Lucy took a deep breath through her nose. The air around her was magical. Not literally, but she could definitely feel the eternano enter her body through the calming aura she was in. Light floral scents were steaming out of Lucy's scalding hot bath, almost making her a bit dizzy, and with her moisturising face mask on and her lavender scented candles lit, she was in heaven. She had even been wise enough to bring a book and put on some of her favourite classical music pieces, because now she was in her own amazing world, diving into the romantic story that hid in those old pages.
Natsu was so bored. The team had just gotten home from a long and hard mission, and Lucy had immediately forbidden him and Happy to enter her apartment. He truly couldn't wrap his head around why - even she knew that they were impossible to keep out. They basically lived together! Well, not according to Lucy, but Natsu knew better. He did half of their chores and slept in her bed - not even Lucy was dense enough to believe they were only friends, right?
To be honest, Natsu wasn't too sure. He thought he had been super clear with his feelings for the celestial mage, promising to be together forever in the future and making sure to always keep her safe, but he suspected Lucy wanted something else - something more, as a confession. She was, after all, an avid and passionate reader of romantic novels. He could bet 10 years of food money on that she was nose deep in one of those books right now.
But Natsu isn't a prince. He doesn't know what to say or do to make the woman he loves feel special. It's an unknown world. So instead he does what he does best. He brings Happy along to break into Lucy's apartment.
As he stood outside the pink building on Strawberry Street he could already sense that Lucy's taking one of those "relaxing days" that mostly fried Natsu's nose more than they made Lucy relaxed. The sound of multiple violins made him understand that she was listening to her mother's favourite classical music. To Natsu that was a relief, since he easily could sneak in through her bedroom window. Happy was immediately off to raid the fridge, and Natsu was tempted to do the same when he heard a soft humming, slightly out of tempo, from the bathroom. While Happy was distracted, Natsu took his chance to sneak away. He was already thinking up pranks as he gently opened the usually creaky bathroom door.
He was met with a thick puff of steam and heavy artificial scents. Natsu almost let out a cough but kept it in as he studied the room Lucy had decorated. He was trying to find one of those face sharpies… Lucy called them eyelid liner or something, Natsu wasn't paying too much attention back then, when his eyes came across the mirror. It was so fogged up that he could barely make out his own figure in the reflecting glass. Could he prank her with the mirror in some way, while also not getting caught? He glanced at the drape, where her shadow seemed to be dancing in the flickering light that probably came from some of her oh so loved candles. She seemed peaceful right now, probably completely calm and relaxed in this steamy room.
The longer he stood in the room, the dizzier he got. Though, the longer he stood in the room, the more of Lucy's laughter, gasps and small exclamations he could hear as she progressed with her novel, flipping pages faster than Natsu could understand how she could read so fast.
He felt incredibly calm near her presence. He wanted to stay and listen forever, but these scents were really getting to his head and he could already feel a really bad headache coming up. So he swiftly moved over to the mirror and started doodling. He tried to stay focused as he painted out a poor portrait of Plue, and then a small dragon, and a little paw mark to frame Happy, even if he wasn't here. And then, as Lucy once again started with her humming to the melody, Natsu found his hands writing out a small "I love you" in the corner of the mirror. As he realised what he was doing, he started blushing profusely. Yes, by now he definitely thought that Lucy already should know this, he had a feeling she didn't. And with this being the most obvious confession, Natsu naturally felt embarrassed.
But he didn't wipe it out. Instead he used his best ninja-skills in order to get out of the place as quietly as he had gotten there. When he came out of the bathroom his head immediately felt clearer - and with that, so did his embarrassment. So he hastily made his way to her bed where Happy had already fallen asleep while cuddling a fishbone. And as he lied there, he could for once not fall asleep. His eyelids felt heavy while his ears listened as Lucy blew out the candles, drained the bath, started drying her body, and then, the dreaded moment when she pushed her drapes aside. Natsu could swear on his life that his heartbeat was detectable for every dragon slayer on the continent right now, because he knew that Lucy would see what he had written. He could hear a defeated sigh, and then a small giggle as Lucy loudly showcased her emotions through her voice. If he wasn't so nervous right now he'd fall in love all over again - she was just too cute.
Natsu put all his focus into breathing steadily and keeping his face relaxed as he feigned his sleep. Lucy opened the bathroom door, and he heard her shuffle her feet across the floor. She was walking straight towards him.
The close she came, the more obvious it was to him that her heart was beating a bit harder than before. With just a few inches apart, Lucy raised her hand and cupped Natsu's cheek.
"Me too," she whispered, as if she knew that he was awake right now. And Natsu felt like flying, because two words had never sounded more amazing to him. He loves Lucy and Lucy loves him back. The corners of his mouth twitched in pure happiness, and he had to use all the power in his mind and body to keep faking his sleep. One day he was going to get Lucy to say "I love you" to him, while looking him straight in his eyes, no more funny business. But today he relished in the blessings he had been given for the day. They still had forever ahead of them after all.
