Yet again, thanks to Phoenix-Before-The-Flame on tumblr for being my Beta! See the end for the next chapter drop date!
Many in the village would agree, time made no sense. The hours seemed to stretch on forever, seconds moving like sludge as they trickled into minutes that stayed too long. And yet, it all bled into days that disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Some days felt as if Spring would never come to fruition, that the dry heat of summer would never begin to nip at the heels of each green bud and patch of grass that dared to poke through the earth and reach for the sky. Time- fickle as it is- kept them busy day in and out with their chores, and all too soon did the denizens of the cove realize the first day of their Spring Celebrations had already snuck up on them.
Lucy woke thinking the world was under attack.
The joyous shrieks of children rushing past her covered window jolted Lucy from deep dreams, not even given the luxury to blinking away her sleepy confusion when the resounding bang of a nearby pole being raised sent her tumbling from the depths of her furs with a yelp - kissing the floor in shock. Jovial music and laughter echoed in her buzzing ears, the cheery melodies mixing with the hurried shouts and ever mounting construction noise pierced through her thin walls. Lucy grimaced, pushing herself up to blow flyaway hairs from her nose.
"... are they supposed to start this early…?" She wondered, staggering to her feet. Fingers grasped the air for her cane, if only to provide a small source of balance as she stumbled to the flap of her entryway, pulling it aside.
The sun was bright. Too bright. She hissed when its rays struck her pupils, taking a moment to readjust to the world around her that seemed more alive than she'd seen in months.
The entire cove felt as though magic had infused the land itself overnight, renewing it with vigor and sparking life at every corner. Gone were the muted colors of winter that clung to the last moment. Gone were the still gray clouds in the sky that hid the sun and deep blue from Lucy's eyes. Gone were all the tarps and straw that covered windows to protect many homes from the chill winds of winter that always came knocking.
Flowers were everywhere: on the ground poking through the soil and petals littering the streets. Hanging off the street posts and the doused lamps in braided ropes, and homemade garlands rich in color spilled from the doors of all her neighbors. As well as her own.
With a surprised blink, she looked to her own door frame, stunned to find her very own garland in its place.
No, not one garland.
Her eyes widened while she stepped away from the entryway, absorbing the view. The realization dawned on her with each new sprig and petal she looked over. Lucy was awed to realize the entire thing was covered, not an inch free of leaves or twisted stems.
Some were in wildflowers. One a curious mix of dandelions and daisies. She caught a glimpse of sunflowers and roses tucked away in the corners. Many different colors of flowers and some types she couldn't recall the names of. A lot of them littered her door frame, all but one, situated proudly at the top, covered in the hard pressed flowers of winter to match the ones hanging in her room. Its muted colors of the previous season made it stand out among the fresh spring blooms.
"I definitely didn't make these…." She muttered in quiet wonder, reaching out to run a finger gently along the delicate petals of the garland. She recognized these flowers. They came from beyond the town, bringing to mind the many winter flowers Natsu had graced her with over the past months, "Who did-?"
"Do you like them?" Mirajane asked, stepping out from behind the corner, covering a hidden smile behind her hand. Lucy fought the urge to shriek, heart leaping into her throat, as a small squeak escaped her. "We all saw you start to fill your home with the different flowers of the winter months and thought you'd like to join in with the garlands."
Lucy swallowed, patting her chest as she took in a deep breath, willing her soul to rejoin her body after the initial surprise. "They're all so beautiful. So let me guess," She pointed to the topmost one," you made this one right?" So intricately made. It just made sense. Each garland had its own charm in Lucy's eyes. She could see the hints of each one's maker shine through so brightly, Lucy was positive she could recognize each creator. Wendy liked Dandelions, Lucy recalled, watching once as the small draconis darted off to a fresh patch just beginning to sprout with childish glee. Cana loved Sunflowers, so told by the small embroidery on her card pouch. Levy always cooed at the sight of wildflowers. Even Erza often spoke of her love for roses, but the top one- It was so intricately woven together, it felt as if it had been done by someone who was known to be meticulous with their hands.
Someone like Mirajane. Lucy reasoned.
"Not me." She answered, smile growing all the more mysterious, hands moving out from behind her back to reveal her own, specially made garland, covered in clover and honeysuckle. She placed it on Lucy's head with a wink. "Have you had breakfast yet?"
Lucy shook her head and allowed herself to be led back into her hut.
Breakfast would be a small amount of dried fruits and bread that Mirajane had brought along with her and the day would start much as the morning had: a whirlwind of speed and time, and the question of the garland's maker was forgotten.
Mirajane, keeping an arm looped through Lucy's as she tutted about the Festival, attended to small duties along their trip. She pointed out minor oversights and quick fixes to whatever caught her eye on the way. The constant observations Mirajane continued to make while clicking her tongue made the job look easy. A false impression, Lucy sang its praises and told Lucy of the numerous dances being hosted that evening and the games being held earlier in the day, some of which were already running.
