ello there babes it is indeed Tuesday and I did upload on Sunday because I was bored lmao
BUT im in the middle of like two finals today and could use your reviews to CHEER ME UP *wink wink* ily ily ily ily
Lucy's happiness was Layla's priority, and nothing was going to stop the queen from organizing a proper coming-of-age ball. Weeks after finding out the truth from her husband, she wanted to drown her knowledge in party planning and forced smiles, not ready to face the truth just yet.
An elegant affair that the nobility would never forget, paired with a parade and festival in town that the entire capital could enjoy.
Many were eager to greet the princess, bowing before her as they presented their gifts on this happy occasion. Knights and other charges of the castle took them into a separate room just to make sure everything Lucy received was safe for her to touch. Even with security rifling through everything at the front gate of the castle, they could never be too sure.
Once greeting her guests was over with, she was allowed to mingle into the crowd, Loke always one step behind her.
She found her friends, Levy and Erza comforting Juvia who was trying her best not to let her makeup run. Gray was supposed to have visited her the week before, but had to cancel due to a reason he refused to explain to her.
"It…it was supposed to be our first meeting since Juvia and Gray-sama were little…" She sniffled, stuffing her face with a raspberry tart.
They stayed together for as long as they could, before those too nervous to approach her suddenly started coming out of nowhere.
A lot of them were boys of other prospective families around the kingdom whose parents were eager to win Lucy's favor tonight.
More than her coming-of-age ball, it would be the night she has her first dance as a young woman.
A dance that if held with the right person, meant that the princess was interested in courting them. Something that Lucy wasn't entirely too eager about. She was still too attached to the storybook idea of a sweet and fated romance.
The favorite of the night turned out to be Mest Gryder, the grandson of Duke Gryder. Not to say he was Lucy's favorite, but a lot of the other guests couldn't help but swoon over him. And his glances in Lucy's direction were becoming a little too obvious. So much so that Levy was almost pushing her to start a conversation with him.
It happened in a flash, Lucy swatting her friend's hand away and laughing with the music in full swing. A waiter passed by with a tray of water cups, Lucy taking a drink to ease the sweat gathering on her brow. She closed her eyes for maybe five seconds at the most.
Her eyes opened as confusion set in, the glass falling from her loose grip and shattering on the marble floor.
The room was suddenly engulfed in flames, as if reality itself was shifting into another dimension. The scent burned under her nose, sweat accumulating on her skin. It clung to the walls and crawled onto the ceiling, sliding down the chandeliers and raining its ash.
Lucy quickly spun around, realizing that all of her guests had seemingly vanished.
Just a moment ago, the party was in full swing, there was no way they would have cleared out without a sound. Nor was it possible for a fire to have spread so quickly...she wondered if this was real at all.
She didn't register the knowledge within her, but part of her understood that there was no need to really panic, knowing fire would never purposefully cause her injury.
"Mom? Dad?" She called out, her voice echoing as it bounced off the flames. Silence answered her back, the princess soon noticing an unblocked exit just past the wild lick of flames.
She chewed on her lip and picked up her skirt, making the executive decision to leave the room.
"Loke?" She called out, quirking a brow as she found herself in an unrecognizable corridor. Lucy turned back toward the ballroom, finding the end of a hallway behind her instead.
She couldn't even smell the smoke anymore, or feel the heat that once rested on her shoulders. Lucy brushed her fingers against the wallpaper, knocking to feel that it was indeed a solid wall.
Her heels clicked and echoed in the dark hall as she made her way in the opposite direction, her eyes drawn to the light underneath the door at the end of the passage.
Something willed her to approach it even faster, her heart beating with unknown anticipation. Every step closer melted away her worry, knowing her family and party guests were doing just fine.
She reached out to turn the doorknob, flinching as the door began to open itself.
Lucy hesitantly walked in, met with the sight of a glimmering ballroom. She was still somewhat wary as she found the room empty.
"Hello?" Silence answered back, her steps echoing as she approached the center of the room.
She jumped as the sound of music suddenly filled the space; a slow, romantic tune playing all around her. There was no orchestra on its usual perch, Lucy looking around, wondering just where the sound was coming from.
She repeatedly walked in a small circle, the lights reaching every corner, and not a misplaced shadow was in sight. Her confusion continued until she turned once more, meeting those onyx eyes she longed to see in her dreams.
"You…" She felt her heart jump in her chest as he bowed before her, extending his hand outward.
"May I have the honor of taking your first dance, princess?" He asked, lifting his head to meet her surprised gaze with a lopsided grin.
Her answer caught in her throat as her fingertips brushed against his, not knowing what drew her to react without a second thought.
He whisked her into his hold, one hand steady on her back, while the other twined with her fingers.
She let out a light gasp as his chest touched hers, Lucy subconsciously falling into line with his dance steps. Her cheeks felt warm as he held her gaze with a soft smile, something unknown beginning to build between them.
The hand that held hers felt familiar, his scent under her nose comforting. She was swayed by the music, finding herself overwhelmed with his presence.
She wanted to ask who he was, but felt the words get stuck in her throat when she worked up a little courage. Something about him took the air out of her lungs and made it practically impossible to breathe.
His palm against hers spread a warmth she'd been longing for, a warmth she'd met before. It always seemed to run away before she could face it, before she could take it in her arms and press it to her lips.
Lucy felt it move from her fingertips and up through her arm, kindling in her chest and spreading throughout the rest of her body. A spark lit in the depths of her soul, and answered her question in a near instant.
"Natsu…" His name rolled off her tongue, the letters vibrant and spreading a smile on her lips. He would remember the way her eyes smiled too, and the way her cheeks became round underneath them.
