AN: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, followed, or even just read my stories. It really means a lot to me.
For this one, Martyn, a guest reviewer, wanted a fic where "Lucy gain[s] a muffin-tip (I'm assuming you mean 'muffin-top') from high-calorie cream puffs."
I'm gonna be honest, I had no idea what to do for this one. I had something in mind, but I realized I didn't like it after I wrote it. So I came up with this oneshot, which imho, fits better with what was requested. It gets really clunky at the end because by that point I was just writing up whatever was coming to my mind, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless!
(and if not, well, this just goes to show that I should never do request fics OTL)
Title: Consequences of Cream Puffs
Summary: Lucy indulges on some of Mira's tasty cream puffs. The effects are noticeable to a mischievous, blue cat.
Rating: T
Pairing: None. Team Natsu friendship with some Mira and Lucy friendship. …Okay and there's some NaLu toward the end. I'm sorry, guys I just couldn't stop myself!
Timeline: Early in the series (I personally like to think it's before Nirvana)
Disclaimer: Don't own FT
"Here they are!" Mirajane exclaimed, placing a plate of a dozen cream puffs onto the bar.
Lucy felt her mouth water. As always, Mira manages to make something that looked too delicious not to eat.
"Wow, Mira, they look amazing!" the blonde said, itching to take one and place it in her mouth to taste.
"Thank you, Lucy," Mira smiled, "Take one if you like. I'm trying out a new recipe, so they're free."
Lucy could have died right then and there. Free? That's her favorite word!
Without any hesitation, the celestial mage grabbed one and placed it inside her mouth, chewing and moaning from how heavenly it tasted. From the sweetness that was the cream filling, straight to the powder sugar the barmaid had sprinkled on top of the pastry for good measure.
"Good?" Mira asked, giggling at the pleased sounds Lucy was making as she chewed.
"Oh, God, it's delicious! I could have another one."
Mira slid the plate toward her, "Go ahead."
Lucy froze, staring at the remaining pastries. "Are—Are you sure?" after all, she didn't want to eat more than she should. Her other guildmates might want to try the wonderful treats. She'd be such a glutton!
But Mira nodded her head pleasantly, "I insist! Besides, they're just samples. I'll make more to put on the menu for next week."
Lucy bit the nail of her thumb and contemplated her decision. On one hand, those cream puffs were so good! On the other, she really shouldn't be eating something so high in calories. If Natsu or Happy caught her then she'd never hear the end of the jokes about her weight.
But it's been a long time since she's indulged in such a fine dessert. Maybe one more little cream puff wouldn't hurt, right?
Five.
She ended up eating five cream puffs. She's gonna regret it in the morning, but you know what, screw it! She's seventeen-fucking-years old—practically an adult!—if she wants to eat her weight in pastries, then she can damn well do it!
When she got to her apartment, she opened the door to her room, finding all members of Team Natsu accounted for and present.
Lovely…
"You're in my room. Again," she sighed. Honestly, they've been doing this for months now since she's joined. She should probably get used to it.
"Hey Lucy!" her teammates greeted. Natsu and Happy were on her couch, helping themselves to her food (she'll need to go grocery shopping tomorrow…). Gray was browsing her bookshelf, a potted plant strategically shielding his naked lower region from Lucy's vision. Erza was on her bed, wrapped in a towel, and combing through her red hair, obviously having come out of the bath.
Deciding to just let her friends run around her home this one time, Lucy went to her dresser to grab some clothes. She needed a nice hot bath before curling up in her bed and reading her newest book.
If she could ignore the chaos, but maybe by the time she got out of the bath her friends would be ready to leave. And then maybe pigs would start flying out of Gray's naked ass, Happy will turn green, and their missions will never involve property damage again! Yeah, she knew the likelihood of her team vacating her apartment was slim to none, but Lucy liked to dream, okay?
"Heheheh," Lucy was brought out of her thoughts by a snicker from a certain blue feline. Oh, boy. This can't be good.
