybe you should think of making something instead of buying something."
"Like what?" Natsu asked whiningly. "My brain is dead. I can't think of anything."
"Well lucky for you," Mavis grinned, her eyes glittering with mischief, "I have an idea," and with that she held up a piece of paper that made Natsu smirk and Zeref cringe….
And so, they brought nothing for Lucy but they did leave with a large bag full of art supplies. Zeref was finally able to relax with a hot chocolate and a mince pie while his two favourite people in the whole world laughed merrily in the background as they played with glitter and glue and made a non-expensive mess on the kitchen table….
"This is great!" Natsu enthused. "Zeref! Come here and see what Mavis had helped me make." Zeref smiled and gladly got up, with his mince pie in hand, to view Natsu's new creation. He arrived in time to catch Natsu beam at Mavis with an adoring look that he often gave Igneel. "Thank you for helping me," he said sweetly.
Zeref's smile grew larger and he took a celebratory bite out of his mince pie.
It's moments like this where he felt insanely pleased to have found a girlfriend who could be a good friend to his little brother.
"No problem," Mavis grinned as she patted Natsu's hair, "anything for my cute future brother in law."
Zeref choked on his mince pie, wait, what?!
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Natsu fidgeted uncomfortably as he and Lucy walked back from the Christmas Party at the Strauss house.
It had been fun, until Erza became a drunken tyrant and Natsu is now forever haunted by the mental image of Gajeel's naked body (don't ask!), but the moment he was going to give Lucy her Christmas present was drawing nearer and nearer and he was becoming more tempted by the second to bolt down the road and to the nearest jewellery shop with his Dad's credit card, screw the consequences.
Before Natsu knew it, he was at his front door again and this time Lucy came in for hot chocolate as she rummaged through her bag for his present.
"Here!" she smiled sweetly as she handed him a neatly wrapped present, topped with a bow covered in gold and silver stars. "I hope you like it," she said nervously as he took the parcel of her.
He was confused. Why was she nervous when she had bragged it was the perfect Christmas gift only just yesterday? "I'm sure I will," he said blankly, "as long as it's not another one of them study books."
"You needed that!" Lucy protested. "How else were you ever going to revise?"
"Still boring, Luce," Natsu pointed out, "it's not something anyone wants for their birthday."
"Hmmph!" Lucy huffed. "I made it up to you." That she did, and it had been one of the best birthdays Natsu ever had, but that was beside the point. He'd still like anything Lucy gave him…just as long as it wasn't a study book. "Go on then!" Lucy encouraged him a little impatiently. "Open it!"
Natsu ripped the paper into shreds (smirking at Lucy's grumble about what a waste of time actually wrapping the present) and froze in surprise when he felt something soft, fluffy, and squishy beneath the wrapper.
He slowly slid the last of the sparkly paper off to reveal a handmade, red, plush dragon exact to the last detail of his old childhood toy.
(Iggy the Dragon was long lost thanks to the likes of Gray Fullbuster – Natsu will never forgive!)
"….How?" he asked in awe.
"I, erm, made it," Lucy admitted shyly, "Virgo helped me out a lot. I kept accidentally stabbing myself with the needle for weeks and once I somehow managed to sew a wing on my skirt but still I did it! I hope you like it I tried to get it exactly how you described it," she paused in her nervous babble and stared at him hopefully, "Well?" she prodded, "do you like it?"
"No," Natsu said instantly and almost laughed as Lucy's face fell. It was priceless how quickly his words affected her. "I love it," he then ducked down for a quick kiss and grinned against her lips, "You're right," those words always seemed to please Lucy for some reason, "this is the perfect present.
"I'm glad you love it," Lucy said a little breathless, "I had no idea what to get you and then I remembered you telling me about Iggy and…."
"You're the best girlfriend ever," Natsu reassured her quickly. "Erm," he gently placed Iggy the Second down onto the table and picked up his messily, hastily, wrapped up present. "I hope you like yours."
"Thank you," Lucy said as she took her time unwrapping the present. "Oh!" she gasped. "Oh Natsu, it's-"
"I know it's not much," Natsu interrupted quickly, "it's certainly not a diamond bracelet or anything but-"
Lucy kissed the corner of his lips. "It's perfect," she reassured him, "the most perfect present ever, thank you."
"Really?" Natsu asked doubtfully.
After all this was more proof that Lucy was an utter weirdo.
All he gave her was a picture of himself on Santa's lap (pulling a face and making bunny ears behind Santa's head while Zeref looked like he wanted to die in the background) in a frame Mavis had helped him make. It was dripping in glitter and fake pink jewels, with Merry Xmas Lucy written in bold, gold, lettering.
It was nothing compared to recreating a childhood toy or a beautiful piece of jewellery, or the right perfume, or –
"Idiot," Lucy said fondly, "it's you. Of course it is."
Natsu beamed before he swooped in for some more peppermint flavoured kisses. It had been a valiant struggle, and a total nightmare, but getting Lucy the perfect Christmas present had been well worth it.
(A month later Igneel Dragneel received his credit card bill. The moment he saw the repair expenses for a high-market jewellery shop his eyes popped out. "NATSU! ZEREF!" he bellowed furiously. "WHAT'S THIS ABOUT TRASHING A JEWELLRY SHOP?!" Neither Natsu nor Zeref could run out of the front door fast enough…..)