She listened in rapt attention, trying to hang onto each word as Mirajane skillfully weaved through different topics, even as she helped Lucy dress into the festival dress Mirajane made her.
Lucy marveled at herself while Mirajane changed into her own outfit. Seeing the very same fabrics she'd chosen at the start of spring- the deep red and vibrant yellows and oranges draped from her form in a layered skirt held in place by a painted corset. It felt almost like a dream. It was heavy, but not enough to throw her off balance. She spun carefully, enchanted as the fabrics flared out and came to life with the detached sleeves following suit, with their sewn beads glittering softly. It really was an outfit made for dancing, Lucy mused, taking note of all the care Mira had expertly woven into it. The skirt's asymmetrical angle pulled all the weight away from her bad leg with a light layer of sheer fabric that hung by her knee, hiding the scar. It was made so well for her, Lucy bit her lip: uncertain she'd be able to put such a gift to proper use.
When Mirajane rejoined her they were off to explore the town and join in the festivities already underway. It was that moment Lucy realized her question about the garland was never answered. Who could have made it? Who else but Mirajane would make such a gift? With the flowers she loved no less? When she attempted to ask again, Mirajane changed the topic masterfully and led her from it much like a child being distracted by toys. After a few more failed attempts, Lucy dropped it. The answer would find its way to her, eventually.
There was no need to focus on unnecessary matters, after all. Not with all the excitement that buzzed into Lucy's veins at each new smile she was greeted with on the streets. Freed greeted them once, his long green hair, tied back into a high ponytail. His flushed face revealed a man in a rush, but he still took the time to say his hello before assuring Mirajane he'd be there for the dances and running off. Erza was much the same, muttering about one last patrol before she enjoyed the afternoon. Most were in a rush to finish all chores and responsibilities before the festival truly began.
Topic of conversation flowed to the presence (or lacking of ) of their very friends. Levy had finally unearthed herself from the piles of books she'd reorganized, hair a flying mess as she picked dust bunnies from it at every turn. Though a new one seemed to pop up with each one she successfully got out. Gray was freezing the early morning catch to protect the fresh fish from rotting through the day.
Wendy and Romeo ran through the streets in their own, pristine, spring garbs that trailed behind them with long sashes and bows as they rushed to play what games had been set up for the younger villagers. While winter had been muted in comparison, the spring dances had made everything come alive in an explosion of color and energy while the blossoms of flowers and budding trees blew across the vicinity.
"Where's Laxus?" Lucy asked absently after she and Mirajane stopped by a stall, open early to give out small treats to those already free from their duties. He still unnerved her, but she'd yet to see his hulking figure that day. "Is he patrolling like Erza?"
Mirajane's smile didn't fully reach her eyes. "Oh well, he's around."
Lucy caught the expression immediately, eyes narrowing, "Mira, is everything okay between you two-"
"Please," Mirajane's voice dropped an octave, almost desperate in her plea, "let's not discuss this now. I assure you, everything is fine."
She wanted to acquiesce, to give Mirajane the benefit of the doubt, but she recalled the morning she witnessed the older woman's tears. The way she'd hid them expertly and distracted the conversation away from herself. It was obvious, and it made Lucy's stomach turn into flips. How many people hid what they were thinking and feeling here? Wasn't today supposed to be happy?
"Are you sure?" Lucy chose to ask, watching as Mirajane's shoulders sagged in defeat.
"... it's an issue of my own doing." She said after a time, voice cracking before she forced another smile, "I promise. When I'm ready. I'll tell you all about it, hmm? Let's just enjoy the celebrations for now."
Lucy couldn't find it in herself to argue.
The first dances were earlier than Lucy expected. And simple. Sitting alongside Mirajane and Cana, she enjoyed her afternoon snack, biting into the sweetness of a fresh apple and humming her enjoyment at the cinnamon that had been doused upon it.
A giddiness had wormed its way into Lucy's heart, her fingers toying with the unexpected gift wrapped around her waist. It seemed the garlands weren't the only things her friends made for her but not even Mira knew of this one, her shock just as genuine as Lucy's when they tackled her with it the moment she set foot on the sand. She traced the uneven stars and couldn't help the small smile. A belt of stars, Lucy almost chuckled at the thought. Mismatched they were as they hung from the leather cord they were tied to. It was clear that her friends grabbed whatever star shaped bauble they owned to decorate it with, all held in place with a crescent clasp that Lucy could've sworn she saw one hanging off Levy's ear as an oversized earring. She'd barely had it on for an hour and she couldn't stop marveling at it. It was almost too much when coupled with all those garland's and the dress.
The younger members of the town were the first to start the dances, rushing off to a clear area on the beach surrounded by torches that had yet to be lit. Shouts from the crowd cheered them on as they moved about a pole covered in streamers, flower crowns adorning their heads.
"Oh, is it starting already?" Cana asked, voice a little slurred from the drink she'd just guzzled down. She was already reaching for her next one. "They're beating the drummers to it this time."
