Episode 2: In which Natsu and Lucy are an old married couple who know each other way too well.

It was a warm and pleasant day, inside the apartment at least. Outside there was a brisk wind that made it feel like it should be snowing, but they hadn't gotten so much as a frost. Lucy hated this kind of cold, the kind that was ugly and dry and never-ending.

The window creaked under the force of a particularly strong gale, and Lucy shot it a dirty look. Today was Blanket Day in the apartment for sure.

"Lucy, you should draw me."

Lucy looked up at Erza. It was just the two of them today; Levy was their third roommate, the one who shared a room with Lucy, but she was stuck in the art building. She was missing out on Blanket Day.

"Erza, you know I don't paint my friends."

"Not painting, just a sketch. You do those, right? Just next time you need to practice faces or something, I'd love to be your model. I've always wondered how I would look in your style." Erza's eyes were shining with enthusiasm. She loved being looked at and admired, Lucy knew that. But drawing a friend…that was something she only did when she knew others wouldn't see.

Lucy bit her lip. "Sorry, Erza. It's a rule of mine. I don't draw friends, even sketches."

"Oh, sorry. I thought that only applied to paintings, since I saw sketches you did of Cana in the past." Cana Alberona was Gray's friend who went to grad school at their university.

"Wait, how did you know about that?" Lucy said.

"About what?"

"About those sketches," Lucy said. "The ones you're talking about are from my private sketchbook. Nobody's seen those except for me."

"Oh," Erza said, looking a little concerned. "Was I not supposed to know about them? Natsu sent around pictures."

Lucy's jaw nearly dropped. "Natsu did what?"

"I take it he wasn't supposed to see them either."

"Of course not! Why, that…that…that asshole! How could he do that? He knows that sketchbook is private!"

"If it means anything, he was— Well, just look." Erza pulled out her phone and opened a group message with all the others on it, Natsu included. She scrolled up a bit and handed Lucy the phone. There was a series of photos from Natsu containing several sketches from Lucy's sketchbook, which had her livid just looking at them being sent around like that. But the words accompanying them made her anger falter.

"He spent about an hour spamming us with texts," Erza said as Lucy read through the conversation. Well, for a good portion of it, the conversation was a less of a dialogue and more of a one-man speech; Natsu sent message after message praising Lucy's talent.

"We get it. You're a Lucy fanboy," Gray wrote after paragraphs of Natsu gushing about Lucy's use of light and color in her sketches. "Stop blowing up my phone. We get it."

"Guys we need to make her the next Van Gogh," Natsu said.

"Van Gogh only got famous after he died," Levy pointed out.

"Then we need to make her even more famous than Van Gogh. You don't understand, guys. Even her sketches are this good. I'm in love."

"NATSU WE KNOW."

Lucy giggled at the tirade that followed, Gajeel complaining about how Natsu's constant messages were interrupting his concentration and Natsu bemoaning the others' lack of enthusiasm about his plans to make Lucy famous.

"I think he just couldn't contain himself," Erza said when Lucy reached the bottom and handed the phone back.

"I can see that," Lucy said, trying to wipe the smile from her face. You're supposed to be angry, remember, Lucy? But somehow she couldn't bring herself to be mad anymore after seeing how proud he was of her. He noticed how hard she worked to develop her style, all her improvements over the years they'd known each other, everything. And, apparently, he adored her for it.

Not that she didn't adore him right back, but this was unexpected. They were best friends, sure, and he always praised her paintings when she asked for his opinion, but part of her always figured all his praises were just to make her feel better. But he was saying the same things even when she wasn't around to hear it, which warmed her heart. He loved her art this much.

"What are you going to do?" Erza asked, pulling Lucy from her thoughts.

"I'm not sure," she said. "Keep better track of where my sketchbook is, for one. Maybe I'll steal his and see how he likes it."

"Natsu uses a sketchbook?"

"You don't know about it? Even better." A grin stretched across Lucy's face. This was going to be perfect. Evil, but perfect. "I think I know exactly how I'm going to get revenge."

Erza raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And how will you do that?"

"You'll see."

"I'll take it this sketchbook has things he doesn't want others to know about, seeing as I haven't even heard of him keeping one."

