I find it funny how basically a year ago, I was reading a lot of Natsu x Erza stories and was like "I wish I could write like that" and thought it would be hard, now I'm doing this and it's not all that hard. Rather easy. Time consuming sometimes, but easy. Only "hard part" is just trying to convey the ideas.
Reference:
Talking - "Quotations"
Thinking - 'Contractions'
Flashback - Italics
Spells, Important people or objects - Bold
A Return Worth Waiting For
Chapter 3
Erza was desperately trying to catch up with Natsu, running at break neck speed. The poor fool had no idea where she wanted to go eat. Hell, many places banned her from eating there due to her behavior in the past.
"NATSU! WAIT UP!" Erza yelled hoping he would stop or at least slow down despite her gaining on him.
Eventually Erza got close enough to grab his hand and jerked him back, making Natsu lose footing on the ground and come falling to the ground, accidentally taking Erza down with him.
Erza, barely registered how close their faces were before she jumped on her feet, with a heavy blush shown on her face, somehow already missing the closeness between the two. Natsu however, was too focused on the pain rather than how close two were. He looked up and noticed a shade of red on Erza's cheeks.
"Erza, are you sick? You're red in the face." Natsu asked, genuinely concerned for his friend.
"W-what?! N-n-no, I'm fine." Erza stuttered, clearly uncomfortable and embarrassed about the current situation she was in. "C-come on, let-" She was cut off when Natsu put his hand to her forehead.
"Are you sure you're alright? You're burning up." Natsu once again asked, not noticing the affect of his actions on the red head; her face now matching the color of her hair.
"Y-yes! I'm fine!" Erza jerked away quickly trying to dissuade Natsu from inspecting her 'health' anymore.
"Ah. Fine. Let's go." Natsu said rather confused. 'When did Erza become embarrassed about something?' He thought as he and Erza started walking around trying to find a suitable restaurant.
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The walk between them was near silence. Erza on one hand had no idea what to say and didn't want to embarrass herself in front of 'him' again. Natsu on the other hand, wanted to wait until they were eating or after they were done. Shortly, they eventually found a restaurant in which both of them were able to enter, and proceeded to do so.
"Good morning madam and sir! What can I get for you today?" The waiter asked them with enthusiasm. Whatever it was, it seems the waiter was in a good mood today, he was mistaking Erza and Natsu for a young couple, or perhaps both
"I would like two fish." Natsu unsurprisingly ordered.
"And how about you madam, what would you like?" The Waiter then asked
"Actually, I'll just share what he has." Erza replied, making Natsu curious.
'Odd. She normally only orders her strawberry cake, so why has that changed?' Natsu wondered.
"I shall return shortly then." The waiter slightly bowed and walked away.
After the waiter was gone, Natsu finally decided to bring up something that was bugging him. "So why did you leave?"
Erza was taken aback by this. He seemed rather blunt, serious, and rather intelligent about the matter. Something she was not accustomed to seeing Natsu like. "I-I told you. I wanted to take some time off to train away." She replied. She hated lying. Despite her goal to open up, she still found it hard to speak about matters she found embarrassing.
"Erza, I know you've done some changing in this last year. I've changed as well. I know there's more to it than you wanting to train." Natsu's tone grew harsh making Erza flinch slightly.
"Is that so?" Erza hung her head. "I've become predictable."
"Now now. It's not a bad thing. I'm just tired of you not telling me everything." Natsu gave a soft smile as Erza looked up at him. "We're family Erza, and family deserve to know what's going on so we can help each other out."
That statement there, earned Natsu a smile from Erza. It's rare for people to get a genuine smile out of gratitude from Erza. "Thanks Natsu. Alright I'll explain." And for the next 15 minutes while waiting for their food, Erza told him the real reason behind her departure, but left out the bits that involved him. She wanted to tell him when she felt it was right to do so.
"I see." Natsu stated plainly "Well that's good for you Erza! I'm glad you're finally able to open up around people more." Natsu continued giving his signature grin.
"Now that you mention it," Erza started, "you said you've changed yourself. That much is clear as I've noticed that you've become more keen in your observation that people might be hiding something and there is surely more than that, but what brought that change?"
"Well, after you left I felt kind of lonely. Sure Gray was there to always fight me, but we never fought in a way to test our limits. You were the one I'd go to most often to fight, mostly because Gildarts is never around and Laxus just ignores me. So once you left. I tried to better myself as a person somewhat, starting by trying to learn more and become somewhat smarter. I'm still below the norm though." Natsu explained. In that brief moment, Erza also realized his humility, taking note that he as matured overall as well.
