Chapter 2

Her first kiss was done, just like that. Lucy ran in any direction her feet would take her, all she knew was that she wanted to get away from the embarrassment of it all. Away from the fact she has shared her first kiss with Natsu in front of the entire guild, and he seemed completely unfazed about it. Again she felt a tinge of pain in her chest. Why should Natsu not caring affect her at all she thought furiously as his face appeared again before her eyes. If anything she should just be angry with the pink haired mage. If it weren't for him stealing her book and teasing her the whole thing wouldn't have happened! Why couldn't have he just been content in annoying the other guildmates, most of whom were more than willing to brawl with him. That was her first kiss, and he had just acted as if she had only gave him a high five. Lucy quickly tired from running in the summer heat and sought somewhere to rest and think. Looking around she realized that she had run all the way to the cathedral. She stared up at the towering building that she had always found beautiful since she first laid eyes on it when she was younger and came to Magnolia on a business trip with her father. There was so much beauty; the glorious architecture and tiny crafted details, priceless treasures and great works of art and the various historic events that had taken place there. Thinking upon the events that had unfolded her Lucy began reminiscing about when Natsu fought Laxus. Although she wasn't there she could exactly imagine the ferocious power. The determination in his eyes and his power always had her in awe, but what amazed her more was the carefree, cheerful grin he would always flash at her when any battle was over. Every Time, every battle he never failed to show her that smile. The smile she loved. At the thought Lucy mentally scolded herself before she realised that she had just used the term love about Natsu. Never had she associated loving anything about Natsu, of course he was her best friend and teammate so it was a given she cared for him. But Lucy never took loving something lightly. Of course she loved her nakama but at the thought of loving Natsu specifically she felt her face redden and quickly dismissed the idea as ridiculous. Her mother always taught her that love was the source of all good magic. As a result Lucy vowed to herself that when she found something she loved she would cherish it with all her heart. Trying to distract herself she tried to think of something mundane like if she was going to work on her novel or if she should order food after her over had been destroyed by a certain fire user. Again Natsu had crept into her mind again and she realised that she did love him in his own idiotic,infuriating way. There was his smile and his stupid but at times hilarious sense of humour. His bravery when defending the guild and those who needed him. He truly was an amazing person. Lucy would admit that she did have a small crush on Natsu at one point when she had only just joined the guild but brushed it off as just a admiration to his power and strength. When she had learned from Mirajane that Natsu had promised to marry Lisanna, Lucy quickly dashed her feelings and vowed to only ever see him as a teammate. Lisanna was an amazing mage and friend. Lucy always found her adorable and kind and she definitely deserved someone like Natsu. Likewise Natsu deserved someone caring and cute like Lisanna. Lucy had resigned herself that Natsu and Lisanna would be perfect together and it wasn't as if she truly cared about Natsu in that way in the first place. It was only a silly crush based on the fact he had brought her to the most amazing guild that she had dreamed of since childhood. Natsu would always be special to her, he was the reason she now had so much joy into her life and a place to belong. The thought of losing her friend because she was overreacting about a mistake and accident had Lucy cursing herself in annoyance. It wasn't as if Natsu had grabbed her and placed a kiss upon her intentionally. If it were anyone's fault it was her own for being so clumsy munis the fact Natsu was the instigator in the reason for her falling over but that was besides the point. It was just a mistake and nothing more Lucy repeated mentally to herself . Natsu has already made it clear he thought nothing of the kiss, so she should do the same. Sighing deeply to herself, Lucy stared up towards the great looming building before and her decided that she should head back to the guild. Just as she took a step she heard her name being called in the distance, and as she turned her head she saw the pink haired mage barreling towards her.

"Lucy!" Natsu called to her clearly wanting to keep her attention before she could escape again. She had to mentally stop herself from wanting to turn and run as the sheer embarrassment overtook her rationality again but instead she stood her ground showing she was willing to talk to him. He tackled her in a hug, nearly knocking her off her feet. She froze unsure of how to respond, and reminded herself that Natsu hugged her all the time, it meant passed and she felt the blush stain her cheeks and reprimanded herself for doing so. When he still made no move to let go, Lucy mumbled awkwardly,

"Natsu, it's okay i'm not going to run away again, so you can..."

