I don't know which amused him more... How I jumped, tangling myself in the sheets, tumbling from the bed...or... the girliest scream to ever be screamed, traitorously escaping my lips. My heart was thundering against my ribs while he snorted and chortled, bent at the waist.
Sticking my tongue out, I crossed my arms beneath my chest.
"Yea, yea. Hilarious. Laugh it up, Chuckles."
I plopped down on my bed, face turned away from the home invader. I'd be damned if I'd give him the satisfaction. Eventually the full on belly laugh slowed down to a stifled giggle. I could hear him move across the floor before the bed creaked under his weight.
"So Luce," I turned to meet his eyes, still sparkling from his bout of laughter at my expense. He had made himself at home at the other end of the bed, leg dangling over the edge.
"What?" I asked grudgingly. Yea, I was still miffed. So Sue me.
"What'dya wanna' ask me?"
My brows shot up as I began to panic. 'Just play dumb'.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I didn't say that." My heart thundering in my chest, I stood there looking like the proverbial deer.
"Yea ya did. Just when I was coming through the window." He jerked his thumb towards fluttering curtains.
"I really need to start locking my window." I muttered under my breath. Which in itself was absolutely useless. Dragon slayers have incredibly good hearing, Natsu included. And at as close proximity as he was, he could probably hear the erratic pounding in my chest. Although, the auditorily gifted had to be willing to listen or pay attention. Natsu was not in the latter group.
"Why'd ya wanna do that?"
He had been leaning back on his elbows, but came up to meet my eyes, stomach bunching as he held himself there. I counted as my eyes wandered down the defined muscles. 'Why indeed...' I pondered, fingertips itching to follow my eyes.
Aloud I said, "Are you seriously that dense?"
Time and time again I'd awake to a sandaled foot stepping on or tripping over me as I desperately tried to get more than the measly four hours or less of sleep I'd get while on a job. Erza was a real drill sergeant when we were on the road together. Everything in a precise and timely manner. At least I knew how to rise, bathe, brush my teeth and dress in four point six minutes.
As I waited for his most likely childish reply, my eyes dragged across his tanned, toned chest. I reflected on the numerous amount of times I uttered the same threat of barred entry and yet there I was in the same predicament again. I wondered if I had been subconsciously doing it on purpose. Did I want Natsu climbing through the window and into my bed?
A sharp noise, Natsu snapping his fingers, brought me back from questioning every little thing I had been doing when around him.
"Yo! Earth to Loopy." I smacked at the hand he waved in front of my face.
"My name is not Loopy. Get it right or get lost." I snapped. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"Eh." The word was accentuated with a lift of shoulder. "I got bored."
"Gee, curb your enthusiasm." This was one of those many instances he chose not to utilize his auditory gift. My verbal jab had been left unchallenged.
Carla and Happy are out doing exceed stuff. Gray and Gildarts ain't at the guild so there's no one to fight. I already ate, and I ain't tired, so I came here."
'I was the last option.'
"So glad you could grace me with your presence." I gritted out.
"No biggie." he grinned, hands sliding behind his head for a makeshift pillow. My sarcasm had once again been lost on the oblivious fire breather.
"Seriously though. Next time save yourself the trouble. I was perfectly content before some pink haired moron came crawling in my house."
Ignoring another hurled insult, he closed his eyes, inhaling deeply.
"Okay." he had returned to sitting position, "if you didn't want my company, how come your scent changed?" His eyes followed mine as they darted across his face, challenging me to say different.
"What?" The question was so odd, I was back to my oh-so-intelligent, one syllable replies.
"You smell different than when I first got here."
"My, my scent changed?"
'What did I smell like to begin with?' I fought the urge to put nose in the crook of my arm.
"Yea." He rolled to his side, head propped on hand and elbow. "You have your usual scent, a base scent. Everyone does. Then you add the stuff, like the shampoo or lotion you like to use. Being a mage, the type of magic you wield kinda effects it too. Yours smells like dirt with a bit a ozone."
"Huh, I never knew." my brows furrowed processing the ne and peculiar information. "Wait a minute." I narrowed my eyes replaying what he said. "Dirt? I smell like dirt?"
Natsu eyes largened as he tried to verbally backpedal. "Not that you're dirty, of course. We all know how long it takes you to get ready in the morning. Like how long does it take to wash the important areas?"
