A/N: Because Natsu and Lucy are an amazing and I got this idea when my friend told me that you had to talk a lot in order to be really good friends, but honestly when have Lucy and Natsu sat down and had a real heart to heart except for chapter 453 and even then it wasn't really a heart-to-heart.
Sorry for any typos. I didn't really proof-read.
So this is my little drabble, from Erza's POV because I was bored.
All rights to Hiro Mashima.
Erza had realized something. It was a huge epiphany and she just had to share it. So the red-head re-equip mage hurried through the streets to Fairy Tail and its inhabitants, specifically a white-haired Satan Soul take-over bar maid.
Erza rushed into the guild, taking note of who was in the guild and what they were doing. Gray and Natsu were fighting; Levy and Lucy were nearby discussing something, most likely books; Laxus was talking to Gajeel at the bar. The Thunder God Tribe was posing for Reedus; Elfman and Lisanna were scanning the request board; Cana and Juvia were drinking.
Erza ignored them all and made a beeline for the bar. splitting up Gray and Natsu as she went. Reaching the bar, Erza sat on a stool and signaled Mira over. The demoness came over smiling.
"The usual Erza?" she asked.
"Please," Erza agreed. She wanted cake more than she wanted to share her epiphany, besides she was hungry.
As Mira walked away to get her cake, so Natsu came bounding up to the bar. "One strawberry milkshake and one fire whiskey, please Mira!" he practically yelled, grinning and slapping some jewels on the table.
"Sure thing Natsu!" Mira called back, preparing the drinks.
"Erza narrowed her eyes at the crisp bills Natsu had slapped on the table. It wasn't Natsu's money. His was always extremely crumpled.
"Natsu," Erza asked, voice suspicious, "where'd you get that money?"
"Lucy," Natsu told her happily, "I gave her ten thousand last week 'cause I knew she was short and wouldn't be able to make the money on time. Plue her landlady's been getting annoyed recently.
"Soooo, everyday she gives me a little money in the morning. 'Cept it's exactly enough to buy a strawberry milkshake and a fire whiskey at the guild. Since Luce gets 'em every day for us, I figured since I had the money, I should get them."
Erza was still staring at him speechlessly when Mira brought their orders back. Natsu took the two drinks and headed over to Lucy. He gulped down his fire whiskey, allowing Lucy to take a few sips in exchange for some of her milkshake.
"Who ever said talking was necessary to become friends was wrong," Erza murmured observing the two mages interact without ever saying a word.
"What was the Erza?" Mira asked leaning over the bar.
Erza turned back to face her, taking a bite of cake before speaking. "Do you think Natsu and Lucy talk a lot?"
Mira considered the question. "I suppose," she finally answered, "they do have a lot of friends."
"I mean to each other," Erza clarified.
"Oh," Mira's face brightened, "no they don't!"
"That's exactly it!" Erza exclaimed pointing her fork at Mira. "But how do they know each other so well?" Erza asked, confusion clouding her eyes.
"They just do," Mira answered turning back to her customers, "not all friendships require words. The best ones just are.'
"Huh," Erza said, fork in her mouth. She finished her slice of cake as she pondered Mira's words and her own thoughts.
True, Lucy and Natsu never communicated verbally on jobs anymore. They had become the perfect pair. Their teamwork was impeccable and it seemed nothing could disrupt it. Natsu knew all about Lucy's magic, how it worked, and her limits. Conversely Lucy knew everything there was to know about dragonslayers, and, more specifically, Natsu. She could answer practically any question concerning dragon slayers, second generation and third generation included.
The two could combine their magic in unison raids and frequently did without seeming to think about it. Just on the last job, taking out a dark guild, Lucy and Natsu had been a power-house duo an mowed a path through the weaklings to the boss and his three 'S-class' mages. Erza used the term 'S-class' lightly because Natsu had taken them all out in one attack.
Gray and herself had demolished the remaining minions in no time. Gray had been about to rush over and help when Natsu had launched forwards, attacking the boss. Lucy had stay back. At first Erza had been confused as to why the celestial mage wasn't helping Natsu, but then Gray had pointed something out to her. Lucy was glowing.
Erza had been surprised to say the least when Natsu had taken a hit and flown backwards, only to land lightly behind Lucy and rest a hand on her shoulder. A brief moment passed where time seemed to stop before Lucy's spell activated. There was a large flash of light, falling stars on fire, and then it was over.
Lusy was panting, leaning back against Natsu's chest. His arms were around her waist, holding her up. The boss was on the ground, burnt and twitching. Erza had sprung into action, snapping magic restraining cuffs on the four mages on the ground. Gray was too busy gaping at the couple in front of him to help Erza.
After that mission Erza had begun to really realize how much, or rather how little verbal communication the two mages seemed to share. She had begun thinking about the relationship Natsu and Lucy had.
They were not overly lovey-dovey-flirty, but the two did share affectionate gestures. Lucy and Natsu hugged all the time, ignored personal space, and would often be found in the same bedroll in the morning on missions (no matter how many times the two insisted it was only because Lucy got really cold at night, Erza knew there was something more to it). They also just knew everything about each other that there was to know. Lucy had stopped complaining about Natsu breaking into her apartment and Natsu had stopped sulking about Lucy kicking him out of her apartment. Finally there were the eyes. The smiles. The little touches. The body language. That was what had Erza second guessing the platonic nature of their friendship.
Erza observed the two mages out of the corner of her eye. Natsu was leaning on Lucy, one arm around her waist, the other gesturing animatedly in the air. She noticed Lucy laying back into Natsu's chest; Natsu glancing down with a soft smile and soft eyes before continuing his conversation with Levy.
There was no way that they acted like that and were strictly platonic. The longer Erza watched the two, the more convinced she became that Natsu and Lucy were not totally open about the nature of their relationship with the guild.
Eventually Natsu left to go fight and Lucy, clearly having had enough of Fairy Tail for the day, got up and left. Natsu did not pause in his fight, but did through a quick glance towards Lucy before smiling and punching Gray in the face. Gray retaliated by kicking Natsu through the main doors and out of the guild. He then stood ready for Natsu to come charging back in, fists alight. But the salmon haired boy did not reappear.
Footsteps could be heard fading into the night, a shout of 'Wait up!' was faintly heard by those in the guild.
The dragon slayers could hear the laughter and words that followed; 'I don't need a prince to protect me,' 'Good thing I'm a dragon,' 'yeah.'
Wendy blushed when she heard what happened next. Gajeel and Laxus shared a short look and seemed to come to an agreement.
Erza watched the dragon slayers come to some sort of silent agreement. She knew something was up with Natsu and Lucy. But Erza also knew that she would find out whenever Natsu and Lucy decided they were comfortable with sharing whatever the secret was. So Erza silently turned back to her strawberry cheese cake and kept her suspicions to herself.
A/N: I know. I know. Another drabble/one-shot with the theme of talking doesn't build friendships, but I think it really suits Natsu and Lucy. Just saying.
So somewhat of an ambiguous ending, but I'm not happy with how I continued it in my notebook (the first draft is longhand) and I decided that I really liked this ending. It leaves the nature of Lucy and Natsu's relationship up in the air. Although there lots of hints towards a less platonic relationship…