"You said you wanted to join the Fairy Tail guild right? Well, then let's go!"
My eyes widened and a huge smile slowly crept it's way up to my face, and just like that, I found myself following this strange wizard to my new life. To a place that I've always dreamt of going to. A place, where I know I'll become a better person. A place where countless adventures lie ahead for me. A place that I can call 'home'
A place which is no less than a Fairy Tale.
A place which is known as Fairy Tail.
Levy kept the papers down, sighing and staring blankly at the light peach walls. Meanwhile, a super nervous Lucy was fidgeting and twiddling with her thumbs continuously, awaiting judgement.
"Well?.." she pushed, wanting her still speechless friend to get it over with. "What do you think?"
Levy let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, and turned to look at her best friend, all serious.
And then her face broke into the widest smile ever.
"Lu! This is the best thing that I've ever read! Seriously, just chapter one but I can already say that this is going to be your best work till date."
"Really?"
"Really." She smiled. "I mean, just the way it's written is just..wow! The creative use of our organisation's name and turning it into something so amazing is..is..pure precocity to say the least. The way you have captured the whole aesthetic and essence of the story in just one chapter is marvellous! I have no doubt that these series are going to be a huge success with the readers."
Lucy felt so ecstatic by her reply that she impulsively hugged the life out of her best friend.
"Ohhhh..thank you, thank you, thank you so much! So should I send it to Master?"
"Go for it. Also..Lucy..can't..breathe..oww.."
She hurriedly let go, chortling a bit at her sudden action. "Oops."
"What's happened? You never really were the one to hug attack anyone before. Not even me."
"Well umm.." she began awkwardly. How could she even explain such a thing? "I guess it's just another one of Natsu's habits I picked up..nothing more.."
Lucy's awkward laughs soon dissolved into nothingness under Levy's eyeing look, and she was once again reduced to a fidgeting mess.
"Another one?" She asked in disbelief. "Boy! With the rate you're going I might as well say that you're crushing on him. Hard."
Lucy's face turned a bright pink, and she quickly ducked her face to hide behind her golden bangs.
"It's not-not like that..it's just..living with him..for so long..anyone is bound to catch a habit or two!"
"Lu-Lu." Levy began, holding her pale hands in her own petite ones. "Habits are fine, but you and I both know that's not it." She ended smugly.
"Huh? Whatever do you mean?"
"I'm talking about the physical contact here. Don't think I haven't noticed it. How close you both are. I'm guessing emotionally now too."
"Levy I seriously think that the December cold is getting to you."
Putting on a brave face and denying the accusations even though the face clearly gave it all away? Yes, that's Lucy for you!
Levy, however, completely ignored her sarcasm, instead fixing her under her gaze.
"And it doesn't just end here. Even your conversations, their topics. Everything. You always find a way to include him."
She got her. She got Lucy right in a fix.
"L-Levy-"
"Lucy, the only person you'd be denying all of this is to yourself. And it's just not just you, I've seen him too. As a matter of fact we all have."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning.." She was smug again. Oh Levy and her stupid smug face. "Everyone at Fairy Tail can sense the chemistry and obvious attraction between you two. In fact.."
She inched closer to Lucy, leaning in to whisper in her ear.
"People are even placing the bets. About who might confess first or make a move first. Or will you both become a couple or not."
"W-What?"
Forget red, Lucy was scarlet now.
Levy broke out giggling, leaning back again.
"Yep! And just so you know, Mira is the highest bidder followed by me and Erza. Hell even Gray is rooting hard for you two, despite supposedly hating Natsu's guts!"
"Oh my god!"
"C'mon Lucy! Speak up!"
The blonde was completely bamboozled. 'Seriously? How can something like this even happen?' She thought angrily.
She was not crushing on Natsu. Sure she liked him, but she was definitely not falling for him.
Or his stupidly attractive face.
"I think you guys are reading too much into it. We are comfortable around each other because we live together! And nobody but you know about it. So obviously, our usual interactions seem like flirting to them." Lucy finished with a sigh.
Levy squinted her eyes, disappointment obvious on her face.
"Well.." she gave in, putting up her hands in a surrender. "Whatever you say Lucy."
She got up, ready to get going. "I'll be off now. I've got to go coordinate with Wendy for the interview sessions."
"Oh say hi to her for me!"
"Will do. See you."
And with that, Levy left Lucy in her office, alone with her thoughts.
She made no effort to get up or get going as well, instead reliving those moments from the past months.
She still remembered it like it was yesterday.
"You?" He asked, bewildered. "You really mean it?"
"I wouldn't say all that if I didn't!"
He grinned the widest he ever had, and instinctively hugged the life out of her. The ice cream fell down with a flop, disregarded.
"Natsu!" She exclaimed. "I told you not to do it!"
"Sorry." He said, still grinning. "I can't help it. You're just..so cuddly."
Lucy rolled her eyes, despite having the ghost of pink tint on her face.
"Ha ha. I'm not getting you another ice cream though."
"Wha-" he looked down to see his melting ice cream on the ground, pouting. "Aww man! And I really liked it too."
The next day, when Lucy had bought him to Fairy Tail, everybody was stunned. Not only had Lucy never brought a visitor, ever, but on top of that, it was a man, and a damn attractive one too was too much for everyone. As soon as Natsu came in, intensive questioning began, some cornering Natsu while some cornered Lucy.
