Dedicating this to the cute customer I'm too scared to talk to ;)
A cozy book and game store surrounds Lucy as she gazes into the sea of isles. The warm, soft lighting casts a comforting glow while the plush seating, worn down by time and use, creates a welcoming atmosphere. A sense of peace envelops her as she stands in the gentle silence, surrounded by the vast collection of adventures that line the store's empty aisles. Customer service can be challenging, but working for Fairy Tail isn't the worst job out there. The owner, a sweet woman named Mavis, values education and encourages employees to read on the clock so long as customers are attended to.
Mavis also understands boredom, a trait Lucy is forever grateful for.
"I should have called out," The cashier mumbles, torso leaning over the front counter and chin resting on her palm. Time crawls by as a lack of customers eliminates her personal entertainment. Slow days are the best and the worst.
Reading would pass the time, and a quick look to the right confirms her newest novel rests untouched, but the desire is absent. A gentle ticking reminds Lucy of the time, dragging a dull groan from the blonde, "Another hour until lunch." With nothing to keep her mind occupied, she mindlessly stares out into the void, trying to fight drooping eyelids. She really shouldn't have stayed up so late, now future Lucy is dealing with the consequences.
Just when she's about to give in and take a mini nap, an annoying bell forces her attention elsewhere. Slightly turning and ready to give a half-hearted welcome, Lucy's boring day turns slightly humorous as two boys simultaneously squeeze through the entrance, their bodies getting stuck halfway. Limbs flail around and shoulders shove as the teens battle between the door frame, unwilling to let the other enter first. Insults penetrate the tiny store and before it escalates into a fistfight, as their clenched fists suggest, a ginger-haired teen shoves the duo from behind.
Finally free from their metal restraints, gravity pulls them towards the floor, stealing their breath along the way. Undeterred, the pink and black-haired frenemies scurry up as if nothing happened, glaring at the other like it's their fault.
The scene, lasting less than a minute, pulls a snort from the blonde employee. Having heard her, the ginger shoots Lucy a wink and flirty smirk while smoothing down his suit jacket. A ring-clad hand skims through his hair, tousling the locks a tad. For a moment Lucy swears the spikes looked like cat ears, but they flatten out just as fast.
Coy gestures may work on other pretty girls, but not her. Lucy rolls her eyes before remembering her position. Not wanting to lose her job, the cashier sends a friendly grin before turning back to the deserted store. Who wears a casual suit and tie these days, much less sunglasses inside? The thought brings another chuckle to her lips.
The boys wander through displays, looking at new releases and laughing at cheesy romance novels. They're somewhat loud and people watching is fun, so Lucy doesn't feel bad about staring as it makes time fly.
Especially the pink-haired eye candy.
She glances over his figure, taking note of the boyish attire and muscular physique. His t-shirt hangs loose around his frame, accompanied by tan cargo shorts, a scarf, and black sandals. What's up with this group and their odd fashion sense? At least the dark shirt compliments his sun-kissed skin. With a dopey grin, brown eyes taking in his defined arms. Lucy loves that he's not overly buff like a regular her supervisor gushes over, but the cutie certainly doesn't skip the gym.
Movement to the left snags Lucy's attention. The dark-haired friend from earlier stares right at her, catching her red-handed as she ogles his friend, slight judgment etched across his brow. Lucy's eyes widen a bit as a flush spreads up her neck.
The teen, with lips pulled back and eyebrows scrunched in disgust, throws a thumb behind his shoulder, right at her eye candy. "Him?" He mouths in disbelief.
The boy in question, oblivious to their silent conversation, wraps his scarf around his head and drops to the ground, somersaulting across the floor to peek behind display tables and shelves. Grabbing the flirty cat-boy around the knees with a victorious cry, he topples face-first into a stack of books, sending them flying across the floorboards.
Lucy sends a sheepish grin back, mouthing her own response. "He's cute!"
The other mock gags, his lips tilting at the corners. Lucy's left giggling once again, finding the bunch quite amusing.
"Ahem," a short, elf-looking man interrupts, snapping Lucy back to her job. "If you're done drooling, I'm ready to check out."
"Sorry sir! I didn't see you there." Lucy straightens up and begins scanning the man's items, knowing the next few minutes will be torture.
"These damn kids nowadays, always goofing off instead of working," he grumbles, going on about teenagers and how things were better 'back in my day.' Lucy's eye twitches with every word, her forced smile barely holding together. She speeds up, eager to be done with the unpleasant man. His annoying, choppy laugh and hideous handlebar mustache give Lucy the hibby jibbies.
