Disclaimer I do not own the characters in this story. All rights reserved to Hiro Mashima*
Love Songs and Accidental Kissing
While Natsu was off signing them up to sing God only knows what, Lucy took her chance to run over and confront her roommates for their obvious spying on her date.
"What are you doing here!" Lucy yelled at her roommates who both at least had the decency to look ashamed.
"We just wanted to check in and see how things were going Lu." Levy said with a pout on her face.
"Yea that and to get a look at the guy since you kinda skimped us on the details earlier." Cana added.
"Cana!" Both Levy and Lucy exclaimed, their cheeks heating up by the second.
Hoping to change the topic away from her date Lucy went for an easy shot, "So Levy did you get here in time to see Gajeel perform?" Lucy asked feigning nonchalance.
It worked because a second later Levy's face was as red as a tomato as she began to stutter out, "Wh-what!? I don't umm… I… Uhhhh….. So ummmmm Gajeel is..uhh… He's here then?"
Trying to smother her laugh at Levy's adorably obvious crush on the guy she simply nodded and giggled as she said, "Yea he was singing a pretty.. ummmm, unique version of some old blues song. Even had a guitar with him."
"Man I would have loved to see that!" Cana howled out laughing so hard she nearly fell off her bar stool. "I'm sure he was all like 'Shoo-bop Shoobie-doobap' or something. He always has had a weird taste in music. He used to try to sing while working in the kitchen till our boss told him he would fire him if he didn't shut up" She stated still laughing at her own joke and memories of the past, completely oblivious to the two girls staring at her with wide eyes and open mouths.
"What?" She questioned, finally noticing their shocked expressions.
"Cana, how long have you known Gajeel?" Lucy asked having recovered herself faster than Levy but not my much.
"Ummm, about 2, maybe 3 years now. Why? Did I not tell you guys that?" Cana questioned honestly confused by their reactions.
"Cana! You have known Gajeel this whole time and never told me!" Levy cried out a look of hurt and anger mixed in her expression.
"I'm sorry. I really thought I had brought it up already. Yea I worked with him and his roommates my senior year of high school. Although I didn't really hang out with them that much since I was usually out the door right after my shift ended." Cana said a little sheepishly.
Lucy's head felt like it was filled with cotton with this new information. Her roommate knew the guy she was on a date with and all of his roommates because they worked together their senior year at the local Japanese steak house. How had she not known this!? I mean it wasn't her fault her dad didn't want her going out with her friends after school, AND insisted she get a job tutoring part time saying it would look better on her college resume. Well guess what dad? Me and Cana both got into the same college!
Before she could fully grasp the situation she felt someone walk up behind her and felt herself cringe when she recognized a male voice she thought she would never hear again.
"Well I don't believe my eyes! Lucy Heartfilia is that you?" She turned her head to see a man with spiked orange hair and glasses in a well tailored suit.
"Loki! Long time no see. It's been what, 2-3 years now? How are you?" She asked with a fake smile on her face as she hugged her old acquaintance.
"I'm doing well. I work in editing at a pretty nice magazine company. Maybe you've heard of it? Sorcerer Weekly?" He asked with feigned innocence.
That's it. She died on the way to the bar and had gone straight to hell. That was the only plausible explanation for everything that had happened up until this point. I mean how did so many different paths from so long ago end up crossing under one roof in one night!? It's just not fair! This was supposed to be just a night of drinks with a decent guy from a coffee shop. Sure he spilled all her coffee and ruined her writing journal before asking her out but whatever details right?
Just when she thought things couldn't get worse she saw Natsu heading right for her. It seems he had finished signing them up for whatever song he had in mind, Oh God the SONG! What sort of fresh hell did he just get me into? "Hey there Lucy," Natsu said as he approached the group, "We're all signed up! I think Gray said there are four people singing before us so do you wanna try one of those awesome burgers I was telling you about earlier?" About that time he seemed to actually notice the people other than Lucy staring at him and chose to introduce himself, "Hey I'm Natsu. Are ya'll Lucy's friends?"
"Yes Lucy is our roommate." Levy said perking up a bit at the chance to meet Natsu. "I'm Levy and this is Cana. We didn't mean to interrupt your date we just heard this place had really good margaritas and wanted to try them out ourselves." Levy giggled at Lucy's angry pout pointed right at her.
"I for one am not a rommate much to my own dismay." Loki said throwing the back of his hand to his forehead in mock pain before extending it to Natsu saying with a smirk, "I'm Loki, a past love interest of our dear Lucy." Natsu took his hand but gave Loki a weird side eye look as he shook it.
Lucy shot daggers at Loki as she took Natsu's hand back and began trying to steer him back to their spot at the bar away from these trouble makers. "Well as fun as this had been I think it's about time we got back to our drinks and maybe look into getting some of those burgers you were talking about Natsu." Those seemed to be the magic words because as soon as the mention of food had left her mouth his attention was automatically directed back at her and he began to walk away with her gentle guiding.