"Well, who wants to leave a dance floor empty?" Mirajane returned, pointing Lucy in the direction of the dance, eyes gleaming. "If they're starting, that means Lisanna isn't too far behind, I bet."
If Lucy hadn't taken another bite just then, she would have asked for more details, but the small dance had begun with a skipping of feet, sand flying in the air and she found the explanation came with the silent beat created by the children. She only recognized Wendy among the younger dancers, blue hair tied up in braids and the yellow of dandelions twisted into her pigtails. She moved fluidly, well practiced, and along with the others, tightly grasped the streamers to dance them into an intricate braid around the pole.
Lisanna's entrance came as a surprise. A trick of the light. Or magic itself.
A burst of sand that Lucy swore came from a gust of wind that sprouted from Wendy's feet, covered the eyes of the onlookers, cloaking the entrance of MIrajane's sister as she dashed into the fray of dancers, fingers holding small bells as she jumped about. The children were cute, having the time of their lives but once the dust settled, Lucy could clearly see the difference in their experiences.
The white-haired dancer moved with the grace of a deer, bounding from foot to foot with practiced ease, sashaying to and fro with all the joy of a rabbit at play. Moving to the beat, onlookers clapped along in tandem to her moves drawing Lucy in as well.
Learning from the dancer was a different experience compared to watching her and Lucy felt the immense difference in their skills. It was a breathtaking sight. Watching the children move about her, following Lisanna's moves the best they could, she laughed with the crowd when a couple fell behind, turning the wrong directions, missing a few steps or tumbling to the sand before they scrambled to jump back in again with the same energy.
The drumbeat sped up, rising into a loud chorus signaling the finale of this dance and Lucy's heart beat along with them, faster and faster as adrenaline coursed through her veins.
This was fun. It was exhilarating. This was exciting and a part of Lucy wished she could join in, but her knee throbbed at the very thought. A small disappointment she could ignore. Perhaps next year she could-
She blinked at the thought, amazed. For the first time, the thought of staying didn't feel so off, so alien. It pricked at her eyes before she quickly stuffed the rising of emotion down and reset her focus back on the dance. One that was swiftly coming to its end.
Lisanna was spinning so quick, her skirts flew about her hips in a mesmerizing flash of color. The children couldn't quite keep up, spinning themselves around instead, all clumsily falling as the drums stopped, making indentations in the sand as they laughed uproariously. A ripple of shock went through the crowd as Lisanna's dance ended not with her own drop but a sudden shadow that leapt up from behind her, dropping heavily into the sand before her with his arms slammed down, sending a burst of flames scouring across the sand, igniting the crowd with a sudden, intense heat that sent them to their feet.
When smoke and dust settled, Lucy spied the culprit, his toothy grin unmistakable. Natsu, dressed in an outfit she'd never seen before, stood by Lisanna with smoke trickling from the corners of his mouth, eyes glinting with mischief as he dusted the sand from his palms. Wherever he'd come from, he'd succeeded in shocking the crowd with a finale that left the crowd breathless and laughing. Lisanna playfully shoved his shoulder in mock annoyance, rolling her eyes at his sudden theatrics.
"Come on, don't steal the show from Lisanna like that!" someone shouted from the crowd.
Soon, others joined in, all feigning annoyance as they shouted and laughed. Natsu pouted, leaning heavily on Lisanna, pointing to each one of them in playful offense, "Oi! You should be THANKING me. "You all could use being a little fired up anyway!"
Lucy agreed, in some way, but didn't voice it. Instead she was curiously fascinated by his clothes. They looked well worn from what she could tell.. The light of his fiery entrance shifted over the dark color of the pants and billowing shirt, to the bright gold patterns curling atop the red on his vest and the thin red scarf that hung loosely from his neck. He kicked the sand from his shoes and Lucy lifted a brow. She wasn't even sure he owned actual shoes after seeing him trudge through the winter snows day in and out in sandals. But she squinted as the evening light caught something else: Golden cuffs wrapping around his ankles, matching the pair on his arms that flashed wildly as he spoke animatedly to Lisanna. And more intriguing, a bright, golden sun amulet adorned the sash at his belt.
The sight filled her with a strange sense of belonging, as if a long-forgotten memory whispered in the back of her mind, unable to be snatched, but touching her consciousness all the same. It felt right, but wrong at the same time.
It was missing something, but the look suited him all the same. It left Lucy as breathless as Lisanna's dance. (More so even, but she didn't attend to the thought.) She couldn't place the feeling, but chose to ignore the familiarity, opting to applaud instead. No matter the jeers and jokes, the performance was still amazing and the dancers deserved to know of it.
Just as quickly as it started the area was cleared of all dancers, leaving only the pole and its multitude of colors behind. Lisanna thanked every person who came to her, beaming at every compliment and assuring the masses she'd join in more dances in the evening. Mirajane broke through the crowd to hug her sister, with Elfman not too far behind her, gushing, "You get more beautiful each year you dance!" as loud as she could.
