First Mission (Part 1)
"Say what now?"
"You heard me," Lucy grinned and floated beside him, "our first mission."
Earlier that afternoon, just as the duo got home, Lucy gave him the plan for the request she never got to fulfill. Of course, the latter complied, listening to her every word as he made homework.
"I have these two friends who like each other," she smiled at him, possibly remembering fond memories, "you know Jellal and Erza? The student council president and VP? Jellal's my cousin actually."
Natsu nodded, gesturing for her to continue, "The two have actually loved each other ever since we were second years, but they just never got to confess."
"And how are you involved in this?" he asked as he furrowed his brows at her.
"Well, I kinda promised Erza back then that I'd write her a love letter," the ghost rambled on, "but before I could even give her the rough draft, I died!" she scrunched up her face cutely and sighed, "So please help me?"
"Alright, fine," Natsu sighed and smiled at her, "so what am I gonna do?"
"Well, first of all, we need to buy girly stationery!" the blonde chimed.
.
.
.
"What?"
"You heard me, silly! Do I have to repeat everything I said?" she giggled and lightly smacked his arm, "We need to buy them 'cause we're never gonna make a love letter if we use those junk!" she pointed over to the miscellaneous junk on Natsu's desk.
"Hey, that stung."
"Suck it up, you big baby," Lucy snickered, "anyways, where's your father? I haven't seen him since morning."
"Work."
"Eh? What time will he go home?"
"I dunno..."
"Then how 'bout you? Do you have anything to eat? Do you cook?" she tilted her head and stared at him.
Natsu shrugged and sighed, "No. I usually eat just leftovers from earlier. No biggie. I'm used to it anyways."
"Then I'll cook for you!" she said proudly, "Don't worry! Even if I'm a ghost, I can hold things! It's the least I could do to repay you for helping me!" the ghost chuckled and floated down, "Now, where's your kitchen?"
Natsu couldn't help but muster up a big grin, "Just turn left and you're good to go."
XXX
Natsu was never more happier that night. Lucy had cooked up a storm and made tons of food, stating that he needs energy for their work tomorrow morning. So after the latter ate, she quickly ushered him upstairs and told him she'd do the dishes instead.
"Are you sure?" he asked at her.
"100 percent~!"
"Alright, fine," he sighed and smiled at her, "just make sure you don't break anything, you hear me?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Goodnight, I guess..."
"Goodnight, Nat-chan! See ya tomorrow~!"
"Yeah, whatever..."
XXX
Natsu quickly left like the wind as soon as the school bell rang. He followed Lucy's directions to a nearby stationery store. 'Course, he was embarrassed walking around carrying the baby pink basket supplied by the employee, but the less the complain, the faster he can leave, right?
He mindlessly began picking glitter pens. Ones in sets and discounts could work. They were always much cheaper. And then came stickers. He even got some tapes, ignoring the giggles of the female customers.
As he finished, he hastily poured all the items in the counter and picked up a 10,000 yen bill, threatening the cashier to do it fast or else. The moment the bag was placed on his hands however, he dashed full speed out of the store.
'Never am I going back to that store.' he thought to himself as he walked home.
XXX
"Welcome back, Nat-chan~!"
"Yeah, whatever..." he murmured and dropped it in front of Lucy, "Here's your stuff."
The ghost softly thanked him before diving down to pop all the items out, "Ah, there's some pens, paper and a couple of oh~! These glitter pens are so cute, Nat-chan! You've really outdone yourself! Especially with these tapes too~!"
He buried his face in his shoulders as he plopped down the sofa to watch. Watching how Lucy was taking away each of his 'manliness'.
"Yosh! Let's start writing," she grinned and handed him a paper, "you write Erza's, and I'll write Jellal's~!"
"Okay..."
"So how good are you at girly, cursive writing?" she asked as she cracked her knuckles.
Natsu just simply shrugged and continued writing. With Lucy on his side, so engrossed at the piece of paper.
"Oh this is soooo gonna work out~!"
Natsu could already feel the smug grin on Lucy's face.
XXX
Morning has come and Natsu and Lucy are situated in an empty classroom. A senior's one, at that. It was the classroom Lucy used to go to.
"This is Jellal's desk, and over there is Erza's," she pointed to a seat in the first row, "just place it on the drawer under the table. That should work."
"Okay." he nodded and followed her instruction.
As soon as he was done, Natsu couldn't help but take a little stroll around the room, his eyes averting to a desk near the window with white roses. Out of curiosity, he came closer and fidgeted his hands to shove the roses away, hoping to see the name.
Lucy Heartfilia.
He was sure his heart stopped beating when he glanced at the name. So Lucy really is loved by her classmates, huh? He chuckled and was about to leave the room when the door opened, revealing a disgusted senior.
"What are you doing?" he spat out as he saw Natsu's fingers touching Lucy's desk, "Don't make it dirty, you little brat."
He would be lying if he said he wasn't hurt by those words, but Natsu only shrugged and ignored it, leaving the classroom in a haste. He chose to ignore the confused look at Lucy's face. Even if he didn't turn around, he could already see hatred in the senior's eyes.
"Natsuuu..." Lucy cried out, "You never told me the seniors are picking on you too..."
"Yeah well," he tried to let out a chuckle, but it only cracked out, "I guess I'm just that unlikable..."
Before he could even lower his head, he felt cold fingers touch his and looked up, surprised to see Lucy. He wanted to hit himself for making her worry. So he tried to laugh, but it also cracked out. Damn.
"Don't say that, Natsu," she frowned, "you're not unlikable, there's just something wrong with that guy! Because I...I like you! I like you, Natsu! I think you're cool, funny, and an amazing guy! I think you're the best friend ever..."
Natsu couldn't help but smile at that. His vision was becoming blurry, but he just shrugged it off and smiled. He felt something warm in his chest, ignoring the scratches the senior just left behind.
"Thank you, Lucy," he cried out, "thank you so much..."
TO BE CONTINUED