3rd Person POV

"So on the weekends, you run a yoga class as well as a bakery class? You really are a busy bee, Lucy," Lisanna commented as they climbed the steps to reach the floor Natsu's apartment was on.

"Yeah, I like to occupy myself with different activities so I can broaden my horizon and keep being the best version of myself," Lucy said happily as she climbed the stairs behind Lisanna, "At first it is stressful, but knowing that people are relying on me gives me all the energy boost I need to be strong for them."

"I like your spirit, Lucy! I can tell you and I are going to be great friends," Lisanna said cheerfully as she finally reached the top of the stairs, "Feels like forever since I've been here,"

Lucy got to the top after her and followed behind her with a slow yet intimidating pace. She stared at the back of Lisanna's head as she led the way to Natsu's place.

Lucy's thoughts were wondering.

Who was Lisanna to Natsu? And was she going to be an issue in Lucy's pursuit of Natsu? Lucy was somewhat jealous of the silver-haired woman knowing Natsu before herself but she didn't want to jump to conclusions before knowing who Lisanna is and what she wants with the pinkette.

"Are you and Mr Dragneel close friends?" Lucy asked with a happy face that suddenly turned neutral.

"More than friends, we grew up together," Lisanna responded without looking back, "I met him at the age of 6 and we've been close ever since. I went to Europe at 13 but we kept in touch till I went to do Freelance work at 21, I know so much about Natsu that he would never do anything to piss me off,"

"That's amazing. You two must have so many interesting adventures together!" Lucy replied in a neutral tone. Lucy decided to throw the big ball in to see what was what, "What made you two break up?"

Lisanna stopped walking and turned around to Lucy with a serious face. Lucy was taken aback by this and didn't know how to react, so she instinctively stared back at her with a neutral expression. The silver-haired woman began laughing and held her stomach, which made Lucy even more confused.

"That's the first time someone... has ever assumed that Natsu and I had that kind of relationship," Lisanna wiped a tear from her eye as she spoke in between laughing.

"Oh, hehe, really?" A sense of relief was lifted off of Lucy's shoulders and her bright smile returned to her face.

"Yep. Natsu and I are more like super besties! We grew up around each other like brother and sister, so it's not a surprise that someone would think we were dating," Lisanna said as she pulled out her keys, "As for a key to his place, well, he was tired of having to get up and open the door for me so he made me one,"

"Thank god," Lucy whispered to herself.

"We are here!" Lisanna said as she stood before the door. She a thud come from inside, followed by a...

"Dammit! Fuck me!"

Lisanna smiled from ear to ear, put the key in and turned the lock open, she pushed open the door and leaned on the door frame, staring at the pinkette who was sitting on the floor rubbing his toes.

"Okay, right now?" Lisanna spoke smugly, "Or should we wait for when you've stopped whining?"

Natsu gawked at the sight of Lisanna.

"Liz..." He said softly.

"Long time no see, Natsu," She said with an enticingly soft voice.

"What the heck are you doing at my house?!" Natsu said annoyed.

Lisanna pouted at his response, "Is that how you respond to your bestie after so long?! I came to wake you up, you're late for work,"

"Yeah, I know! I had a long night," Natsu stood up and went over to the drier to start it up, the minute the wash finished, he was going to throw his clothes right inside the drier.

"Don't tell me you were messing with your hand again," Lisanna giggled.

"Shut it! I don't do that stuff anymore! I'm not a kid," Natsu barked back.

"At 18, right," Lisanna mumbled.

"I heard that and I was going through things back then, I had to let out some stress," Natsu said as he heard the sound of the washing machine finishing he immediately took out his clothes and dumped them in his drier, then started it up.

"Whatever. There have been some changes at the office, so Lucy and I came to check up on you-."

Natsu turned around to her, "YOU BROUGHT HER WITH YOU?! DAMMIT LISANNA, YOU-."

"Lucy, come and see the home of Natsu Dragneel!" Lisanna announced as she spread out her arms.

"NO-." Natsu started.

Lucy appeared from around the corner and waved at Natsu, "Good Afternoon, Mr Dragneel,"

Lisanna laughed lightly as Natsu let out a sigh and dropped to his knees clutching his hair in embarrassment.

Lucy's POV

I didn't expect to be back here so soon. Oh, how fate works. I don't think I really looked well at Natsu's apartment, it's untidy but also artistic in its own way, and it surely compliments the hardworking behaviour he presents.

I shut the door behind me and made my way into the apartment.

It's smaller than my apartment, but I don't judge. Most of the flooring was Grey laminated but was painted with endless amounts of books, there was a matching colour bookcase as the colour on the floor but it was also filled to the brim with books, poking out here and there, some even sitting on top of each other.

I never expected Natsu to read a lot, that's an extra point for attractiveness.

