Disclaimers Note: I do not own any of the characters or any of Fairy tail.
Authors note: Hey Guys! I'm sorry I haven't updated in a very long time, I was having a tough time managing some personal stuff and adding to the story at the same time. However you'll be pleased to know that I will now be updating more regularly and will also being putting up the start of a new story so keep your eyes open for that! Anyway enjoy!
Even though things were tough and the light at the end of the tunnel wasn't exactly getting much brighter or closer, Natsu, Lucy and the rest of their friends always found a way to keep hopes high… Even, if that meant forgetting about the outside world for a couple of hours. The gang were currently sat in front of a make shift bar, drinking beer and messing about. Everyone in the small building; were singing out of tune, laughing with friends and brawling like the world hadn't really changed.
"Hey Flame breath!"
"What do 'ya want icicle freak!"
"Bet I could beat you in a drinking contest!"
"OH YEAH!?"
"HELL YEAH!"
"BRING IT ON BRAIN FREEZE!"
Both boys turned to the white haired woman behind the bar, who was currently drying off cups and dishes. When she noticed the boys stare she smiled at them sweetly.
"Hi Natsu, Gray what's up?"
Both boys ran up to the bar and slammed their hands down on the wooden surface.
"MIRA! PLEASE LINE UP SOME SHOTS! WE'RE GONNA DRINK UNTIL ONE OF US FALLS!" the 2 shouted in unison.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Of course we are! Why wouldn't we be?"
Mira looked to the side to see the rest of their group. She just chuckled lightly; a small evil smirk appeared on her face.
"Look beside you and tell me why you might want to reconsider."
Natsu and Grey gave Mira a confused look before taking a look for themselves. Their faces paled. When they had looked over they saw that Lucy and Erza had heard and were not very happy. They had a very dark aura about them. The boys heard Mira chuckle in front of them before they heard her question the girls.
"Erza, Lucy, what's wrong? Should the boys not be allowed to have a drinking competition?"
"Absolutely not! We are only here to have a quick drink with friends and go home. We have a long day tomorrow and have to get up early and I don't want to be dealing with 2 whining boys complaining that they have bad hangover!" Erza slammed her fist down on the table, which made the 2 boys jump. Gajeel and levy were snickering behind Erza at how scared they were and how scared they were about to be… Or at least at how scared Natsu was about to be…
"Natsu... I swear to GOD. If I… have to deal with a night; like the one that happened a few months ago… I swear… you'll wish that you'll have been sleeping outside the gate with the zombies instead of in here where you're trapped with me!" Lucy looked straight into Natsu's eyes. As soon as she did he shivered with fear. In her eyes at that moment instead of seeing her sweet, loving and caring gaze, that always seemed to calm the very soul of a person no matter what; he swore he could see the very fiery pits of hell.
"Aye!" Both teens quickly saluted the 2 girls before quickly running away to the other side of the room and cowering in a corner.
Lucy just sighed. What am I going to do with you Natsu… Lucy gazed around the room and smiled, all her friends… No… all her family were happy and making merry. She was glad that amongst all of the chaos and amongst all of the hardship, they were still able to be their own goofy selves. The whole camp always tried to look for the brighter side of every situation. Even after all the lives that had been lost and even after all the heart break of losing someone they loved, they were still able to live on stronger and happier and more able to help others with their own heartbreak and get them back on the right track. They were all great people and Lucy knew that if ever she was in any kind of jam she could count on any of them to help her out, because amongst all the jokes and the banter and even underneath the hard shells of the more tougher characters in their family, there was love and there was kindness and there was a kind soul that was always ready to help out anyone that they believed they could. Natsu and Gray included. As annoying as they all were. She couldn't help but love them.
~2 a.m. back at Lucy and Natsu's small house~
Natsu was laid on the sofa snoring loudly. Lucy came through from her room and looked over to Natsu's sleeping form.
"Oh, Natsu…" she chuckled quietly, "You still haven't learned your lesson."
Lucy stealthily crept into the kitchen and rummaged through all the draws looking for a permanent marker. As soon as she found one she crept over to Natsu and sat on his stomach. She carefully began to draw on his face, being careful not to wake him up. She started by drawing a mustache and then a monocle and finished by writing on his forehead: SNORING SUCKER. Before silently moving to get off. She ran over to her bedroom door and stopped in the door frame. She couldn't wait for morning, it was gonna be the best! She quickly closed the door and jumped into bed; quickly falling asleep.