Turning to Happy, who had managed to wander his way over to where she was leaning over her dresser drawers, Lucy raised an eyebrow, "What's so funny, Cat?"
That got another snicker from him, "Oh, nothing," he said, and the fake innocence made Lucy very aware it wasn't 'nothing.'
The blonde narrowed her eyes at him, "Okay, Happy, spill it. What's so funny about me today?"
She was answered with a blue paw jutting out and poking her in the stomach.
"Lucy's got a squishy tummy!" Happy yelled, right before he summoned his wings and flew to hide behind Natsu on the couch.
Lucy, shocked, blinked for a moment before her eyes skimmed down to her abdomen. It was rather hard to tell, given her bust was larger than her tummy, but she could see the slightest protrusion that indicated a gain of weight.
Shit, five cream puffs did that?!
She heard Happy's guffaws, which were soon joined by Natsu's, as the two sat on the couch together; going on about how "hilarious" Lucy's face was after looking at her stomach.
Noticing the commotion, Gray (who had noticed he was naked and clothed himself, thank God) and Erza left their stations to see what the fuss was about.
"What's got you two so slap-happy about?" Gray asked, not at all amused by the pink haired boy and his cat's hysterics.
"Lucy's gotten fat!" Happy said. No tact as usual.
Erza frowned, raising an eyebrow, "Happy, that's a rude thing to say," she then turned to Natsu, smacking him hard in the back of the head, "And you! Don't laugh. A lady's weight is a sensitive subject."
"Ow!" Natsu cried, his laughter ceasing as he gingerly rubbed his now sore head, "Sorry, it's just that Lucy made the funniest face! It was like this," and he proceeded to imitate the blonde's reaction to Happy calling her squishy. The mixture of shock and horror was enough to get a chuckle out of Gray and the tiniest bit of a smile from Erza. Though she wiped it away to keep up her stony composure.
"Still," she said with her no-nonsense tone, causing Natsu to freeze up in fear, "that was very impolite."
"Yeah," Gray agreed before sniggering, "I bet Lucy's gonna give it to you guys real good in a few seconds and…wait a second," he said, realization hitting him, "Why hasn't she Lucy Kicked you guys to Hargeon yet?"
At his words, everyone looked toward where the blonde was still standing. Her back was to them, head bowed. Slowly, all four of them moved to her, afraid sudden movement and loud sounds will set her off into a rage. When they reached their friend—Erza and Gray on one side, Natsu and Happy on the other—they turned their heads down to get a good look at her face.
What they saw made them panic.
Because right before there eyes was a teary-eyed Lucy, one hand furiously swiping at her face to stop the tears from falling while the other was poised protectively over her stomach.
Oh shit.
"Waaaaaahh! Lucy! Don't cry! We didn't mean it!" Happy cried, his own tears falling as he moved to hug the blonde.
"You see!" Erza hissed, "This is what I was talking about!"
"Nice going, jackass!" Gray admonished.
"Me?! Happy was the one who called her fat!"
"But you were laughing like some kind of big, stupid hyena! How do you think that made her feel, huh?"
"Listen, you naked popsicle, I—"
"Boys! Now is not the time to fight!"
"Waaaaaah! I'm sorry, Lucy! Please don't cry!"
"Quiet!"
Team Natsu feel silent, everyone staring Lucy—the one who gave the command.
Lucy gave a loud sigh. Wiping away stray tears, she placed her hand to give Happy reassuring pets as she said, "It's alright. I'm not mad."
"You're not?" the four asked incredulously.
"Well, yeah, I am," Lucy admitted, her face stony. "But it was a joke right? As long as you didn't mean to be hurtful, then there's no harm."
"But… But Lucy—"
"Really, Erza," Lucy gave the Titania a tentative smile, "I'll get over it. I just had too much to eat at the guild today, and well, you know how it is. You're not supposed to indulge so much, but it was so good you couldn't stop. I guess it gave me some extra weight gain. I'll burn it off the next time we go on a mission."