"Lucy," Her heart thumped at the sound of her name in his voice; it was perfect.
She barely even noticed the music now that she felt their connection, finding a sweet melody hidden behind his eyes.
She didn't know how long it'd been, eyes closed as she leaned on his chest, their dance reduced to a gentle sway. Lucy felt more than at home in his arms, almost forgetting about the party she left behind to attend his.
His hand was gentle on her back, rubbing up and down in slow movements as she cozied against him.
There was nothing else they needed to communicate, enjoying this moment they had all to themselves.
"Can I show you something?" Natsu said as he looked down at her, Lucy nodding without question.
He walked them away from the center of the room toward a balcony door, turning the handle to expose them to the chilly night air.
"The moon," She gasped as they approached the parapet. "It's red?"
"Here in Tartaros it is," She turned to him with a gasp, his eyes casting a solemn look below them.
"…Tartaros?"
"Does that scare you?" He asked, quickly taking her hand in his again. "I know how this might seem to you, Lucy, but trust me when I say my home will always be a safe place for you."
His words were quick and overwhelmed her, Lucy flustered as he placed his hand against his chest.
"I-I trust you," She said just as fast, wanting to calm his anxiety. "I'm not scared,"
Looking down from their perch, the view almost reminded her of home. It was similar to what she saw from the library; overlooking the town full of lights and distant happiness.
"I'm just surprised that I'm so far from home."
"I used a spell my teacher taught me," Natsu cleared his throat as his hand shuffled around in his pocket. "Dad would be pissed if he found out but Salamander told me about your coming-of-age ceremony. I didn't want you to have your first dance with some other guy."
"Really?" She felt butterflies whirl in her stomach as he awkwardly shoved a velvet jewelry box between them.
"Happy birthday, Lucy."
His cheeks were just as red as the moon's, her breath catching in her throat as he flipped open the box.
"A ring?" A bright vermillion gem sat upon a golden band, the stone practically wafting with energy. "It's beautiful…"
"I made it myself," He carefully took it out of the box, his warm hand taking hers for the umpteenth time that night. "So you can carry me with you while we're apart."
"I put it on a chain so you can hide it…otherwise I think you'll get in a lot of trouble for wearing a ring before you're engaged."
"Can I put it on you?" Natsu asked as he gestured to her nape. Lucy replied with an enchanted, hypnotic nod, turning to let her back face him, happy to have asked Lyra to put her hair up for the occasion.
Her heartbeat was loud in her ears as his fingertips brushed against her, the ring falling to rest between her bosom as he closed the clasp.
Her skin shivered at the feeling of his warmth passing through her, heat radiating and fitting itself into the empty space in her heart.
"It's so warm…" Lucy smiled as she turned to face him. "Thank you, Natsu. I love it,"
"Mn, I'm glad, I knew ya would, Luce," He grinned through his embarrassment, tilting back and forth on his heels. "Don't lose it, okay? It's bad luck to take off this kind of in my culture."
Her throat felt tight as they stared at each other, both enamored in the mushy feeling swirling in their stomachs. She didn't know what to do about this, especially the want to jump right in his arms and hug him through the night.
While it felt much like she already knew who he was, he was saying so many presumptuous things that she just had to ask.
"Why do I feel like I know you?" She'd never felt such anxiety before, her heart barely having a moment to calm down in his presence.
Natsu's blush deepened, his lips twisting as he looked away from her, his breath unsteady before he spoke.
"You know…you mean the world to me, Luce. More than that," He paused to shakily take a breath.
"I don't even know how to put it in words, but," He took hold of her hand, their fingers twinning together as their palms pressed to each other. "It's this feeling, you know?"
She nodded slowly, a thick lump forming in her throat as he continued.
"All I know is that you're the one meant for me, and I couldn't stand to be apart from you for a second longer,"
She felt dizzy as he began to close the distance between them, his forehead pressed against hers.
"You're my true love, Lucy. And I'm really happy that I got to see you tonight."
"L-Love?" Her tongue felt heavy as she repeated his words, her head almost spinning at his nod.
His next words seemed inaudible, the blood in her ears rushing so much that they drowned him out.
His hand drew up to caress her cheek, her eyes fluttering closed, Lucy shivering as his breath fanned across her face.
Their first kiss would linger on the edge of every dream, every breath, every sip from a glass she would take for the rest of eternity.
He was smoldering, her stomach fluttering, her heart opening to that feeling that always seemed right out of reach.
It was him, it'd always been him, he was the one, her one. The want, need, the unanswered question that plagued her heart.
They stepped into the space that still sat between them, a light moan passing between their shortly parted lips.
"I love you," His hands still held her face, the words pushing against her with another kiss.
They both felt a little more desperate, knowing that they'd only have a few seconds left with each other.
Her hand found his, Lucy holding tightly as she forced herself to take her kiss away.
"I love you, Natsu,"
"...ucy…? Lucy…? Princess…out here…yourself? I was looking for you."
Lucy shook her head and groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose as her equilibrium tried to balance itself.
"Lucy, is everything alright? Do you need to rest?" Her eyes fluttered open and adjusted to the light, Loke catching her just as her knees suddenly gave out. "Lucy!"
"I-I'm okay," She took in a deep breath as he lifted her to her feet. "I'm sorry, I left to get some air; it was getting too hot inside,"
"You feel like you're burning up, princess," He said with a look of concern as he pressed a hand to her forehead. "Let's go, okay? I'll put you to bed and call in the nurse to have a look at you,"
Lucy's head lolled to rest against his chest, his voice fading as he made his way through the crowded guests.
She fell asleep at some point, deliriously thinking about the longing she had for her missing half.
I only have a two page paper to write LOL but I'm a classic procrastinator