~ Next morning~
"LUUCCYYY!"
Lucy woke to the sound of Natsu screaming. It took a moment before she realized why he was screaming. Lucy quickly jumped out of bed and strolled into the living room. She tried to keep a straight face as Natsu stormed in.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Natsu pointed to his face which was contorted in anger but also covered in the marker pen from last night. Lucy tried to hold back her laughter.
"I… I don't know what you're talking about, Natsu?"
The more she looked at Natsu's face the more she wanted to burst out laughing.
"You don't know what I'm talking about?! You don't know!? TELL ME WHY I LOOK LIKE A GODDAMN ARISTOCRAT WHO LOOKS LIKE HE GOT DRUNK AT A PARTY AND PRANKED ON!?"
Lucy couldn't take it anymore. She burst out laughing, she laughed so hard that she began tearing up; holding her stomach because it hurt from laughing so hard.
"LUCY!"
Natsu ran for her. Lucy noticed and ran away. Natsu chased her around the room, he chased her around the sofa and into the kitchen where Lucy grabbed a cake that had been left for them by Mira Jane and throw at Natsu, who dodged it by a hair. He chased her out of the kitchen hot on her tail and just before she could escape to the safety of the bathroom he tackled her to the floor and pinned her arms above her head. Lucy was still laughing hard, but begged for mercy none the less. She tried to beg as she laughed uncontrollably.
"Natsu… Think about… This!"
"Now, what to do with you? Hmmm…" Natsu smirked evilly
"Natsu... Natsu… Please… don't do anything we'll both regret!"
"Aha! I know just what to do!" Natsu laughed evilly as he began to tickle Lucy's side mercilessly.
"NO! NO! P-PLEASE! NATSU! I-I-I'M BEGGING YOU! NATSUUUU!"
"MWHAHAHAHAHAHA! NOONE CAN SAVE YOU!"
Natsu continued to tickle her, laughing as she squirmed, squealed and laughed.
"NATSU! NATSU!" PLEASE!"
"O.k." Natsu stopped his tickle attack but didn't move off of her hips and didn't free her hands, "Only if…"
"On-only if, what?"
"Only if you say: Natsu is the greatest ever and is the most handsome and strongest guy on the planet! And I will never draw on his face or any part of him ever again. And also you have to cook whatever I want for a week!"
"HEY! No fair! No way am I doing any of that!"
"Fine. But you've made a bad decision" with that he continued his tickle attack.
"NO! NO PLEASE! OK! I'LL SAY IT! I'LL SAY IT!"
"Go on."
Lucy pouted and mumbled under her breath.
"Natsu…greatest…strongest…week…"
"What was that? I couldn't hear you?"
Lucy glared at Natsu.
"NATSU IS THE GREATEST EVER AND IS THE MOST HANDSOME AND STRONGEST GUY ON THE PLANET. I WILL ALSO COOK ALL HIS MEALS FOR A WEEK!"
"Thank you. It was nice doing business with you." Natsu let Lucy's arms go and got off of her, "Now I need to go and try and scrub this stuff off before the others get here." And with that Natsu retreated to the bathroom, locking the door behind him; while Lucy plonked down on to the sofa mumbling to herself, placing her arm over her eyes and slouching back into the sofa.
"Goddamn boy. Being so goddamn fast and strong." And don't forget cute…
Lucy bolted up right and stared at her reflection in the dark screen of the T.v. Did I just think that? What the hell?! Well… I guess he's pretty cute… and funny… and sweet…and…WAIT A GODDAMN FRICKIN' MINUTE!What the hell am I thinking!? He's my best friend!?Damn hormones!Making me think all these crazy things!
Lucy hopped off the sofa and went over to the bathroom door; she knocked on the wooden surface.
"Hey! Natsu! You got it off yet?!"
"Nearly! I just can't get rid of the stupid monocle!"
"Want help?"
"Yeah. Please. Lemme just open the door."
Just as he said that the door opened with a click and Lucy entered the bathroom to help Natsu get the pen off his face.