Movie night meant couch time. Couch time meant cuddle time, and cuddle time alwaysmade things interesting.
It was a little thing they'd both agreed on, every two weeks on a Friday they'd curl up together and watch a movie- be it gag worthy romance films, soul stealing horrors or gripping mysteries- it didn't matter.
And snacks obviously were a must.
Usually it was the classiness of buttered popcorn but sometimes they decided to go a bit fancier and order a pizza if the movie deserved a proper feast.
But of course movie night just had to be in the living room, huddled up on the couch. Which was where things often got out of hand before they could even get halfway through the movie.
Cuddling, for all the happiness it could bring, was equally troublesome in the effort it took to even reach that level of comfort and it sometimes ended in complete failure, making it questionable why they even bothered sometimes.
Most times it was awkward squirming on their part, but there were a couple times well when the movie was abandoned for more…favourable activities (accidental grinding has been known to do that for a couple).
There was one horrifying moment where somehow (and up til now she still couldn't figure it out) Lucy had planted her foot right in Natsu's crotch. She'd fiercely apologized for minutes after but he assured her that he was completely fine (though his voice had climbed a couple octaves higher and she could see the tears held back by sheer willpower in eyes).
But tonight was not like those nights. It was different.
Tonight was one in a million, super rare, absolutely special moment. Winning the lottery couldn't even match up to how unbelievable this was.
Because there was no squirming, no injuries,nothing of the sort this time. Perfection had been achieved on the first try. But like all things perfect it didn't last.
Because Lucy ruined it.
They fit together comfortably on the couch, soft cushions contouring to them without problem.
The bowl rested empty on the floor, licked clean by Happy who'd moved onto Natsu's hand hanging off the edge. She couldn't hear a thing over the snores in her ear.
If she was gonna make her move she'd have to do it now.
Small wriggles drove her closer to the edge, freedom was near. Only the arm slung on her waist was holding her back ,and that was slowly slipping off.
She was so close! Almost there…!
The snores in her ear broke with a confused snort when a particularly loud explosion sounded from the movie. The A-team had just blown up the ship full of containers while miraculously getting away without any major injuries.
Natsu yawned, tightening his hold on her and pulled her back. He nuzzled her neck softly, " Mornin' Lucy."
Lucy groaned. So much for getting away unnoticed. "It's not morning Natsu. You fell asleep around when they broke Baracus out."
"I did?" he asked, yawning again, "Must be 'cause I got so comfy with you. I feel like I could….go back to…sleep..again….."
His forehead dropped to her shoulder and she felt the slight rumblings in his chest grow stronger as they travelled up her spine. A comfy Natsu is a sleepy Natsu. And while she truly understood where he was coming from, having done the same times before, she'd been holding out for far too long and she couldn't stand it.
"I have to pee."
"You say somethin' Lucy?" he mumbled.
"I have to pee Natsu," she repeated, a touch of urgency creeping into her voice, "Like reallybad."
Natsu groaned and suddenly wrapped his arm around her tightly. Those cold, cat spit covered fingers brushed against her stomach and Lucy nearly lost it. "Hold it for a little bit."
"I've been holding it for almost a whole hour now!" Lucy hissed, pulling herself out of his grip. She had to suppress a shudder when his fingers slid over his skin again.
"I'm pretty much dying right now and unless you want an accident to happen you better let me go." Lucy sat up abruptly, startling him and swung her legs off the couch.
Making sure Happy was nowhere underfoot her feet dropped to the floor as she started to stand but Natsu still held onto her, snaking his arms around her middle. "Nnnnoooooo don't gooooo.
If you go the comfy goes," he moaned, "just stay a little bit longer pppllllleeeaasseee."
With great difficulty Lucy freed herself from his grasp (ignoring his horrified scream and watery eyes). She'd stayed for so long because dang it she was comfy too!
Despite the heavy snoring in her ear- which, quite frankly she should've been used to by now- and the growing urge to throw off her partner to rush for the bathroom, she too was weak to the powers of a good cuddle.
But her body, resilient as it was, didn't hold out as long as she'd hoped.
Lucy had pried his arms off her but in a last ditch effort he snatched the back of her shirt. "If you really love me you'll stay!" he wailed. "How can you just throw away something we worked so hard for?!"
"The last time you pulled a 'if you really love me' you wanted to buy a drone so you could attack Gray with it."
"That was different! This time it's serious!"
"Nature calling me is pretty serious too Natsu," She carefully pulled his fingers off one by one, " Just calm down. I'll be back before you even know it. It'll be like I never left."
"But the comfy, Lucy! The comfy..!"
" Will still be there when I get back," she said, "I promise."
One satisfying trip to the bathroom later Lucy strolled into the living room, content that that nagging feeling was gone and stopped in her tracks. Apparently she'd been replaced in the short time she was gone.
Happy -the little schemer, he'd probably been waiting for one of them to move- was stretched out on the cushion near Natsu's head staring at her with lazy eyes.
Natsu himself seemed to have no problem with this, having gone right back to sleep despite his griping about her getting up. He even took up a similar position like he did with her, resting his arm on Happy's flank.
A silent staredown ensued between woman and cat because she'd be damned if she had to take to floor because of this furball again (she still hasn't forgiven Natsu for that) and just like before she lost to Happy's unblinking gaze. But this time it wasn't gonna fly, she was getting her spot back.