Natsu, however, now no longer the center of attention, slipped off to the side to light a few of the torches with a bored flick of his fingers, glancing around the crowd as he did before spying Lucy. Their gazes met and the corners of his eyes crinkled when he grinned. It felt different than the days before and Lucy tried, with a vengeance, to ignore the way her heart pounded as he approached, waving wildly. She spied another tell tale glint of gold beneath the dark sleeves of his shirt, wrapping his upper arms. Armlets perhaps?
"How ya' liking the festival so far?" He asked, skipping the preamble as if he hadn't been missing for the last twenty-four hours. "The old Geezer had me on patrol again, but I'm freed up now!" He fixed the thin red scarf hanging loosely from his neck.
Lucy huffed, blowing a strand of hair from her face, "You don't have to explain to me where you've been, you know." The fact he felt the need to only made her stomach flip again. Goodness, what was wrong with her today? Smiling shyly, Lucy cleared her throat and motioned back towards the pole, knotted up in streamers. "Is this how it always starts?"
"Something like that. Usually the sun setting is the start, but the kids usually decide when the first dance is." He blew an extra whiff of smoke from his mouth, "It's more fun that way."
"It was fun." She admitted, watching as Wendy began to re-align the garland on her head, pointing towards Romeo when his own fell gracelessly to the ground. "I didn't expect Lisanna to join in, much less you to end it all. But it wouldn't be you if you weren't barging into things would it?"
When Natsu didn't immediately respond to her teasing, Lucy looked back, raising an eyebrow curiously. His own gaze was muted, brows furrowed suddenly as he beheld her. As if he'd noticed something that didn't look quite right. Heat rose to her cheeks as Lucy glanced down to examine herself. Was something out of place? Did she have a stain? It took another second of slight panic to realize his gaze was nowhere on her outfit, but rather, what was adorned on her head. Mirajane's Garland.
His nose scrunched when he sniffed and Lucy had the strange impression that he was… somehow offended. "... Uhh, why are you-"
"You make that garland?" He interrupted, lips thinning into a frown.
"No?" Lucy reached up to touch the soft petals, self conscious of his dubious stare. "Mirajane made it for me. Why? Does it look bad?"
As if breaking from a spell, Natsu's eyes widened and he shook his head. "What? No, 'course not. Why would it look bad, weirdo? Of course Mirajane made it." His voice snapped the woman's name and Lucy was sure of it now: he was annoyed.
"Then what's wrong with it?" She demanded, but his attention was already gone, overlooking the rest of her to take in her dress, eyes stopped just where the inner skirt ended, right over her injured knee.
The smile returned, bright as always, revealing his sharp fangs as he leaned in, chuckling. "Nice belt you got there, all the stars and the moon. It suits you!" She blinked at the sudden change in topic, cheeks reddening further as she looked down to the belt hand-made by the others. All of the girls had banded together with different shells, old jewelry pieces and other odd items to form the mismatched stars on her belt and while Lucy adored it, she didn't expect Natsu to pay attention to it much less notice it.
"Thank you…?" She said lamely, feeling caught in a sudden whirlwind as Natsu continued his perusal of her. Why was he examining her so much? And why was she feeling stuffy from the heat on her cheeks? Was it that warm today?
"Hey!" He exclaimed, eyes lighting up, "Would you look at that, we kinda match!"
Lucy's mind came to a screeching halt. "D-do we? We do?"
"Yeah!" Either he didn't notice or paid no mind to the way his observation threw Lucy into a fresh spiral of wild thoughts. "It's a little funny, actually. Anyways, you wanna go to the Festival Stalls before the rest of the dances? Looks like Mirajane's distracted being all clingy with Lis and Elfman."
"I- !" Lucy couldn't put her thoughts to words and resorted to nodding instead. The dress… Mirajane made it. Had the fabrics for Lucy to choose from. Natsu claimed he'd had his festival clothes for years. The implications weren't lost on her, but she held back hunting the woman down for answers as Natsu motioned for her to follow through the crowd. His hand reached to grasp hers, pausing subtly before changing route to hover behind her instead.
"Let's go, then! I got stuff to do later, so we should hang out while we can!" He pushed, gaze staring dead ahead while Lucy struggled followed, processing too many things at once to respond coherently.
"What stuff?" Lucy managed to stammer out, mind still whirling.
Natsu laughed, "You'll see!"
He dragged Lucy through the same stalls Mirajane had, but something was different this time.
Natsu's smile was infectious and it beat upon Lucy's distracted mind each time he struck her with it. Many fried dishes and desserts were pressed into her open hands all while Natsu stuffed his own face in excitement. The rich, sugary dough he'd given her at some point, made her hum delightedly at the taste while the music of the festival rose to greater heights.
