Man, bus experiences were weird. It was like stepping onto a bus flung you to another realm where the impossible and improbable were commonplace.
Lucy met her best friend on a bus, when the driver slammed the brakes without warning and Levy's book went flying in her face. There was a guy who came on fully-clothed and left in just his pants and undershirt.
Then there was the yodelling guy, the coyote asleep on the seat next to her, the lady dressed as Santa Claus in the middle of summer.
She could go on and on about the weird stuff she'd seen on a daily basis but at least today it was something cute.
A soft 'mrrw' bubbled up from the guy next to her, pulling Lucy out of her novel to cast a side glance at him as he fiddled with his phone.
He was quite…pink. From his dyed hair to his near purple sweater to the headphones that leaked an unfamiliar rhythm and the twisting tendrils of a tattoo that wrapped his throat.
He was very, very pink but Lucy had to admit, it suited him.
shuffled in his seat, tugging at his sweater and another 'mrrw' erupted from him. Specifically from the sweater.
Lucy's eyes dropped low-not inappropriate low, but low enough- to spy an odd lump in the sweater, that moved.
It wriggled unnaturally and well, anyone would stare if they saw some guy's clothes dancing on its own, wouldn't they? So it was only fair that Lucy's eyes stayed glued on that spot that wasn't inappropriately low.
'mrrw mrrw mrrw' 'mrrw mrrw mrrw' 'mrrw mrrw meow'
Mr. Pink sighed, more annoyed than anything else and dove his hand under the sweater, rummaging around a bit and with a little grunt, casually pulled out a kitten that was a odd bluey-gray. He tucked the little thing in the crook of his arm and absently scratched its ears, eyes drifting back to the phone with a smile.
"You just couldn't keep quiet could you lil' guy?" "Meow."
Oh God. He has a cat.
Even better, he has a kitten. All the good cattiness compacted in a small and ridiculously cute package.
She had to pet it, now that she'd seen the little fluffball Lucy's day would not be complete without touching it.
So of course she had to prod his shoulder. Maybe a little bit too hard but hey, his eyes shot off the phone in an instant, confusion very clear on his face as he reached to pull off the headphones.
Four piercings on his ear greeted her; two hoops, a simple bar and -surprise,surprise- a pink stud to top them all off.
"Yes?" He asked, brow quirked.
"You have a cat." Lucy stated plainly. "Yup."
"And it was in your sweater." "Uh-huh…..?"
"Can, can I pet it?"
Rather boldly she outstretched her fingers towards his travel sized companion who sniffed them curiously, then meowing back at its owner as though approving her request.
Pinkie chuckled, scooping up his pet and gently plopping it in Lucy's lap with a goofy smile. Lucy wished she could describe the sound she made.
"Happy likes to chew fingers," He warned as she scratched the kitten's chin. Happy immediately bit down on her finger. "Too late."
"Happy? Is it because he's always happy?" Pinkie shrugged' "Nah. He's kind of an ass, but he makes me happy so, yeah."
"That's mean!" She laughed. "He's just a lil' baby! Aren't you?" Said lil' baby was held aloft, with various kissy faces and coos directed at him.
"He's chewed through 3 different pairs of shoes with those razors in his mouth and almost got himself killed climbing out on the sill."
"He's adventurous." "He's crazy."
Lucy smirked, lowering Happy back to her lap with a gleam in her eye and a smirk on her lips. "Might I daresay, a bit like his owner?"
If he was intrigued by her before her statement must've doubled such feelings. He swiveled in his seat to face her properly, his smirk mirroring hers.
"And how am I crazy?" "No-one completely sane carries a cat in their sweater." Lucy stated simply. Happy meowed in what she thought was agreement.
"You expect me to leave a baby home by himself? What kind of parent do you think I am?" He clutched his chest in mock outrage.
"A weird one who dresses in full pink." She teased. "I hate to break it to you, uh…" "Natsu."
"Natsu." She said with a smile, quite liking how the name rolled off her tongue. "I'm Lucy and I really hate to break it to you but most people don't usually deck themselves out in a one colour outfit."
Natsu ran his fingers through his hair, unintentionally showing her its pale red roots. He closed his eyes in thought. "You raise some valid points there my new bus friend who's pretty weird herself."
"I-" "But!" One eye flew open to focus on her, twinkling with mischief. "Don't you think cat fatherhood and pink overload works for me?"
"Sadly, yes." Lucy grinned.
This guy was definitely friend material.