I saw books like self-improvement, self-importance, and ways to get over heartbreak. My thought is that the experiences he's had were cured by these books and thus created the Natsu we see and know today.

I glanced over at him and Lisanna who stood by the drier, it had just stopped spinning and Natsu opened up the hatch.

"Why do you have the same outfit after all these years?" Lisanna teased Natsu as he pulled his clothes out of the drier.

"I don't know, why are you still wearing the same tracksuit after 10 years?" Natsu pinched her arm as he tugged at her tracksuit.

Lisanna yanked her arm away from him and pouted at him, "This is a pristine premium edition! It's not the same thing,"

Natsu rolled his eyes, "Yeah, you keep telling yourself that. Weirdo,"

"You're the weirdo!" Lisanna fired back.

Natsu and Lisanna were still going back and forth with each other which I couldn't help having a giggle at, I think this is what Mr Fullbuster was talking about. I picked up the books as I grazed past them and stacked them on the kitchen worktop neatly, I went over to the bookshelf and began ordering them.

Not to be nosey!

I'm just a very tidy person.

If we were together Natsu, I would organise all your books for you, keep your fridge stocked with food, I'll make you a meal every night, breakfast every morning, and a packed lunch for work.

But for all of that to happen, I need to know you.

I want to know you.

What do you like?

What do you hate?

How much do you eat?

What do you like to eat?

Any allergies?

What is your mindset like?

Who are your friends?

What was school like for you?

Just anything to get a peak into your personal life. But I'll wait for you to be comfortable telling me everything about you.

I'll do it right this time. Take it slow and let everything come by naturally, I won't make the same mistake again.

"Ms Heartfilia!" That handsome voice snapped me out of my trance.

"YES!" I turned around immediately to Natsu who was fully dressed and correcting his hair.

"Sorry, I didn't want to bother you with this but yesterday night I remember leaving the office with you. Do you remember which way I went?" He asked with a serious expression on his face.

You indeed are something, Natsu. Looking at me like I had something to do with your night, I find it quite... arousing when you look at me like this.

You are marvellous.

"Well, from what I remember you said your goodbyes and went right. Honestly, you were acting strange when we got onto the elevator,"

Natsu's eyes opened wide, "What! Really? What did I do? I hope I didn't hurt you or anything?"

Do you care about what happens to me?!

I felt my heart skip a beat, the blood was quickly rising to my face. But I have to calm down.

Naturally, Lucy.

Naturally.

"Not at all. You were simply tired and it's possible that that clouded your judgement, you told me that you needed a drink and went right after we got out from the lobby,"

"Crap!" He said as he brought a hand to his face.

"That means you definitely went to a bar last night and got it on with Charlotte, whoever that is," Lisanna teased.

"Doubt it," Natsu tutted.

I raised my brow with a confused expression, "Who is Charlotte?"

"Probably a stranger that I met at the bar," Natsu responded as he dragged his hand down his face.

Lisanna pointed at Natsu, "She left him a note on his hand, saying-."

Natsu jumped behind her and covered her mouth with his arms, "SAYING, to have a good night and take it easy in the morning. In case of Headaches. Please don't mind Lisanna, she has a case of schizophrenia,"

"Get off me, you have dementia! You can't even remember what happened last night," Lisanna barked at him.

"That's normal after consuming a certain amount of alcohol, it has nothing to do with dementia!" Natsu barked at her.

I laughed lightly at them.

Oh, Natsu,

You're even honest as well. Of course, Charlotte doesn't exist, it was just a name I made up on the spot to see how you would react.

So, you drink but you don't sleep around.

That's fine with me! Just makes you worth chasing. This is a surprise to me though.

I didn't know a more fun side of Natsu existed especially with how focused he is at work, I guess you are not all around cold as you make yourself out to be.

I want to be able to draw that out of you just like Lisanna does.

Natsu fixed his collar as he pushed Lisanna to the side a bit, "Anyways, Ms Heartfilia, I apologise for wasting half your lunchtime to come to get me out of bed. Let me make it up to you by buying your lunch..."

I remained quiet for a little bit.

You're offering to pay for my food?!?!

"... it's the least I can do for all the trouble this has brought you," He said with these hopeful eyes as if he was begging me to say yes.

How can I refuse such an offer, Natsu, as long as I get to spend lunch with you then it's fine with me.

"Well, of course, thank you, Mr Dragneel,"

"Just call me Natsu," He said as he passed by me, making his way to the door.

You said it! You said it!

You gave me permission to call you by your first name!

Lisanna pranced up behind him, "What a gentleman for offering to pay for our food, Natsu-."

"Save it, Liz, you are paying for your own food," Natsu opened the door wide and gestured for me to go before him.

I'm really looking forward to this progression in our relationship, as long as I don't force anything and let it play out naturally then I should be fine.