There were many small games being played that Natsu urged Lucy to join: a bottle toss, face-painting (She allowed a small girl to dot her face in yellow stars. "To match your belt!" She said with a gap-toothed grin.), feats of strength involving tugging on a rope, tossing a log (she watched from a distance, despite Natsu's joking insistence that she give it a try.) and then a small area full of targets. It took Lucy much convincing but in the end, Natsu had fit a slingshot into her hands with a broad grin splitting across his face.
"Let's see who gets a bullseye first!" He exclaimed, snickering with a competitive gleam in his eye.
"… do you even know how to use these?" Examining the wood in her hands, Lucy frowned. Whether he knew or not, she certainly hadn't the first idea. "I've seen others from my clan use them as toys but…"
Natsu held his own before her, motioning for her to follow his example. "Hold it like this. They wouldn't let me keep one as a kid 'cause I kept shooting Gray with it, but they let me hit targets at each festival so I can still show you how it goes."
"Doesn't that mean you're going to win then?"
"Psh, maybe. You might surprise me. But if you keep up that attitude I'm really gonna win."
Lucy's expression soured. "Oh I see how it is. Fine then." Over confident to the end. Lucy hardened her resolve and gripped the handle tightly, with a tiny pebble in the other hand, she fixed it in place and took aim, lining up to take her shot. "I guess it's time to surprise you then!"
When she let it loose, the pebble bounced forward and down a foot away. Natsu's laugh rang loud above the crowd and shame colored Lucy's ears. "I've never done this before so- so, of course I'd mess up on the first try!"
Natsu's laugh was infectious. One Lucy desperately tried to resist, but in the end, with him having her follow his lead, her peals of laughter merged with his own almost seamlessly.
Her second attempt fared no better.
Nor did the third. Or the fourth and fifth. She was rapidly losing hope. By the tenth, in spite of her heightened frustration, she finally hit the target.
"There you go!" Natsu cheered, casually shooting his own after, not quite on the bullseye but closer than Lucy liked. His confident grin warmed her cheeks and she kept her attention on her next shot, muttering under her breath.
"You're still not holding the handle right, though." Natsu pointed out. "I think that's what's messing up your aim so much."
"I'm holding it like you said." Lucy griped. An excited little gasp escaped her when she pelted the target again. "I'm doing it!"
"Great! Now if you just fixed your grip so you could aim a little better-"
Lucy whirled on him, eyes blazing. Her brief wind of excitement disappeared as her earlier frustrations bubbled over. "Really now? And just HOW is it wrong? Come now, show me!" Mouth gaping, Natsu held his own slingshot aloft once more, intending to point out the hand positions again, but Lucy wasn't having it.
Grabbing his wrist, she moved him towards her own fingers, lips thinning into a small line.
"No." She pressed, fed up with his strange avoidance of touch. Annoyances that she'd skillfully kept pushing down after weeks of his aversion were slowly crawling to the surface. "Position my hands and show me properly."
Natsu uncharacteristically froze, Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed thickly, his dark eyes looked from her hand to his own: hesitating. He reached for her hand, then stopped. "...are … are you sure?"
"What?" Lucy couldn't wrap her head around it. "Of course, I told you to, didn't I? Don't you usually ignore personal space anyways?"
He flinched and Lucy got the impression her words only stabbed him like a knife.
She felt as if she'd sprung upon him, like a rabbit in a trap and he was desperately trying to find a way out. So close to touching, but not quite. "Natsu, if there's something bothering you-"
A sudden blast of torchlight ignited around them interrupted her thoughts, eyebrows raising into the air in surprise. Was it sunset already? Natsu's attention quickly turned towards the lights around him, surprise flickering in his eyes before melting to recognition.
He grimaced. "Ugh. That dance is starting soon."
Lucy was startled by Natsu's reaction and disappointment settled in her gut. The moment was lost and whatever chance she had to get answers was trickling away like a dying stream.
The current music had changed to soft flutes and strings- it settled in her bones like a spell, luring her to listen in. Fingers twitched as she set the slingshot down, confused. "What dance?"
"Eh, Mirajane or someone will tell ya' all about that one." He waved her off, setting his own down stiffly. He spun the garland around her head with a playful chuckle. "I'll have to run off for a bit during it."
"Don't tell me it's a dance you're going to be in." He balked at the question while Lucy fumbled with the garland, centering it upon her crown. "I was under the impression you can't dance."
"It's not my fault it's weird on the feet!" He argued, brows knitted together in a pout, "anyway that's not it. Come on. Everyone's gonna start gathering for it and I can totally show ya' a few more things before it starts." He sniffed the air, an act Lucy recognized as a way for him to pinpoint a direction and as fast as they had stopped to eat earlier, he was ushering her off through the crowd again.
He still wouldn't lay a finger on her. She noted this with a heavy frown. "Natsu…."
"Hmm?" He acknowledged her, but the tone was distracted.
"What I was saying before," She tried again, words feeling like thick wool in her mouth. "You know you can talk to me don't you-"
The words never finished, interrupted by an excited shout from a distance. If Lucy wasn't so distracted by the unsettling timidity in Natsu's eyes, she would have been interested in the turn of events.