Well that could have gone better she thought to herself. Once back at their seats Natsu flagged the bartender over and ordered them two bar special burgers and a plate of fries to share. With that out the way Lucy began to nurse her drink again and wait for the inevitable.
"So, your roommates seem like cool people." Natsu stated with a grin, eyes focused on her face for any kind of reaction to tell him he crossed into restricted grounds.
"Yeah," Lucy said with a small smile her eyes cast down to her drink. "I've known Cana since sophomore year of high school, and I met Levy in a language class freshman year of college. We have lived together all three of us for about a year. It's been really great." Lucy's smile slowly got bigger the more she talked about her roommates and she eventually looked up at Natsu the lights of the dance floor catching in her brown eyes. It caught his breath for a second but he reigned in the sudden crazy attraction and just blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "And so you and that Loki guy dated at one point?"
As soon as the words left his mouth he regretted it. Lucy's heart sank and an angry but sad expression replaced her smile as she returned to looking at her drink. What exactly would be the easiest way to explain Loki to Natsu in a way that wouldn't sound crazy? Thankfully she was saved from answering and Natsu was saved from feeling like an ass for upsetting Lucy so much with one careless question by the food arriving.
The two ate in silence for a moment when they heard Gray announce the first scheduled karaoke performance of the night. "Five buck says he strips his shirt again before the song is halfway over." Natsu chuckled in between bites of burger and fries. "You know what? You're on but I bet he lasts until the song is almost over." Lucy challenged.
For the next minute they watched in amusement as some drunk blonde butchered "Dangerous Woman" by Ariana Grande. True to Natsu's prediction Gray began to strip before the second chorus started. Lucy stared in astonishment as Gray seemed to begin removing his shirt without his own knowledge. It was such a ridiculous sight she started to laugh and soon Natsu was joining in mocking his friend.
When the song ended and the girl left the stage Natsu hollered out "PUT ON A SHIRT YOU STRIPPER!" which then caused Gray to start cursing and looking for his missing clothing for the second time that night. Once the missing shirt was found he introduced the second person in the line-up and they settled back in.
"Ok double or nothing," Lucy laughed thinking there was no way he would strip again that soon.
With a smug grin and a look that made Lucy regret ever making that bet Natsu agreed once again stating, "He's gonna lose his shirt before the middle of the song."
Right on cue as the perky brunette in a skin tight dress sang out the bridge to "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World they looked over to see Gray had once again stripped his shirt and was nodding a long as it looked like he started to unbuckle his pants.
"Oh my God, is he about to take his pants off too!" Lucy cried out eyes about to pop out of her head before turning to Natsu who had a cheshire smile on his face laughing his ass of. "You bet your ass he is!" he said head falling back laughing.
"So as fun as it is taking your money I think I'm better at calling when my roommate is gonna strip in public than you." he said his mouthing going up more on one side than the other a humorous glint in his eyes as he stared Lucy in the eyes daring her to challenge him again. Damn her if that didn't just make her want to take him up on that challenge.
As the brunette left the stage they heard a voice that sounded a lot like Cana's call out, "Woah I didn't know it was that kind of bar! Nice abs DJ!" before whistling at Gray who looked down and once again had to hunt for his missing clothing.
The next singer was introduced and surprisingly Gray was able to keep his clothing on the entire time though I think there was a few times when the guys sitting by the booth caught him before he could get to far in the process.
"So, how did you meet your roommates?" Lucy questioned Natsu as they received their second refill of the night.
"Well actually I knew them both before we started college. I started working at a japanese steakhouse in our home town my junior year of high school. I was a busboy and Gajeel and Gray both started working there about the same time as me, but Gray worked in the kitchen washing dishes, and Gajeel switched between busing tables with me and doing food prep. He is wierdly good with knives." Natsu said with an awed shudder before continuing. "But yea we all worked together till graduation and while we don't always get along, we moved in together when we found out all three of us were going to the same University."
"Wow that's really cool. I'll bet it would have been terrible moving out here and not knowing anyone at all." Lucy said.
"Yeah, probably." Natsu nodded, "Actually come to think of it...I think Cana used to work there too, as a waitress or a hostess or something?" Natsu said looking like he was trying to think back hard on his times at his old job.
"Um, so where do you work now?" Lucy tried to deflect his thing she wanted was to bring up her own connection to him and his friends. I mean it's only the first date not everything has to come out right now right?
"Oh, I work in the rec center on campus helping out in the weights section. I tried to get Gajeel to apply with me but he was adamant about getting a job at the bookstore across from campus. I swear it has something to do with this chick he works with." Natsu said with a shrug.
The previous singer left and a new one came on stage while Lucy tried to process what she had just heard. Gajeel started working at the bookstore because of a girl. Levy was crushing hard on Gajeel, could Levy be the girl he's talking about!