"You're food is done madam and sir." The waiter returned carrying two sizable plates, each with a rather big fish on it.
"Ah. Thank you!" Surprisingly, it wasn't Erza that said it; Natsu did. 'He also learned manners? How better can this get?' Erza excitedly thought.
Erza was slightly disappointed, but none the less surprised that Natsu gobbled down all the fish to where she only got a couple of bites of food.
"Ah! That was good! Thanks Erza!" Natsu happily said not noticing Erza comically drooling on the table in due to lack of filling her stomach with food.
"Would you like to order some dessert or are you ready to pay now" The waiter who suddenly appeared asked.
'Let's test something out real quick' Natsu quickly thought
"No tha-" Erza began.
"Actually. I would like to order something" Natsu cut her off as he whispered what he wanted into the waiter's ear, causing Erza to raise an eyebrow. The waiter then left to go get the dessert made which left Natsu with a rather curious Erza.
"Ah, don't worry Erza. I'm paying for this one." Natsu said to her, thinking he actually made her annoyed that he was buying dessert on her money.
"What did you buy?" Erza inquired.
Natsu couldn't help but let his mischievous side temporarily take over. "I'm not telling. You'll find out soon."
"Natsu! Tell me!" Erza yelled comically while flailing her arms
"Then beg!" Natsu replied laughing while Erza began pouting which aroused the attention of some people in the restaurant who then started to laugh at this 'lovers quarrel'.
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To say Erza was curious would be an understatement. She thought Natsu was ordering dessert, not a box of whatever it was to-go, let alone a rather large box. Natsu paid for his 'box' as the two were leaving.
"Please come again!" the person at the front desk of the restaurant said with the waiter who severed the two standing besides her.
"We will!" Both of them yelled back at the same time.
The trip back to the guild seemed to go by fast. Both Natsu and Erza were chatting about what went on in the last year, what to do next, should the two form a team for missions and so on.
After entering the doors, it seemed everyone had questions for Erza, and was swarmed. In that particular moment, Natsu snuck away to a farther back table in the guild to open the box. A box that was revealed to be strawberry cake which was (or still could be) Erza favorite thing to eat.
"Erza come here!" Came the voice of the white haired bartender. Erza approached her and slowly noticed a mischievous look on her face. "So did you two do anything with each other?" She inquired.
Erza so far, not catching her meaning replied, "We simply went to go eat somewhere."
"No. I mean did you DO anything?" Mira's mischievous grin widening.
Erza, was starting to turn red, as she figured out what Mira was implying. A massive blush appeared on her face when she thought of what she and Natsu could have done. They could have went to a room, a full blown make out session starts happens, off come the clothes, and… Erza was so red at this point. However, it immediately disappeared when she spotted Natsu with cake; not just ordinary cake. Her favorite cake. Strawberry cake.
At first, Erza was happy that Natsu bought her cake until she noticed something, a fork, a plate, and a stuffed mouth. "NATSU! YOU BOUGHT STRAWBERRY CAKE AND DIDN'T TELL ME OR AT LEAST SHARE!?" Erza raged comically. Unfortunately for her, Natsu was nearing the end of the cake.
"Oh? You want some? Then be-" Natsu was cut off by a sword embedding itself right next to his head in the wall, instantly making the smirk that was his lips disappear into complete shock. Everyone including Natsu froze in shock at this. Rule of thumb in the guild: Never mess with Erza's cake.
Eventually Natsu got over his shock and shrugged, "Well I guess since you're going to be mean about it, you don't get any." He bluntly stated as he brought the last piece of cake towards his mouth
Erza's mind went into overdrive. She desperately wanted that cake. She without thought rushed Natsu at speeds she couldn't believe she could run at. Despite these great speeds, it wasn't enough. Natsu was already happily chomping down on the last of his cake, confirming his little test. 'Yep she still adores her strawberry cake.' he thought idly.
The situation soon turned comical as Erza comically cried while violently shaking Natsu. "You didn't save any for me!?"
'Ok, that's enough teasing now, time for me to do it.' Natsu thought. "Man Erza, did you really think I'm that mean?" He asked rather seriously, startling Erza by his sudden seriousness.
Natsu soon pulled a box out from under the table, the same kind of box that the cake he was just eating came in. "Here. I got you some."