"Why didn't you tell me?" A scarlet Erza asked frantically.
"Tell what?"
"That-That..you're d-dating." She was crimson red now, just like her hair. "C-Congratulations."
"Erza it's not-!"
"DON'T YOU ALL HAVE WORK TO DO?!"
It was after Master Makarov had interrupted that they both were finally left alone. However, Erza still eyed Lucy in a way that practically screamed 'we're so not done'.
Almost immediately after first visiting, Natsu had somehow managed to piss off Gray and be pissed off himself, threatened of a beating by Erza if they both didn't shut up and mingle, argue with Gajeel and be teased by Mirajane, Elfman and Lisanna.
However, the happiness that radiated off of him was contagious.
It was just in a day, but somehow it felt like they've all known him their entire life, and everyone joked around and laughed like they were some old childhood buddies.
It was an eventful day to say the least.
Later in the evening, Master pleasantly surprised everyone by offering Natsu a job at Fairy Tail, upon Erza's recommendation.
"You're welcome." She mumbled gleefully, nudging Lucy, while Natsu listened, wide-eyed to Makarov.
Flash forward three months, and now it has all become a part of Lucy's life. The idea of her living with a dragon slayer and a talking cat didn't seem absurd anymore, and if truth be told, she was actually really happy that it all happened this way.
Apart from that, Fairy Tail had two new recruits, Wendy and Romeo, both very young but very talented. Upon their arrival, Natsu somehow immediately adopted the role of an elder sibling, especially towards the shy bluenette.
"Lucy look! Wendy has a cat too! Her name is Carla!" An excited Natsu exclaimed, as he held on to an unamused looking white kitten.
"Do you think she and Happy would get along? Just like Lily?" He asked her.
She had smiled and opened her mouth to say something, except that nothing could be heard.
"Huh? I couldn't hear you."
She tried speaking again, however it bore the same result.
"Luce! Luce? Luceeeeee~"
"Huh?!"
She awoke with a start, having have had fallen asleep on her couch. She gasped loudly when she suddenly opened her eyes to find an extremely close face of Natsu hovering above her.
She instinctively tried to punch him away, but he, having experience now, swiftly dodged it. She slowly got back up, rubbing the sleep off of her eyes and blinking stupidly.
"Don't do that." She muttered groggily.
However he just grinned, looking at her like she was the most adorable thing he'd ever laid eyes on.
"You already done?" She asked, noticing his packed bag and coat in hands.
"Yep! Erza let go early today. Thank god though! I wouldn't have been able to keep my sanity around any longer with that ice prick nearby."
"Hey now!"Lucy said smugly. "You guys do care, but are too egoistic to admit it. Just like Frenemies!"
Why did it feel like it was exactly what she felt right now?
No, it was not possible. She wouldn't let it be.
Because it's never going to end well.
He looked away, embarrassed, and in hurt pride.
"That's not true. I hate his guts."
"Yeah keep telling yourself."She added smugly. "Anyways, should we head home now?"
She grabbed her coat and her belongings and followed Natsu out of her office.
"So what do you want to have for dinner tonight?" She asked him, exiting the building. "Should we eat out or order something? Or should I just whip something up?"
This, all of this felt so natural. Her asking him about dinner, living together, having fun together, doing small chores together. All of this playful banter was so natural. She even shuddered to think what would happen if she was on her own again.
She would not be able to take it.
"You know what!" She exclaimed suddenly. "I don't feel like cooking tonight. Why don't we just grab a bite on the way? And then, you can tell me more about your adventures with Happy! What say?"
"Hm.."
"Speaking of.." She trailed off. "Where is Happy anyway?"
"Oh." He laughed. "He's still playing with PantherLily and Carla. Don't tell him that I told you but I think he's crushing on Carla."
"Hehe.." she giggled. "Way ahead of you Natsu! He had even been teased about it y'know. It's pretty obvious he likes her."
"Wow, so you actually are not that oblivious when it comes to matter of the hearts." He mumbled. "I wonder if you're just in denial."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Hm? No, nothing."
She looked away, instead focusing her attention on the lake. Maybe, she did know what he was talking about. Maybe she really was in denial.
"So tell me more Natsu!"
"What? Again?"
"Yep!" She said brightly, popping the 'p'. "I never get bored of them. They are the inspirations for my stories too."
"Gray read that chapter you wrote for the new series. It was nostalgic, hearing about my fight with that fake 'salamander'. But the way you wrote it was like you were actually there. And now, it's hard for me to picture it any other way."
"Aww really?" She asked, flattered. "That's so sweet. Too bad that's the most I can do. It's not exactly like I have adventures of my own." She finished, laughing.
"Well.."
"What's wrong?"
Lucy turned back, staring at Natsu confusedly, who just abruptly stopped walking.
"That is what I'd like to change." He muttered.
"What?"
"I want you to have your own adventures..with me.." he said, louder this time.
"But Natsu, you know that's not poss-aah!"
However he just cut her off, grabbing her hand and looking intently at her, which somehow made her breathing and heart go haywire.
"So Luce Heartfilia, I ask you." He acted all princely, which was certainly not good for Lucy's crazy heart. "Will you do me the honour of going on an adventure with me?"