"Letting water run over you does not constitute as a proper shower, Natsu."
"Whatever," he waved off the subject. "Point is you smelled worried? Nervous, anxious, as I came in. Then it shifted. You smelled happy, content"
I blinked, slowly. Then blinked again.
"The stronger the emotion, the easier to pick up on too."
"Oh," I couldn't make myself meet his eyes. "What does happy smell like I wonder?" More to myself than anything.
"For you, it gets warmer." He sat there a moment try to find the words, to translate one sense into another. "Sweeter almost. Kinda like fresh baked somthin er nuther."
My eyes widened, entire body flushing. He looked down, I think to hide his own shade of red he was sporting. Clearing his throat he brought his gaze back up to mine.
"It's what you smelled like when I got here."
And just like that, my cooling skin roared back to inferno.
'So awkward,'
I picked at invisible fuzz on the space of blanket between us.
He smirked.
I eyed him warily knowing I wasn't going to like was proceeding that mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
"After you got done screaming like a little girl that is."
'Was he changing the subject on purpose? Could he smell my discomfort?' The probability of him being to smell every change in mood freaked me out more than a little, so I gratefully took the out he gave me.
"If I didn't have pervs breaking and entering in the middle of the nigh-"
"I'm not a pervert!" he interrupted, voice incredulous.
"Says the creep that comes here when I'm not home and goes through my things." I quipped, finger meeting his firm chest. My hand twitched as I wondered what would happen if the single digit turned into a splay of hands.
"I'm just curious is all." Oblivious to my inner turmoil, he brushed away the offending appendage.
"Obnoxious is the word you're searching for."
"C'mon. You know you'd be disappointed if you started to come home to an empty apartment." That damn smug smirk was back.
"I wouldn't mind considering the trade off would be a full fridge."
"Hey, I'm just trying to help you out. Your Lucy kicks aren't as high and I've noticed your clothes are looking a little sma-umph!"
The pillow I swung stopped him mid word and sent him sprawling on the floor.
"Do you want me to smother you in your sleep?" Glowering over the side, I watched as he sat up spitting out a feather.
"Geez, see if I ever help you out again."
"You wanna help me? Go home Natsu." I rolled over no longer caring about his lips, other than to send my fist flying into them. Funny. He always seemed to have that effect on me.
"You're really gonna go to sleep? Just like that?"
I let the silence fill the room and swore I could feel his eyes burning holes through my cover. I heard his clothes rustle before feeling a steely finger poke into my rib. I grit my teeth against the urge to fall into a fit of giggles. I had known him too long. We knew nearly everything there was to know about each other. He knew my strengths and my weaknesses, as I did his. For me, one of the latter was tickling. I laid there trying my darndest to ignore the insistent prodding to my side.
"Luuuucyyyy," he had taken to shaking my shoulder, "I'm boooooored!"
I turned back over in order to give him the force of my version of 'the look'.
"Not my problem. Go bother someone else." Attempting to block out the whines and complaints, I wrapped my pillow over my head.
"Aww, c'mon Luce. No one's as fun to bother than you." I could hear the smile in his voice.
"And you are the heavy weight champ. Get lost before I do something you regret." The words were muffled not giving it the threat I was aiming for.
I laid there listening a few heart beats, then a few more. I strained my ears and found I didn't have near the hearing I wish I had. There was no way he gave in that quick, not to such a feeble attempt at a threat. Moments turned to minutes and soon my curiosity got the better of me. I had to see if he was still sitting there. Holding my breath, I snuck a peek through the small gap between pillow and mattress.
He sat there in the middle of the floor, legs folded, arms crossed over his chest. He was pouting, lip protruding, brows low. Even at his most childish, he was still cute. My face hidden, I took my time studying my put out guild mate.
His profile alone was worth a stare or two.
His lashes so dark and long I could still make them out in the dim lighting. His eyes, which were absolutely breathtaking, were irritatingly not visible. But his strong jaw and one distinct cheekbone were. And those were nothing compared to the soft pink lips that still showed his disdain from being blown off. Even in the less than attractive expression, I couldn't help but wonder if they felt like they looked. Full and warm. Would they meld against mine or ghost over them before trailing down my neck. My shuddering breath seemed to echo off the walls of my apartment and I hoped to all that was holy I was wrong. Watching his pulse jump and the harsh bob of his adam's apple, I knew otherwise.