The next day found, Natsu, Gray and Gajeel at the mall arcade, nestled conveniently near 8 Island. It was an enormous spot with every arcade type game you could imagine. From pinball and Galaga to virtual reality and DDR type games. The owner was even considering installing console type games and hosting battle royale tournaments, once he could figure out how to regulate them. The lack of overhead lights allowed the strobes and LED's of the machines to glow uninhibited. in another area of the arcade were a few bowling lanes and a snack bar. Natsu and his friends walked around, looking out for any new machines, observing players who happened to be on a hot streak or getting a new high score.
Finally, they made their way to the first game of the afternoon: Mortal Kombat II. The pink haired teen stepped up to the game and swiped his game card. Natsu refused to use any other character than Liu Kang, the fighter that used fire powers. He selected the most difficult setting and prepared himself to press START. He flew through the rounds, his skill evident by the many hours he had put into this game over the years. Round after round, he nailed the combination attacks, watching his score increase each time. After defeating the final boss, Natsu knew he'd beaten his previous high score. Sure enough, the screen began flashing 'NEW HIGH SCORE' before showing the list of scores, the boxes blinking for him to input his initials. There was just one problem.
"SECOND PLACE?! IOBLITERATED MY LAST SCORE! SOMEONE BEAT ME? AND WITH SONYA BLADE?"
"Easy with the big words there, Champ. Don't want your brain to overheat." Gray snickered.
"Looks like someone else obliterated it first." Gajeel teased. It was true. The person currently holding the first-place spot absolutely destroyed Natsu's score.
"And badly." Loke said with a wince. Natsu begrudgingly entered his initials and glowered at the letters in the number one slot: LH. LH had managed to beat another one of his records. If he ever finds out who this guy his, he's gonna challenge him to every contest he can come up with. With one last glare at the screen, he shoved himself away from the machine. The male took a calculated glance around the room, deciding which game he on which he would take out his rage when his eyes out caught a rare sight. A girl. A girl playing a game. A girl playing a first-person shooter game. A girl kicking ass in a first-person shooter game. As Natsu drew closer to the girl, it was revealed it wasn't just any girl. It was Lucy! She was totally taking names in Area 51!
The boys couldn't help but gawk as she went through her rounds. Finally, the screen flashed the words 'NEW HIGH SCORE'. Lucy wore an absolutely blinding smile as if she couldn't believe it herself. The guys walked up to her to congratulate her on her score when something stopped Natsu cold in his tracks. Lucy had entered her initials into the game: LH.
"It was you?!" he screeched. Lucy immediately stopped smiling at the sound of his voice and whirled in his direction, a trace of fear in her eyes. Natsu marched up to her and Lucy tensed. Yeah, he was good looking but she really didn't know this guy from Adam.
"You beat my pizza and Mortal Kombat records?!" Natsu clarified. Lucy relaxed but just barely. He didn't look angry, just incredulous.
"Uh, um, s-sorry?" she stammered, not quite sure what was going to happen.
"Holy crap, Bunny girl, calm down. He ain't gonna maim ya." Gajeel said, surprisingly gentle.
"Bunny girl?" the blonde asked confused.
"Yeah, you're shakin' like a cornered rabbit."
"Fire Freak over here is harmless." Gray interjected. "Unless you mess with his friends. You just put him in his feelings because he's held the titles for so long."
"And you came in and destroyed them." Loke finished.
"What other games are you good at?" Natsu asked, genuinely curious.
"I like racing games." Lucy said, a smile starting to reappear on her glossed lips. A smirk grew on his face.
"Versus in Cruisin'?" he suggested, eyebrow raised and a smile playing on his lips.
"You're on!" Lucy returned his smirk and lead the way to the bucket seats in front of the massive console. Now, normally Natsu leads the charge anywhere he goes, but, he is a healthy young man and couldn't help but notice the awfully snug light wash, low-rise, boot-cut blue jeans that Lucy was wearing needed some appreciation. Natsu bit his bottom lip as he watched her saunter away, her form-fitting black t-shirt revealing just a bit of her lower back, where a few images would come in and out of view with the sway of her hips.
He finally joined her at the game and they swiped their game cards to charge their credits. Natsu picked the Mustang Cobra and Lucy chose the Dodge Viper. They agreed on the Hong Kong track and waited for the race to begin. When the light turned green, both teens hit the gas pedal and shifted through the gears like their lives depended on it. They hit the speed boost ramps, collected time bonuses, and went tit-for-tat for first and second place for throughout the laps. On the final lap, just as the finish line came into view, Lucy used her last nitro boost to speed out in front of Natsu, consequently cutting him off and sending him careening into a wall. He swore and corrected himself but not before crossing the finish line in fifth place. Natsu groaned and let his head hit the steering wheel.
"Way to put Pyro in his place, Lucy!" Gray congratulated her as he gave her a high five. Lucy grinned with pride.