"Wait has Gajeel ever said the girl's name? What she looked like anything?" Lucy questioned excitedly.
Natsu stared at her excitement and wondered why any of that was important right now but simply responded, "He just calls her shrimp when he bring her up and says she looks like a shrimp when we ask what she looks like. It's kind of weird honestly."
Well that was a bust. I could have sworn it would be Levy he was crushing on so hard, but she has never mentioned him giving her a nickname. I wonder if I should ask her about it just in case?
"Alright let's welcome Natsu and Lucy to the stage our first duet of the night!" Gray announced them as Natsu set down his drink and started to pull Lucy by the hand and up to the stage. Once they made it she could hear her roommates cheering her on from the bar and a good number of people clapped for them as they got ready.
"Ok just as a reminder tell the people what you will be singing." Gray said into his own mic.
"We will be singing 'Don't Stop Believing' by Journey." Natsu proudly announced and received an overwhelming approval from the crowd for the song choice. Lucy began to grin when she finally figured out what Natsu's surprise song choice was, of course he would pick journey for their duet, it just seemed like a Natsu thing to do.
Just then the music began to play over the speakers and the tv monitor in front of them loaded the lyrics on a bright blue backdrop. Natsu began dancing along to the beat as soon as it started making Lucy start to giggle at his childish reaction to the song.
Once the intro finished Natsu began to belt out, "JUST a small town girl! Living in a LONELY WORLD! She took a midnight train goin ANYWHERE!"
"JUST a city boy! Born and raised in SOUTH DETROIT! He took the midnight train goin ANYWHERE! Lucy followed along trying to get into the song as she went. Both danced along to the instrumental break.
Natsu took up the next verse singing out, "A singer in a SMOKEY room. The smell of wine and CHEAP PERFUME. For a smile they can share the night it goes on and on and on and ONNN!" Together they sang, "Strangers, Waiting, Up and down the BOULEVARDE! Their shadows searching in the NIGHT! Streetlight PEOPLE! Living just to find emotion. Hiding, somewhere in the NIIIGGHTTT!
Lucy too began to dance around as Natsu played an air guitar and she started to sing the next verse, "Working hard to get my fill. Everybody wants a THRILL! Payin' anything to roll the dice, just one more Time! Some will win, some will lose, Some were born to SING THE BLUESS! OH the movie never ends it just go on, and on, and on, AND ONNN!"
"STRANGERS WAITING! Up and down the Boulevarde! Their shadows searching in the nighhtt! Streetlight PEOPLE! Livin' just to find emotion. Hiding somewhere in the NIIIIIIGGGHHHHHTTTTT! Lucy belted out the last notes of the chorus with Natsu to cheering from the crowd as Natsu began to rock out on his air guitar during the instrumental break. Lucy kept dancing along to the beat feeling laughter bubble up and out of her chest at the amount of fun she was having with this man on stage singing such an iconic song. The crowed was also really getting into the song, when she looked out she saw tons of people dancing and singing along to the words everyone knew by heart.
Together they finished the song out strong belting out, "DON'T STOP, BELIEVIN'! HOLD ON TO THAT FEELIN'! STREETLIGHT, PEOPLE! OHHHHHHHHHH, WOAHHHHHHH! DON'T STOP BELIEVIN'! HOLD ONNNNNN WOOAHH! STREETLIGHT, PEOPLE OOOHHHHHHH! DON'T STOP BELIVING! HOLD ON TO THAT FEELING!"
As the music faded out the crowd across the bar began to cheer like crazy for their performance and Natsu gathered Lucy up in a tight hug before carrying her of the stage like a sack of potatos, much to her embarrassment and crowd cheering louder laughter filling the bar at the scene.
As he set her down off stage all their friends started to swarm them with congratulations. Lucy simply blushed and thanked them, while Natsu started acting like he was hot stuff yelling things like, "I bet I could take on anyone in this bar in a sing off!" and "Fight me Gray!" though if she is being honest she's not really sure how that fit in. She ended up having to drag him back to their spot at the bar that the nice blonde bartender had been keeping safe for them during the song.
Once safely seated they both took a few big gulps of their forgotten drinks when they both leaned over to say something and their lips met.
Athors Notes: I really enjoyed writing this chapter and if you haven't listened to the songs referenced in this chapter you should go find them and listen to them they are great songs. Once again thanks to my beta testers for making sure I stayed on track and for kicking me in the but to start the next chapter after that little cliff hanger I left ya'll at the end. (I had a lot of fun knowing I was going to do that)! Also a lot of backgrounds being set and unveiled can't wait to see where all that takes us! its a journey for both of us for a start. I loved getting my first reviews from JustALonelyLoser and bloodRayneee it really does make it worth the long hours spent getting these chapter read for ya'll to read. Please let me know what ya'll thought of this chapter and the story so far if you get time! Have a great day and thanks for stopping by :)