Instead, she growled in frustration. How many times was she going to be interrupted trying to speak her mind?
"Actually, it's kinda later than I thought." Natsu's smile was forced -wrong- and he nodded towards the dancing grounds, sniffing the air once more. "I'll take you to Mira or Levy. They're close so they probably can-"
Lucy dug her heels into the dirt and gripped her cane tight enough to turn her knuckles white. "No. Answer me."
"Lucy, we're gonna be late-"
"I don't care!" She snapped, all too aware of the current onlookers, turning their attention towards the sound of her angered voice. "Did I do something to upset you?"
Natsu looked at her, baffled. "What? No! why would you think -"
"Then why won't you touch me?"
The question fell into the air and seconds later, Lucy realized those words sounded better in her head.
She cleared her throat, gaze tilting towards her shuffling feet, voice small. "You thought I wouldn't notice? You're always wanting to step into someone's space. To pat their back, grab their wrist. Something. But not me. Not lately. You're always around everyday but it feels like you're avoiding me somehow. What did I do?"
Natsu's sudden step towards her, body heat pressing against her own as he leaned in, close enough to feel the hint of but nothing more, made Lucy fall silent, eyes wide in shock . "It's not like that! I just-! Augh, you're making this difficult!"
"What's difficult?" She breathed out, voice a mere whisper. "I don't understand…"
"You TOLD me not to touch you."
She blinked, nose scrunched in a denial that died on her lips. When had she-?
Memories of her morning panic came to mind and Lucy felt the world tip on its axis. "Natsu that- …. I-I didn't mean…"
Her voice trailed off, self-awareness kicking in as the many eyes and ears of the tribe looked on, drinking in the conversation as if it were part of the festival. Lucy felt the words she wanted to say knot together in her throat, sounds and intonations becoming nothing but garbled noise.
Natsu sighed, scratching the back of his neck as he stepped back, giving her room to breathe.
"I, I gotta go." He said, his voice lacking the upbeat attitude he had before. "Cana, can you take her for me?"
Lucy, too stunned to utter another word, glanced behind him in surprise. When had Cana joined the throng? Another wave of embarrassment flashed through her. Just how many had heard their discussion? Her outburst? Clearing her throat, she meekly reached out, fingers shaking in mid air, "Natsu, I-"
He turned away, advancing through the crowd as if he hadn't heard her, the rocks in her stomach grew twice in size as a numbness settled in her bones. Bereft, she barely acknowledged Cana gently grasping her shoulders, urging her back through the crowd with soft words of comfort.
"Hey, it's alright." She murmured, glaring towards the crowd in a silent order to mind their own business. "You'll get a chance to talk with him about it."
Lucy knew the attempt for what it was and nodded wordlessly. She hoped Cana was right. "I didn't mean to upset him like that."
"Tch, I doubt anyone here would suspect you of that, blondie. Now let's get going."
"Go where?"
Her grin was wide and her eyes sparkled with a sneaking intent, "The first of the week's courting dances!"
Oh. Right. Lucy felt her mouth run dry. Those were part of the festival, weren't they? She'd forgotten.
Wordlessly, she followed Cana through the masses, back to the beaches where the Pole stood proudly wrapped in its many streamers. The cleared area was now surrounded by a circle of stones, they surrounded the area to mark off the location with tall torches illuminating the edges. No one was dancing. Instead, onlookers stood along the boundary line, waiting.
Cana settled Lucy in next to a group of girls, her cane dug into the sand and with an excited wave from Levy in the crowd, she realized the onlookers were separated. "Are we supposed to have women on one side and men on the other?"
"Yeah, though some of us who don't define ourselves as either stay in between," Cana answered, shuffling Lucy to sit on a makeshift chair. "It's all part of the dance."
"Uh, I don't get why I'm here." Lucy admitted, sheepishly. No one expected her to take part, did they? Cana soon joined her with a stool of her own, withdrawing her favorite deck of cards from the spring vest she wore.
"It's tradition." Cana explained. "All eligible singles join the circle, but you don't have to join in the dance. It can be fun to watch. Especially the opening number."
"… and what's that?"
" You'll see. Why ruin a fun lil' surprise for you?" With that, Cana began to shuffle, as if instinctive. She didn't withdraw a single card, but the sound of the cards sliding between the others had a calming effect on Lucy's frazzled nerves. She didn't attempt to explain anything else about what was coming, giving Lucy a feeling Cana avoided the topic when she could.
But Lucy's questions would be answered in due time as Levy, and Lisanna, both stumbling excitedly through the crowd to join them. "Excited to see any new couples this year?" Levy asked as she took her place to Lucy's left. Lisanna hid a giggle behind her hand and nodded.
"Or at least see if anyone will continue what they started." She added, Cana snorted.
"I'm waiting to see which ones are gonna crack apart." Her grin was wicked. "I foretold a handful of disaster couples last year. Remember?"