"You oughta hang out with us more!" Loke said, propping an elbow on the back of the seat she was still sitting in.
"How'd you get so good at gaming anyway?" Gajeel asked.
"Well, growing up as an only child, I had to entertain myself somehow. It was this and my books." The blonde answered honestly.
"Books, huh? You and Shrimp would get along real good."
"Shrimp?" Lucy said, cocking her head to the side. "You like to use a lot of nicknames, Gajeel. How do you remember them all?" she teased.
"They're all based on personality or appearance. Trust me, they all have a bunch for me, too, Cheerleader." Gajeel smirked.
"Shrimp is his girlfriend Levy, by the way." Gray answered the original question. "She's pretty short so he calls her Shrimp. And if you happen to be into clothes, you'll probably get along with my girlfriend, Juvia. She has a bit of anxiety when it comes to me so if she ever says anything crazy to you, just placate her. She's harmless, too, I swear."
"Really?! I'd love to make new girlfriends!" Lucy cried as she clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling.
"Sure. We'll plan a get together soon so you can officially meet the whole group." Natsu offered.
"For real? Oh, wow! You guys are awesome!" Lucy wrapped her arms around the pinkette's torso and squeezed tightly.
"Yeah, no problem!" he said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. A waft of the scent from her hair assaulted his nose and he had to physically restrain himself not to bury his face in her silky locks.
"In the meantime, why don't we see how many other games you can beat Natsu at?" Loke challenged on Lucy's behalf.
"Now that sounds like fun!" Lucy agreed, standing up and pulling herself from Natsu's embrace. The group spent the rest of the afternoon taking turns at the different machine. They quickly found out that the only person who could be of any type of competition to Lucy in melee type games was Natsu. Lucy was brutal and unforgiving. After hours spent playing games with friends, they all parted ways, being sure to stay in contact to organize the meet up with the group. Natsu walked with Lucy to her car.
"Soooo, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out again sometime?" Natsu broached carefully.
"Absolutely! This was a blast! We should all get together again soon!" the blonde replied.
"Y-yeah, yeah, sure. We can do that. Ummm…" he reached up to rub the back of his neck. "I was kinda hoping th-that m-me and you could just hang out? Like just the two of us?" He looked away nervously, a light blush coating his cheeks.
"Oh!" Lucy's cheeks inflamed at the thought of time alone with Natsu. "Um, yeah, s-sure. What did you have in mind?" she asked, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Well, I was thinking that since you're new here and all, I could take you for tour around town? Show you everywhere you need to go and everything that you should know."
"That sounds great, actually. How 'bout tomorrow?"
"YES! Ahem. Uh, I mean, yes. Yeah, tomorrow works. I'll come get you in the morning?"
"Sounds good. But you don't know where I live." She smiled coyly.
"Well, why don't we exchange numbers and you can text me your address?" the hopelessly infatuated male asked, thinking he was smooth, not realizing he was baited into asking in the first place.
"Here, hand me your phone." She told him. He unlocked his phone and handed it to her. She opened the call feature and dialed her own number. She waited for the call to connect to her phone before ending the call and returning his phone. "See? Now we have each other's number." She said with a bright smile.
"Let me add your contact photo." Natsu said as he opened up the camera app on the device. The blonde gave him her best smile and through up a peace sign with her index and middle fingers. He snapped the photo and saved the contact as 'Lucy(flame)(flame)'.
"Ok, your turn!" Lucy said as she pointed her own camera at him. Natsu gave her his biggest, closed-eyed smile, complete with glinting canines. She took the picture and stared for a moment. Damn, those fangs things to her heart. She saved the contact as 'Natsu(star)(star)(hunk)'. "Thanks! Well, I gotta get going now. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Definitely." Neither made a move to leave from the other.
"Ok, then. I guess is bye for now."
"Yeah, I guess so. Um, bye then."
"Bye." Before she lost her nerve, Lucy quickly stood on her toes and planted a kiss on Natsu's cheek before getting into and starting her car. In a daze, Natsu's body moved on autopilot, getting out of the way of the vehicle and making his way to his own. Lucy patted her flaming cheeks before putting her hands on the wheel and began to back out of the parking space. What she did not expect to see is that Natsu had come out of his haze and had begun a victory dance at getting a kiss from her. Seeing her face froze him mid fist-pump before he smiled sheepishly and speed-walked to his car. She giggled at him and then resumed her trip home. Natsu sat in his Jeep, his position the same as the Cruisin' game, head on the steering wheel. After a minute, he began laughing to himself as he put the key in the ignition and started the car.
"I've got a date with Lucy." He said aloud to himself, as if he still couldn't believe it. He laughed again before finishing his victory dance in his seat. He turned his music up and pulled out of the space, starting his own journey home, a huge smile on his face the whole time