"He has to use one for class, for sketches and brainstorming. But he usually keeps it on lockdown because his brainstorming ideas areterrible. Like, really bad."

"Then I look forward to seeing it," Erza said, a mischievous smile on her face.

"Sorry you don't get your sketches, though," Lucy said.

"It's fine, I simply misunderstood. Who else have you drawn in that private sketchbook of yours?"

"Mostly strangers," Lucy admitted. "I drew Cana after meeting her the first time because I thought she looked particularly beautiful that day, and her expressions are so animated. I haven't drawn her since getting to know her better."

"Not even Natsu?"

"Not even Natsu."

Erza nodded. "I see. It's understandable, I suppose. I'm the opposite; I prefer taking portraits of people I know. It feels like I can capture them better if I already know a lot about them."

"I do feel that way sometimes," Lucy said, "but I prefer to paint people I don't know, because then I can invent stories about them, try to imagine who they are and what they're like. It's kind of like noveling, but on a canvas. To do that with friends is kind of…weird."

"Very interesting. I think I've learned a little more about you as a person today," Erza said.

Lucy laughed. "What, that I'm a total writing geek?"

"Oh, I've always known that."

Lucy made a low grumbly noise in offense.

"It's just interesting to see what others' artist philosophies are like. Why do we do what we do? That sort of thing. Everyone's reasons for being here are a little different."

"I don't know how we get along with so many artists in our group," Lucy said. "We're all a little eccentric."

"Most artists tend to be," Erza said with a smile.

"I'm surprised you're actually admitting you're weird."

"It doesn't hurt to acquiesce sometimes when it's just the two of us."

"I'm honored."

"As you should be."

Over the weekend, it was Lucy's turn to skip a Blanket Day to spend time in the studio. She wasn't expecting Natsu to join her on such a cold and windy day, especially seeing as it was the weekend, but he'd somehow braved the frigid temperatures to burst into the studio with his usual energy. He chattered on about Happy's latest attempt to shred all their furniture as he set up a little work station near where Lucy was painting. The whole time, she quietly mixed her colors, contemplating how to break the news.

"You liked my sketches that much, huh?" Lucy said, smirking.

Natsu blinked, train of thought interrupted. "Huh?"

"I know you took pictures and sent them around."

Natsu's eyes widened, and, if Lucy wasn't seeing things, he was blushing at the tips of his ears. "Oh. Who told you?"

"Erza," she said. "You know that sketchbook is private."

"I don't see why," Natsu said with a huff. "The stuff you have in there is awesome. You should show it to people more."

"Keeping it private was my choice, Natsu. I ask that you respect that choice from now on, Got it?"

"Fine," Natsu said, pouting. "But you'll still show me them, right? I won't take pictures anymore, I just want to see."

"Maybe," Lucy said. "I'm still mad at you. And a lot of those were private for a reason."

"I only sent the ones I didn't think you'd mind."

"I mind for all of them."

"Sorry."

Deciding it was time to change the tone of the conversation, Lucy smiled and flipped her hair around to the other shoulder. "It's fine. Just don't do it again. I got my revenge, anyway."

"What revenge?" Natsu asked, tilting his head.

"I'm not the only one with a sketchbook. Right, Natsu?"

He paled. "You wouldn't."

"I already did. I don't think you'll ever live it down."

"Noooo," Natsu wailed, covering his head with his hands. "I should've burned that thing while I still had the chance."

"And lose all your wonderful ideas?"

"I never should've showed it to you."

"And I never showed you mine, so we're even."

"Fair enough. Well-played, Heartfilia. I admit defeat."

"You never stood a chance, Dragneel."

They fell into silence again as they each concentrated on their work, until Lucy got thirsty and reached for a glass of water.

"Lucy, that's not clean."

She looked at the cup in her hand. It was her rinse water.

"Oh my god," she said, putting it down as fast as possible. "Thank you."

"You're really absentminded when you're working," Natsu said, turning back to his laptop.

"How's your thing going?" she said, leaning over to peer at his screen. He turned it away from her.

"No looking yet."

"Okay."

"Well…okay, fine, you can look." He turned his laptop toward her and switched tabs from a half-finished business card to a logo that Lucy quickly recognized. Her eyes lit up.

"That's the idea I gave you!"

Natsu gave a confident grin, hands on his hips. "Looks great, huh?"