"That's a bit.. uh…" Levy's voice trailed off as she cleared her throat, "Pessimistic?"
"Entertaining you mean."
A confused headache began to bubble at Lucy's temples and she sighed. "Can anyone tell me what you're talking about?"
With a scrunch to her nose, Levy looked at Cana reproachfully. "You didn't explain anything?"
With Cana's answering shrug, Levy and Lisanna looked between each other and sighed. After a second of silence, an agreement was made as Levy pointed towards the clearing. "The courting dances are how we usually show an intention to court another each year. Traditionally, once the music starts, a guy will choose a partner to dance in front of and it's up to the other to join them or not. Joining the dance is accepting the courtship and if they refuse to dance with you a year later…"
"The courtship ends." Lisanna interjected solemnly. "Which is what Cana is waiting to see."
"And if they … dance a second time?" Lucy found the entire idea strange, but novel. How had they come up with such a tradition? "And what if you want to court when it's not time for the Festival? Do you have to wait? It seems a little-"
"Oh people date all the time before the dances." Levy raised a finger to bring the attention back on her, "This is just showing it's serious to the rest of the clan. You can't get hand-fasted until you do these steps first. Dancing together the next year reveals the intent to stay together and be wed. Though, sometimes pairs can go back on that in the third year. Taking your time deciding and not rushing into a match is encouraged."
This new information whirled into Lucy's mind and she nodded. The pressure to dance eased away as the distant drums grew closer, giving a steady beat that followed her heart. "Is it always the men who start?"
Lisanna's smile glowed in pride. "Nope! Usually it is, but there's been times when a woman took the initiative instead. I kinda want to be one of them in the future." She blushed and added, "Uhh, if I find anyone that is."
Curiously, Lucy tilted her head, biting her bottom lip as she observed the dancer. "Really? I thought you'd surely have people interested in you. You're so kind and such a talented dancer."
Lisanna's eyes sparkled in pleasure at the compliment. A coy smile teased her lips. "Are you saying you'd dance for me Lucy?"
Heat blossomed across her face. "What? N-no, that's not what I- but I wouldn't be opposed to- but i meant-"
"Relax," She winked, "You're cute and all, but I think your interests are elsewhere. Besides, people being interested in me doesn't mean I'm interested in them." She readjusted her own garland and laughed. "Don't look so stunned, I'm happy with friends just as much as anything else. Aren't you?"
This was a wild ride Lucy hadn't expected, but she nodded furiously. "Of course! I've loved making friends with everyone here and I wouldn't want to jeopardize that."
"Pfft, jeopardize. Would you listen to her?," Cana stopped shuffling and smirked, "You mean you want to settle things between you staying here first before ever thinking about dating."
"I-' Lucy paused, guilt settling in her gut, "I guess that is true. I'm sorry. I guess I still haven't fully seen this place as my home yet."
A twitch of pain drew Lucy's attention to her nails, belatedly noticing she'd begun to pick at them. Levy frowned, reaching over to pry her fingers apart and pat them gently. "It's alright, Lucy. We understand. You don't have to force yourself."
"You can take your time. This place isn't going anywhere." Cana finished, cards shuffling again in a steady beat. "Who knows, maybe you'll join us next year too, yeah? And if not, no one's gonna blame you."
Lucy sighed in relief, the earlier guilt settling into a dull roar. "Thank you."
"Eh, it's not biggie," Cana paused as the drums beat sped up in a fast staccato that left their ears ringing. "Oh, it's starting!"
Lisanna pushed herself between Cana and Lucy to sit down, her excitement rippling off her in waves. In fact, she was near trembling with it."Oh, the opening dance! It's always one of my favorites! I wish I could join, but this is one dance I'm hardly any good at."
"But what sort of dance would that even be-" Lucy started, confused by her bright admission, but the dancer paid it no mind, pointing eagerly back to the center of the clearing.
"You'll see, just look!"
And look, she did.
Following Lisanna's excitable pointing, Lucy looked out just as the beat came to an abrupt stop.
Smoke had begun to billow across the ground like an ominous fog, creeping atop the sands and infused by a magic Lucy hadn't noticed before then. The sun was dipping beneath the waves, casting an orange glow overhead and the music flowed once more.
The drums returned with a slow steady thudding, coaxing the soft melody of flute song to follow moments after that seemed to spread far and fill the salty, sea air. The dim atmosphere made Lucy's heart pound expectantly.
Romeo and Macao were the first to start.
Father and son walked through the parted crowds from opposite sides of the clearing, dressed in familiar open vests and barefoot. They met in the middle, palms outstretched as small, purple embers ignited on their hands. It circled them in a gentle, flame that coalesced in time with the music and filtered through the dense, smokey fog.
Lucy wondered if Lisanna's earlier statement had to do with it being a Father and Son dance, but the question died before she could voice it.