Careful not to wake her partner, Lucy crept closer to remove her problem, arms at the ready to pull him from Natsu. The cat stared her down, unblinking and fearless, and right when her hands hovered over his fuzzy little ears one of Natsu's eyes cracked open.
"Hey Lucy."
"H-hey Natsu," she said, "I thought you were asleep."
"Nah, felt like something was missing. My one and only Happy here tried to make up for it though."
"And did he?"
"Yeah. He's smaller but fur and loyalty makes up for what he doesn't have."
Lucy dropped her arms in defeat with a roll of her eyes, "You act like you've never gotten up during something like this before!"
"But those cuddles weren't like this one Lucy!" he whined. " This was the most perfect cuddle we've ever had and you ruined it!"
"Because I had to pee Natsu. I don't exactly have an iron bladder." She moved to take up Happy when Natsu pulled the cat to his chest, eyeing her vehemently.
"You can't take my new cuddle buddy. He's earned his spot, isn't that right Happy?" He meowed in agreement and Natsu nodded like it proved his point.
"So you're not letting me back on the couch?" Lucy asked, incredulous.
"Not unless my extremely loyal cat decides to move."
Happy licked Natsu's cheek then fixed her with a cheeky smile. He thought she couldn't get rid of him.
Both of them were wrong.
Lucy disappeared for a minute or two and returned with a heavily chewed fish toy grasped firmly in her fist. "Natsuuuu." She sang, holding it high. He looked up and she saw the disbelief flash across his face.
"You wouldn't." He whispered.
Lucy grinned, gripping the toy even tighter. A long, tired squeak came from the poor thing that had Happy focusing on it with a hunter's determination. With a toss it disappeared somewhere near the kitchen.
The cat struggled out of Natsu's desperate arms, using his head as a springboard and disappeared with an excited meow.
Cat, gone. Her spot, empty. Natsu, pouting.
Lucy plopped down triumphantly next to Natsu, who was mumbling about betrayal and disloyalty.
"I can't believe you just did that."
"What?" She asked innocently, batting her lashes. Well,as far as she's concerned she didn't do anything.
"You got rid of my new cuddle buddy-" " To make way for the old and far better cuddle buddy." Lucy snuggled back into him while he grumbled about something else, grabbing his arm and placing it firmly back on her waist.
"See just like before. I promised it didn't I? Now quit being such a baby and find something else for us to watch."
Regret, regret, regret.
That was all Lucy felt and the more she tried to find what she'd lost, the more powerful it became.
Almost immediately after Natsu put on another show to watch (101 dalmatians) she could barely focus on the dogs making their bid for freedom because she was just .uncomfortable.
And squirming would not help her situation. That's what he wanted.
He'd been quiet for the most part but she could just feel it coming for her, like the calm before the storm.
"Ya know Lucy-"
No, no no
"-about the comfy still being here when you got back-"
No, no,no
"-That's not really happening for me."
Lucy practically screamed into the cushion. "I mean I tried to warn you before but you were so sure that everything would be fine." Natsu continued,a little too nonchalant for her taste. " I cried about it,even found someone else help me out but nope, you got rid of them.
So now that you're back and curled up just like before, lemme just ask. Are you comfy?" He finished.
"…no."
"I don't think I heard that." He groped around for the remote and quickly paused the movie. "Could you repeat that?"
"Noooooo," she moaned through the cushion.
If she could sink any further into the couch she would, so instead Lucy opted for the closest thing, snaking her way out of his grasp to the floor. He calmly peered over the edge at her.
"You're never gonna let me live this down aren't you?" she moaned. She was lying facedown on the floor, a posture often taken up by Natsu when he felt he was on the losing side of a conversation.
He slid off the couch landing beside her with a smirk. "You know me so well Lucy."
"Please don't hold onto this forever."
"No promises."
She groaned loudly at his taunting words and forced herself to sit up. Lucy dropped her head on his shoulder in defeat. He patted her knee and proceeded to tease some more.
Lucy groaned louder and louder the longer he went on until he finally stopped, bursting into laughter at her antics.
"I kinda forgive you though." He said between chuckles. "I can't stay grouchy about this forever. And i'm pretty sure the last movie night I got up for chips, which you weren't too happy about."
"Yeah you did."
"So your situation's understandable. You're forgiven for leaving me by myself,cold, distraught, waiting for death-"
"Alright, i get it!" she pushed his shoulder playfully. He could be so dramatic sometimes. "Thank you but, are you still gonna use this as blackmail against me?"
"Duh. I'm definitely gonna milk this for at least 2 days."
She really should've seen that coming. "What do I have to do?" she sighed.
"I dunno you tell me."
"I could…..try not to get up next time?"
"That's a start."
"More kisses?" She tried, pecking him on the cheek. He said nothing but she could see the concentration on his face trying to figure out if that really would be enough. While he thought Lucy continued with her kissing, peppering his cheeks and dropping a bit further to his neck.
Natsu sighed happily, tipping his head back to give her a bit more access. " Throw in a drone and we'll call it even."
Lucy growled against his neck. "Ok fine, fine, no drone. But you gotta do one more thing."
Her lips froze and her eyes shot up, her question 'what' was clear.
"You gotta clean up all this!" Natsu hopped to his feet and bounded away to their bedroom with a victorious cackle.
Leaving a shocked Lucy sitting on the floor, lips puckered, to deal with the mess left behind from movie night.