Her teammates were still silent for a while, probably contemplating whether or not she was really okay or not.
Happy sniffed, "So… So you forgive me?"
Lucy smiled, petting him some more, "Yes, Happy, of course I forgive you."
"YAY!" Happy cheered, soaring into the air, "Lucy's not mad at me!"
Lucy chuckled as Natsu, Gray, and Erza gave relieved sighs. They tensed up, though, at the blonde's next words, "Although…"
They gulped. What else is there? "Although… What?"
"There is one thing you guys could do to make it up to me."
Gray groaned, "Why do me and Erza have to get punished? It was Ash For Brains and Happy over here that called you—OUCH! Erza, what the hell?!"
"Quiet." Erza hushed, giving the ice mage her best glare before turning back to her female friend, "Yes, Lucy. Anything you want and we'll do it. On our honor as Fairy Tail mages and your best friends, we will try to accommodate for our ill behavior."
The boys muttered their agreement too, Gray more sore about the subject than Natsu and Happy. Seriously, he did nothing. Why did that fire breathing asshole and his cat sidekick always have to drag him into their messes? So not fair! But if it would make Lucy happy…
"You all could…" Lucy started, drawing out the condition on purpose for suspense before loudly exclaiming, "get out of my apartment!"
The four blinked, unsure how to feel about this turn of events before Erza snapped out of it first. "Well, men, you heard the lady. Let us leave."
"Figures," Gray grumbled, but shrugged it off. It was getting late anyway, and he knew his friend liked her privacy. He followed Erza out the front door.
"Aww, I was hoping to stay a little longer. Oh well," Happy said, giving Lucy one final hug goodbye before grabbing a fish that was lying on the table and flying out the open window. Natsu was the only one left now.
Lucy turned to the dragon slayer, raising her eyebrow expectantly, "Well?"
Natsu regarded her thoughtfully. Any trace of tears she had were gone now, and if he looked closely, she almost looked…smug.
"You really weren't upset by the fat comment, were you? You just wanted us all out of your apartment?"
For a moment, Lucy's face didn't give away any emotion until a smile broke out and she started giggling.
"Caught me!" she admitted. "I mean, please, you and Happy are always messing with me. One fat comment out of a million others isn't going to bother me. Besides, even with this added weight I still look good!" she then struck a pose and winked at him, causing Natsu to laugh and join her in her mirth.
His laughter was cut off, though, upon seeing her serious face return. "Erza is right, though! You shouldn't be so crass about a lady's weight."
The dragon slayer scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Right. I'll keep that in mind next time I see a lady," he snarked, laughing at Lucy's indignant huff.
With that, Natsu began to stalk his way to the window, but before he could step up on the windowsill, he suddenly paused. Lucy raised an eyebrow at him as he turned around to face her. What he said next took her off guard:
"Even if you keep gaining weight, it'll be okay because Lucy is still Lucy. And I like Lucy no matter what she looks like."
Lucy was speechless. She watched her best friend as he hoisted himself onto the windowsill. He then jumped out, yelling back to her, "Besides, Squishy Lucy would be a fun nickname!" and ran off to his home.
Lucy gaped, staring at where the fire mage used to be. Finally, she snapped out of it long enough to run to the window and scream out to him.
"Idiot! Don't just call someone squishy! And what the heck am I supposed to say to that?! Natsu! Natsu Dragneel, get back here!"
AN: The ending's weak and awkward, and I'm pretty sure I gave you guys mood whiplash with the whole second half of this story. For that I'd like to apologize. I really wanted to give this a body positivity theme. The first draft of this was heavy on it but seemed rather awkward and cluttered. Maybe one day, I'll clean that up and upload it here for you guys to see what the original oneshot was supposed to be like.
I hope you enjoyed this Martyn! Hopefully I didn't mess it up too bad for you! I'll try to do the second request you asked for, but that one is also a tricky one.
Drop me a review and tell me what you think! I do take constructive criticism, and would very much appreciate it!