For The Love Of Nalu

Chapter 23

Theme: Advice

Lucy sat down at the bar inside the guild. Her deep brown eyes remained glued to the glass she currently held in her delicate hands. Her favorite drink went neglected in her hands as her mind replayed her current predicament.

Natsu.

Of course she just had to fall for the densest man ever to have walked Earthland! No matter how hard she tries, he just doesn't notice her as anything more than nakama. It's painful to think that she may never be able to go further than that with the man of her dreams. Even with his flaws, he was perfect for her.

Deep in her thoughts, the blond didn't notice the sound of clicking heels approaching. The silver haired barmaid leaned forward and watched the spirit mage with a smirk on her face. Oh yes, she knew exactly what was wrong with Lucy and Mirajane has been waiting for this moment since Natsu first brought her here.

She watched as the blonds face continuously changed. Pain, love, hope, longing and so much more. A giggle escaped the take over mages lips yet that still didn't pull Lucy from her thoughts. She cleared her throat, hoping that would do the trick but still nothing. A frown graced the beauty's lips before the sound of a large glass mug hit the counter.

"Yo Lucy! Mirajane's trying to get your attention!" A drunk Cana called out. Mirajane glared at the card mage before the blond turned towards them, confusion written upon her lovely features. Mirajane sighed, yeah this might be harder than she thought.

"Did you need something Mira?" Lucy asked.

"Well Lucy, I was just wondering if something was the matter. You seem distant recently. Did something happen?" Mirajane's eyes sparkled in all their glory, their deep blue shining with mischief and excitement.

"Well, nothing happened per say but I guess I'm just a little unsure of somethings." Lucy responded. Yes, Mirajane thought. So far so good, now all she had to do was get Lucy to actually admit what she is feeling.

"Unsure of what?" She questioned. Lucy ran her hand through her blond locks, thinking over the idea of telling them just what was on her mind. She knew of Mirajane's crazy schemes when it came to match making, having been the victim of it before but that was a long time ago. Before she realized just what she felt for the very man who holds the position of her best friend.

"Well, I guess there is no point in hiding it. I recently came to terms with my feelings for a certain someone and I am having trouble getting his attention in the right way."

"Who is this certain someone?" Mirajane egged her on. She wanted to hear the words straight from the spirits mages mouth. Until then Mirajane knew she wouldn't be satisfied.

"Natsu." She whispered. Mirajane gasped and squealed in delight as Cana chuckled.

"It's about time!" The drunkard spat before taking another drink from the very mug she had slammed down.

"Oh this is perfect! You guys will make such adorable babies! I just can't wait!" Mirajane cooed.

"Hold on there Mira, I haven't even told him how I feel and you're jumping to us having kids. What if he doesn't feel the same?" Lucy asked with worry set in her chocolate eyes.

"Oh don't worry about that. He definitely likes you too." Mirajane assured her.

"But how can you be so sure? I mean, he doesn't notice anything that I throw at him. All he does is call me weird and laugh it off." The blond whined.

"Well Natsu's not going to understand it if you just throw hints at him. You actually have to come out and say it. Be direct with him, it's the only way to get through to him." Mirajane stated. Lucy knew she was right. Natsu was too dense to understand what she was doing but the idea of actually telling the pinkette just what she felt for him was rather unnerving.

"I know, but how am I supposed to confess? Just walk up to him and say 'Hey Natsu, I love you let's date'?"

"That would probably work but I would recommend maybe making him something to eat and setting the scene in your apartment. Light candles, use rose petals and confess right after you finished eating. Tell him exactly how he makes you feel." Mirajane eyes lit up at the idea of how romantic it would be.

"Tch, screw that. Just walk on up to him, let you hips sway in that seductive manner you always have and give him a big smoocharoo!" Cana chimed in. Lucy's face blushed a bright crimson at the idea of kissing Natsu. She had to admit that the idea of kissing him was something she has been thinking a lot of recently but she wasn't just going to do it like that. She would at least want to tell him how she feels first and she definitely wouldn't want a crowd to see. Especially since there is a chance of rejection.

"Cana! She couldn't possibly to that. Lucy is innocent and that would be completely out of character. Even Natsu would know that somethings not right with her and might assume she is sick or something and blame it on that. He wouldn't believe it if she did that!" Mirajane countered. Lucy knew that Mirajane had a point. If she did this too bluntly then Natsu would definitely misread the situation. He might even think she was cursed or something.

"Well, what else can she do because your idea was just plain stupid. Do you really think that Natsu understands romantic things like that?" This time it was Cana who had a point, but if neither of the idea's would work then what was she supposed to do. Lucy groaned in frustration. How could a confession be so complicated? Oh yeah, because she choose Natsu to confess to.