"Sorry!" he cut her off before she could finish. He released her from the hug and looked her directly in the eyes.

"You were really embarrassed right?" Natsu quietly said. Lucy stared at him, so did he actually comprehend how she had felt about how he had reacted?

"Everyone in the guild must have saw your panties when you fell on me, that's why you ran out! I realized that after I left the guild" Natsu said, clearly proud of himself for coming to such a conclusion. Lucy stood there dumbfounded. Was he really going to just ignore the fact they had kissed? Was it so repugnant to him that he wouldn't even mention it and would come up with such a stupid excuse. A mixture of anger and hurt clouded Lucy's thoughts, bubbling to the point to where she shouted in the Dragonslayers face

"You pink idiot! Are you really going to pretend that it never happened! I don't care if the guild saw my panties, I care that they saw my first kiss and the fact it was with you!" .She felt the frustrated tears stream down her face but continued her rant towards her teammate.

"You're acting like you don't even care! Well it may not be a big deal to you but it means alot to me Natsu! A first kiss is special and you ruined it!". Furiously blinking away her tears she looked her into his own eyes and saw the clear confusion and anger.

"Why are you and everyone saying I kissed you! I didn't touch your neck! I didn't do the stupid human thing with lips!" Natsu exclaimed defensively. She couldn't believe what he had just said. Was he really that cruel or just really dense?

"That's what a kiss his baka! When two people's lips meet! What do you think Gray and Juvia do all the time thinking no one can see them!"

"No it's not! Dragon's kiss on the necks to mark our mates, that's what Igneel taught me! So I never kissed you! Gray and Juvia and everyone else are just weird" Natsu shouted back.

"Well for humans it's on the lips! And i'm human and you're well mostly human, so we kissed!" Lucy replied matching her voice to Natsu's volume. They stared down at each other, neither one backing down to their claim. After a tense few seconds, Lucy conceded wanting nothing more than to escape and end the whole mess and so turned her back, sprinting away from him. She hoped he wouldn't follow but her hopes were short lived when she felt his strong warm grip on her arm. He spun her around to face him, but she kept her gaze fixed firmly on the ground.

"Lucy, look at me" he said quietly. She didn't respond, and feeling the tears coming again she tried to pull away from him. But she was no match for his strength , and as she resisted even more he pulled her into his arms. Again she felt a blush creep up to her cheeks.

"Let me go" she said her voice wavering with emotion. In response Natsu held her tighter.

"No, not until you stop crying" his replied, his breath hot at her ear.

"I'm not crying. I'm fine so let me go Natsu". He still did not let her go. Lucy's mind raced, one minute they were arguing loudly and the next she was locked in his embrace. It was hard to keep up with all the emotions she had felt in this one hour. Natsu had only ever held once this was and was when Eclair had died, the memory itselfs and her confusion fueled more of her tears which she felt fall, landing on Natsu's shoulder.

"Luce i'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout at you, it's just everyone's telling me I kissed you and I didn't..." Natsu trailed off. Lucy sniffed, still fighting back her tears. She didn't know why it mattered so much to her that Natsu understood that he had really kissed her. But not wanting to fight anymore with her friend she relaxed in his arms.

"It's okay Natsu, I guess for you it means something different" she mumbled.

"So ya don't hate me?" he asked.

"Natsu I would never hate you". He had sounded so vulnerable that she couldn't help but encircle her own arms around him. After a few moments he unwrapped his arms from her, but kept his hands on her shoulders as he faced her. His face was a mask of relief and gratefulness.

"Were nakamas , and I could never hate my nakama" she smiled tentatively at him. At Lucy's smile Natsu's own mouth turned into the grin that Lucy loved. She felt the blush rise again to her cheeks and quickly maneuvered herself from under his grip. But he in turn grabbed her hand and his sure strong hand caused flutters in Lucy's heart. Not wanting to hurt his feelings by snatching her hand back Lucy conceded to his touch.

"Alright let's go get food Luce!"he shouted, raising his other fist into their air and breaking running clearly eager to fill his stomach. Lucy smiled and willingly let Natsu drag her back to the guild by the hand, not allowing herself to think of his warm touch. She wouldn't think of the kiss again, it meant nothing. She would drill it into her mind over and over again if she had to. It meant nothing.