"It's amazing! I hope you get an A."

"I still have to finish the stationery, but the professor said my logo is good enough to run with," Natsu said, facing the laptop back toward himself.

"That's awesome," Lucy said. "I can't believe you actually used my idea."

"It was a good one," he said with a shrug.

"Compared to the ideas in your sketchbook, maybe," she teased.

"Hey, my ideas get better after the first round of brainstorming. It's just the first few ideas that are bad."

"Yeah, but those few ideas are atrocious."

"Shut up."

Lucy grinned. "You know I'll never stop teasing you."

"Just do whatever you want, weirdo." He grabbed her in a headlock to muss her hair while she half-heartedly fought him off squealing and giggling.

This was the moment when the studio door burst open and Gray came in.

"Knew I could find you here. Charcoal-for-Brains, stop messing with Lucy, I gotta talk to you."

Natsu paused mid-noogie. "Make it quick, Icebox."

Gray pulled out his phone and pointed to it. "What kind of utter nonsense is this?"

Natsu peered close at the screen, and Lucy could already tell it was the text she sent out earlier of Natsu's notebook. She should've known Gray would be the first to use it as teasing fodder. She just hadn't expected him to come all the way to the painting studio to do so.

Natsu's ears turned pink when he realized what Gray was here for. "Oh no. I'm fucked."

That was all it took. Gray burst out into hysterical laughter, literally doubling over and falling to the floor he was laughing so hard.

Natsu turned even pinker, if that was possible.

Lucy grinned. "Ah, sweet revenge," she said.

"Why'd you have to do it, Lucy?" Natsu whined over the sound of Gray's laughter

"I only sent one page," she said defensively.

Hearing that, Gray started laughing even harder. "T-there's more?!" he wheezed. Tears were starting to squeeze from the corners of his eyes.

"It's not that funny," Natsu grumbled.

"But…but…an umbrella app? An umbrella! You'd ruin your phone using it as an umbrella!"

"And the thermometer app where he drew someone sticking their phone under their tongue to take their temperature," Lucy said.

"And a Bigfoot finder app." Gray cackled. "How do you even come up with this stuff?"

"Don't forget the app that makes fart noises when you move your phone," Lucy said.

Natsu covered his ears. "Shut up."

"I came here 'cause I couldn't believe they weren't joke ideas, but your reaction—" He devolved into laughter again.

"Shut uppppp."

"Man, we never get to see this stuff in class when you're making proposals," Gray said.

"There's a reason for that, obviously," Natsu said, scowling.

"Come on, it's hilarious. You should do it."

"No thank you," he said. "I don't need the professors to think I'm an idiot."

"I'm pretty sure everyone knows that by now. What harm could a little extra proof do?"

"Didn't I tell you to shut up? Do I need to blackmail you again?"

"Again?" Lucy questioned.

Natsu grinned. "I never did tell you how I convinced him to strip for us, did I?"

"If you keep using the same thing as a threat over stupid things like this, it's going to lose its impact eventually," Gray told him. "Don't worry, I'll keep your little secret in class. Outside of class? Well, we all know already so…"

"Ugh, don't remind me," Natsu said, head in his hands.

"You'll never live it down," Lucy said.

"I've learned my lesson," Natsu said.

"No more stealing each other's sketchbooks, all right?"

"Promise," Natsu said, curling his smallest finger in Lucy's.

"No breaking it this time," she said, sealing the pinky promise. "Now both of you either get to work or get out, because I'm on a deadline and this little break has gone on long enough."

"Yes, ma'am," Natsu said, mock saluting and turning back to his laptop.

"I brought my stuff, don't worry," Gray said, pulling over one of those uncomfortable metal stools before deciding to just sit on the concrete floor instead. He snatched a blanket from Lucy's pile of things — she always brought a blanket to the studio — and made himself comfortable.

Though there was still the occasional giggle from Gray and embarrassed grumbling from Natsu, Lucy managed to finish her painting that day. And her sketchbook was safely nestled in her backpack, no longer at risk from her friends' prying eyes. In a way, she was almost glad Natsu had leaked some of her sketches, because now she knew that his praise wasn't just to make her feel better. It almost made her want to show off some of her better ones voluntarily. Almost.