Well, she didn't choose him, her heart did but she didn't care. She knew that she couldn't do any better than the very man who brought her here and showed her what life truly holds for her.

"Well, how about we let them go on a mission alone together and work it out to where it seems like Lucy is in danger. Maybe that will make him realize his feelings for her." Mirajane offered. Lucy shook her head, she knew that was not going to work.

"Me and Natsu go on missions all the time with just the two of us and there have been plenty of times where I was put in danger but Natsu is Natsu so he just comes and saves the day." Lucy held a small smile upon her lips. She couldn't help but smile when she thought of all the wonderful things that the dragon slayer has done for her.

"I still say that she should play the seductive role and just seduce the man. Maybe that's what he needs to push some sense into him." Cana stated.

"If he doesn't even understand romance then how could he understand intimacy?" Mirajane questioned.

"Because he is a man with raging hormones and maybe all he needs is a little push. Sexy Lucy should be able to manage that right?" Cana quirked a brow at the blond who sighed and shook her head.

"I have tried to act sexy around him but nothing works. There have been times where I have used my sexy attack in front of him and he always asked how I could be so unsexy." The thought was painful, the idea that Natsu doesn't find her attractive.

"He said that?" Mirajane asked in surprise. When Lucy nodded a shadow passed over the silver haired beauty's face before a chill ran down Lucy's spine. "Where is that idiot, how dare he say such hurtful things to the woman that loves him!"

"Now Mira, he didn't understand what he was saying. You know he wouldn't hurt me on purpose." Lucy defended. "Besides, he doesn't know how I feel so he doesn't realize just how painful such words would be." Mirajane glanced at the blond before her stern features softened. That was just like Lucy to forget her own pain and to worry about others first.

"You're right Lucy, Natsu can be an idiot but he would never hurt anyone on purpose. You of all people." Lucy smiled at Mirajane's response. Yeah, Natsu wouldn't intentionally hurt his best friend. "But I think it would take cute and romantic Lucy to get through to him."

"Nah, sexy Lucy is the way to go."

"Cute Lucy."

"Sexy Lucy."

"Cute Lucy!"

"Sexy Lucy!"

"Girls please, calm down!" Lucy tried to reason but there was no stopping the two. With a sigh Lucy stood up from her spot, no longer wanting to hear the advice from the two mages. All it did was confuse her more and now she was worse off then before.

Lucy began to make her way towards the doors before a flash of pink made it's way in almost knocking her over in the process.

"Oh there you are! Come on Lucy, there is something that I want to show you!" Natsu stated rather excitedly. She smiled at the man before walking in the direction he ran off to. A metal clad hand made it's way onto her shoulder before she turned to see both Erza and Gray smiling at her.

"Lucy, just be yourself and you'll do just fine." Erza said. A smile grew upon the blonds lips as she pulled Erza and Gray in for a hug. Yes, that's exactly what she needed to hear. She didn't need to change herself in order to catch Natsu's attention. All she had to do is be herself and if he loved her then it would work out for the best.

"Thanks you two, that's exactly what I needed to hear." She pulled away wearing the brightest smile she has held in several days. Erza and Gray waved bye to the spirit mage as she walked out the door to see the pinkette standing there waiting for her.

"What took you so long? You're so slow you weirdo!" They heard Natsu state before the guild doors closed behind them. Erza and Gray looked at each other, still holding the same smile they did for Lucy.

"So, do you think she will be okay?" Gray asked of the red head.

"She'll be fine. I just wish her luck in the future. She didn't exactly choose the easiest person to handle when it comes to such things." Erza answered.

"Yeah you're right. But I know things will turn out fine. It's so painfully obvious he likes her, I just couldn't believe she never noticed."

"She didn't realize that she was just as dense as him, they both just needed a little push. I look forward to watching them grow together and if he ever hurts her..."

"Yes yes, we know Erza. You'll kill him right?"

"Oh no, it would be so much worse than that." A shiver passed through the ice mages body as he looked into the demonic eyes of Titania. Thankfully he doesn't have to worry about such things, or at least not yet.

Hey there, I finally found some more time to manage some updates. Gosh, I have had a crazy week. I didn't even have time to check my email so you can imagine how I felt when I finally signed in and saw 123 emails, all from FF. Not only was I excited but at the same time I was dreading having to go through all of them. It will take me hours to do!

Anywho, I hope you liked the newest chapter. I know it's similar to another chapter I had wrote earlier but it's still different in it's own ways. Hopefully you don't think that they are too much alike.

Next theme shall be:

Perversion.

What do you think will happen?