3rd Person POV

At a McDonald's Restaurant...

Natsu, Lisanna, and Lucy sat outside on one of the benches outside of the branch. Natsu had only ordered Medium fries and 20 pieces of nuggets, with water as a beverage. Lisanna filled her tray with a bacon burger, fries, sprite, and a McFlurry, whilst Lucy only got a mixed fruit pack.

Natsu and Lisanna were going back and forth with each other as they were eating, catching up on the years they spent away from each other. For best friends who haven't seen each for 8 years, they acted like they just saw each other yesterday, Lucy found amusement throughout the whole conversation that they had amongst one another, she was so focused on taking in information from their conversation that she didn't realise Natsu was calling her name.

"Ms Heartfilia! What about you?" Natsu asked her with a brow raised.

The blonde shook her head, "Um N-No, not at all. Sorry, what was the question? I was lost in my thoughts,"

"Do you have any pets?" Natsu repeated.

"Oh no, not at all. I don't have the space in my schedule to look after a pet but I hope in the future that I'll get one when there is more time on my hand," Lucy responded as she took a small bite out of her apple, "What about you?"

"We have Happy!" Lisanna exclaimed.

"More like I have Happy. Basically, we found a newborn cat and raised it between each other when we were kids. He was a bundle of happiness according to Lisanna so I named him Happy," Natsu said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

He handed it to Lucy who gently held his phone with care. The photo contained a blue cat who was sleeping in a customised blue basket with orange-paw-coloured patterns.

"Awww, he's so cute!" Lucy exclaimed, she looked up from the phone at the pinkette, "Where is he now? I didn't see him in your apartment,"

"I couldn't keep him due to a few roadblocks I hit after college, so I gave him to a trustful neighbour," Natsu gently swirled the ice cubes in his cup of water.

"Worst. Idea. Ever." Lisanna said in a disappointed tone as she stood up from her seat, "I'm going to get another burger,"

"You are going to get fat if you keep eating like that!" Natsu shouted out as she left the table.

"That's the point!" Lisanna shouted back.

Natsu tutted, "Moron,"

Lucy let out a small laugh, "Lisanna brings the best out of you, doesn't she?"

"The best? I'm not so sure about that, all she does is annoy me," Natsu said as he took a sip from his cup of water, "Can the same be said for you and Loki?"

"Hm," Lucy hummed as she looked up at the pinkette who continued speaking, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"You just seem to be very lenient with his behaviour and spend a lot of time around him, not that there is anything wrong with that. I just feel like it's a group you may not want to hang around for too long," Natsu said with a very neutral tone. His neutral tones always consist of what is on his mind and not being afraid to speak the truth.

When it comes to Natsu, anybody who helps him improve especially in the place of work becomes a source of usage to his inner circle. He saw promise in Lucy and wanted to at least advise her on how to traverse the office, even though he was a month too late, he feels like that month was well spent observing her and the company she keeps in the office.

"As you already know, I'm not quite the talkative type at work so instead I just observe from the wayside. I find that much better than flocking around the office with Loki and his silly bunch," Natsu continued.

Lucy placed her bag of fruit on the tray and listened in closely, she was happy inside as she was finally going to start learning about the pinkette, "By silly bunch, does that also include me?"

"At first it did, but after you demonstrated your dedication to helping others, I decided you weren't a part of Loki's flock; a flock of lazy bastards and self-absorbed pricks. You were... different. Sorry, it's not my place to pry into who you hang around, I just wanted to see where your mind is at," Natsu sat back and closed his eyes.

"Not at all, I'm learning so much just listening to you. I'm glad we are having this conversation, it just shows that you aren't as cold as everyone says you are, you are just a man who wants the best for himself by staying focused," Lucy said as she also sat back, she looked up at the clouds, "A workplace with colleagues that encourage hard work is the place I find myself more comfortable at. Watching you, Mrs Scarlet and Mr Fullbuster work so hard makes me want to be that supporting beacon for people like Loki,"

Natsu was in awe, although his expression never actually changed and remained neutral, but he was impressed with her response and did something that brought great joy to Lucy's heart.

He smiled. But not just any smile, a bright, white, toothy smile, "Then let's work hard together!"

Lucy felt the blood rush to her face, her face tinted pink and her heart beating faster than before. She was happy because she got two things from today:

To see Natsu's smile and say his first name with no hesitation.

It looked like her lucky stars were giving her a second chance and lighting her way, she did not doubt that Natsu was that special person she has been searching for and to have him talk a little bit about himself here and there, left the blonde open to learning more about him.

"Aye!" Lucy responded with a joyful expression on her face.

Natsu smirked at her response and thought to himself, "Not bad, Ms Heartfilia. Not bad,"

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To Be Continued