The drum beat sped up and their feet moved along with it, flames rising and falling much like the waves that crashed against the shoreline. Purple was all Lucy saw sweeping out to circle the area, illuminating the ground with each practiced step they took.
Their dance wasn't quite like anything Lucy had ever seen before. A sequence of steps that twirled fire between their fingers and weaving along their bodies to the ever mounting beat. Macao confidently led the way for Romeo, stiffly following along with nervous, but well practiced motions. A burst of orange surrounded them, blinding the crowd in an eruption of gold heat that almost drowned out the duo's purple hued flames. Lisanna clutched Lucy's arm tightly with a squeal, eager like many others who knew what was next, unlike Lucy, caught off guard with wide eyed fascination as the final dancer joined the pair.
Natsu leapt onto the sands much like his stunt earlier with Lisanna, jumping between them with thick curls of flames streaming from his outstretched hands, feathering in the air behind them like heated wings.
When he hit the ground a burst of heat washed over the crowd and the music sped up to a heavy pounding that made the blood rush in Lucy's ears. His earlier outfit had changed and Lucy could see now why the previous duo's dress was so familiar. The sleeved under shirt and shoes were long gone and the short scarf he wore was tied above his head. Gold shone impossibly bright from the cuffs and armlets he wore, the gleam mesmerizing as fire light danced atop it and his tanned skin. His entrance overtook the others as the main attraction.
Grinning, his fangs glinted in the glowing light and he flipped almost effortlessly in time to the beat, flames shooting out as he landed, and smoke curling from his mouth. If his earlier burst of flames from the Pole Dance had awed Lucy, this wholly enraptured her.
Macao and Romeo became mere blurs behind him as they joined their fires with his own in a swirling tornado that burst over their heads in an array of sparks and embers.
Spinning, sand kicked up with the flames and a burst of flute and violin joined the music of the fire dance, elevating the teeming exhilaration of the crowd, already clapping and stomping on time with the beat. Natsu controlled the golden fire around him, commanding it all with a wild grin plastered on his face. Lucy thought she heard him let out a laugh.
Lucy marveled at the difference between the fire users.
Macao and Romeo controlled it, their movements set and sure, guiding it to work with them. But Natsu… Was one with it. A wildness to his motions that couldn't be captured through practice alone. It moved with him, flowed off his body as though it were an extension of himself. A natural part of his very being.
Heat and steam billowed off his skin and for a moment, Lucy dazedly thought she saw red scales decorating his face and arms. A trick of the light?
With another spin, the glimpse was gone as Natsu emitted a burst of flames from his mouth and to the darkening sky. Feet stomped the ground to the drums as Romeo and Macao joined his fire breath with purple flames streaming from their fingers. They ignited together with a crackle of magic that sent a final blast of heat across the crowd, fizzling out as the music stopped.
The dance was both a mesmerizing eternity and far too short.
Lucy felt herself fall over an edge and stumble, out of breath just watched as the flames dispersed and caused a glow around Natsu's visage. He breathed deeply, eyes burning while his chest heaved, dragging in air to fill his tired lungs. Applause roared around them, but Lucy could barely hear the cheers, mind buzzing from the visual of his skin, not peppered in scales as she thought, but still glistening in the sweat of his dance.
Lisanna's dancing was beautiful, but this… Lucy couldn't find the words, but she was rising from her seat before her mind could catch up.
The cane moved her forward through the sand as others continued their cheers, slowly dying down at the sight of her passing the stones. She moved with a purpose, faster than her knee could keep up. (She would regret her rush later, but that wasn't important. Not now)
Her eyes were trained on Natsu, who waved to the crowd and crowed with victory. When his eyes met hers, his brows rose into the fringe of his sweaty hair, surprised by her swift advance.
"Never thought you'd see me do that, didja?" He asked, his smirk didn't reach his eyes as she stumbled forward, "I know I said I couldn't dance, but this doesn't really count- uh, Lucy?"
She didn't answer.
Not verbally.
Lucy struck the moment he was within arms reach, leaping to grab Natsu in a hug that pulled him close, grunting in surprise while her fingers clung to the back of his vest that suspiciously matched her own.
Who cares if they matched in color? Who cared that he wore a sun on his sash mimicking the moon on hers? Who cares what she'd said weeks ago?
'Don't touch me.'
Her grip tightened, burying her nose into his neck. "The surprise was worth it." She muttered, ignoring the way his body tensed with her touch and breath against his heated skin.
It was so silly, she thought, how he'd been dancing around her for weeks, with a fear over something she'd barely put thought into. Was barely coherent for. But their earlier argument, and his dance now… Lucy knew exactly what she wanted to say.
"Thank you for considering my space," She whispered, smiling when he wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her, "but that was when I was half awake and confused. I'm happier when you're just you. Your natural self."
His answering grip, tightening its hold while he nodded, gave Lucy all the information she needed.
He understood, and the sudden breath of relief against her ear sent a thrill down her spine.
"Thanks, Lucy."
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Next Chapter: 5/23/2023