Erza opened the box, and her face suddenly lit up like a little school girl. In the box was the other half of the big cake Natsu was just eating. Her excitement was soon replaced by confusion. "I thought you ate the cake. How did you get it into another box?"
"When I was whispering to the waiter, I asked him to double box the cake, and split the cake itself into half; so as you were talking to Mira, I promptly put half into the second box and hid it under the table and started eating the other half."
Erza, accepting the explanation as well as dismissing why he may have done that, turned her attention to the box. The box that contained strawberry cake. Her favorite cake.
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Natsu has seen Erza do some really weird things. Some including today, others include the things they did as kids, but never has he seen Erza do anything so horrifying to the cake she loves so much. It was mind scaring. In the brief moment it took her to 'devour' the cake, she seemed to become a red headed demon. Cake went everywhere. The table, the floor, some nearby guild members, and Natsu who got a nice chunk on his face.
Natsu didn't respond to the cake on his face as both he and the rest of the guild were trying to comprehend what Erza was doing to that poor cake.
"Ah! That was good. Thanks for buying me the cake Natsu." Erza contently sighed breaking Natsu out of his stupor as he noticed Erza licking her fingers trying to rid herself of the pieces of cake littering her face and fingers. "Oh! You got some cake on your face Natsu." She pointed out.
"Huh?" Natsu turned his head to Erza not yet aware he had cake on his face, but was quickly shocked when Erza brought her hand to his face and wiped away the cake and then proceeded to eat it.
"What was that for!?" Natsu questioned loudly, rather dumbfounded.
"I just said their was cake on your face. I was not about to let it go to waste, especially since you bought it for me." Erza just pouted comically.
"Eh, whatever. By the way, since it's been a while, want to go on a mission with me?" Natsu asked, rather hoping to both get out of this situation and to go have some adventure with his childhood friend.
"Sure!" Erza face lit up somewhat, wondering how strong he got since she left. Despite her pummeling him into the ground a couple hours ago, she figured he didn't go all out to someone who may or may not have been able to defend themselves from him.
After taking a quick glance at the mission board, Natsu did not find one that really sparked his interest. He then turned to Erza. "Hey Erza, would you happen to mind taking a S-Class mission that won't take too long or difficult?"
'Is he an S-Class mage as well now or is just strong enough to be one?' Erza thought intently. "Uh, let me give it a quick look real quick."
It didn't take long before Erza found one, oddly enough, it didn't really seem qualified to be an S-Class mission. "I found one!"
"Let me see!" Natsu took the paper and gave it a look. "What the hell? A group of Vulcans not far from here are attacking campers in the woods? 800,000 jewels. Why is that an S-Class mission?"
"I don't know, but regardless let's try to stay on guard just in case." Erza noted rather seriously. "Mira! I'm taking this mission," while holding up the paper showing it to the bartender, "and I'm taking Natsu here with me."
"Alright then. Try not to have too much Fun with Natsu and be careful!" The white haired woman playfully teased, well aware of how Erza would interpret it.
Gray, who was miraculously recovered from his beat down, overheard what Erza had said. "Wait! Why are you taking this idiot!? I should be the one to go! Not him!"
Erza's face was overshadowed, and darkly turned to Gray. "Are you really going to complain about who I choose to go on a mission with me?" Gray's face paled. "Especially when that person is basically a childhood friend who's always been with me?" Gray shriveled down in fear as Erza's town grew harsher and darker. "Now let me be clear on this. I'm taking Natsu on this mission and ONLY Natsu got it!?"
Gray who was comically a miniature version of himself was violently shaking his head up and down to hopefully not get the beating of his life. "Yes ma'am!"
Erza then all of a sudden returned to her content smile that she should finally go on a mission after being away for so long, a mission where she was going with him. "Alright, we should be back in a day or so. Let's go Natsu!"
"W-wait! You're not going to pack your luggage?" Natsu questioned. It's was off character for her not to over pack for even the simplest of missions.
"We're only going to be gone a day. Two at most. Nothing to worry about. Besides, I don't think there are many creatures that can take me and you on at the same time." Erza nonchalantly replied.
"Uh, ok." Natsu was surprised by her compliment that with him working with her, they could overcome just about anything. "Let's go!"
That is the end of this chapter. As I said earlier, this was originally going to be a 1 chapter one-shot. Now it's more like a story. If people like this story. I will have it continue on into the main story where Natsu and Erza are Paired up. Anyways I hope to have a chapter up sometime soon. I'm only done with school. Then it's only graduation and parties to attend then I'm done.