Catching a glimpse behind Handbar's shoulder, the same dark-haired boy snickers in amusement.
"Still eyeing the kid when a customer's standing in front of you, huh? How disrespectful, I should buy out this trashy lot and bulldoze the place." Elf-guy sneers, tossing his payment on the counter.
When the man finally leaves, Gray's shoulders shake as he attempts to keep the laughs at bay. Not amused, the blonde shoots another glare.
Deciding she should get back to work lest she have another less-than-friendly interaction, Lucy looks around her workspace hoping to find something to do. Maybe sweep the floor... again. Or straighten the impulse buys… again. Huffing, she grabs a rag and aimlessly wipes the spotless countertop.
Lucy tries to ignore the pink cutie and his annoying friends, she really does, but her eyes have other plans. It's impossible to look away from his wide, toothy grin and the way his eyes sparkle when something catches his interest. How he picks the item up, showcasing it to his friends. Or the way his eyebrows scrunch, canines dipping into his bottom lip when reading the game synopsis.
A half-hour of shameless glancing has passed and the numerous worried gazes sent by other patrons make Lucy feel like the creep she's become. It doesn't help that she's smiling and giggling to herself while 'cleaning.' Attempting to be a civil human being, Lucy leans back against the counter, finally cracking open her book to pass the remaining time. Her treacherous eyes continue to gaze over the rim and scour the sea of books, trying to spot her sweet fixation among them. Currently, he's in the children's section putting on a one-man puppet show for his stuffed audience.
Are those dimples? Boy, is she a sucker for dimples. Lucy bites her lip to keep from grinning like a fool, but it does little as the thin skin slides from between her teeth. Shaking her head, Lucy goes back to her book, occasionally helping a few customers. And sneaking a few more glances.
"Hey Lucy," Mavis chirps, unlocking her own register. "Ready for your lunch break?"
"Is it that time already?" Marking her page, Lucy stretches her arms above her head, ready to ease her rumbling tummy. With one final look around the store, she spots the trio heading towards the registers. They stop just short, looking at the array of impulse buys. Her heart launches off; now's her chance to talk to him!
"Thanks, but I'm not hungry," She hesitates, sliding her gaze toward her boss, "I'll call you in a bit?" No way was she missing this opportunity.
"Are you sure? You usually go on time," Mavis asks, raising an eyebrow. Looking around the store, her winged headband flutters as she, too, notices the boys. "Oh! In that case, I'll be in stationary if you need anything!"
Lucy gasps, her cheeks tinting pink. Hoping and praying no one heard her, she shoos her employer away, trying to act normal by 'reading.' Mavis, of course, lingers by, wanting a front-row seat to Lucy's boy issues. She not-so-subtly spies behind notebooks and laptop cases, eyes shining and pale locks bouncing with her toes.
"Yo Natsu," the dark-haired teen picks up a coloring book on hideous monsters, flipping to a random page. "This looks like you!" a gnarly scaled creature with too many eyes and limbs decorates the page, causing Natsu to lash out and snatch the paper, intent on finding his friend's look-alike.
Natsu, Lucy tests the foreign name, hiding behind her book as another dopey smile threatens to unleash itself. Finally, she can put a name to her eye candy's face. It's cute and fitting, just like him.
Did she say Natsu's friend was annoying? She meant amazing, wonderful, and a perfect wingman.
The boys take their sweet time scouring through the impulse buys, picking up random nicknacks and stationery to throw at one another. It irks the cashier for ruining her perfect display, but at least they're nice enough to put everything back… in the wrong spot.
As luck would have it, other patrons fill the queue and demand Lucy's attention. She tries to hurry through them so she can continue eye-stalking her crush, but of course, the customers don't comply. More pile in and Mavis hops on register for backup.
Natsu and Co. decide now, of all times, to check out, making Lucy freak out behind her customer service mask, sweat beading along her brow. With her luck, she'll have to cut her talk short with Natsu. Or worse, her boss could take him!
If there's a higher being watching over her, please let her meet Natsu!
She mentally calculates her pace and customers until it's Natsu's turn, not wanting to go too fast or too slow and risk missing him. Lucy glances between herself, Mavis, and the thinning line. There are three customers left, so if she keeps an even pace with Mavis, Natsu will be forced to her register!
Giddiness bubbles inside of the blonde as her fixation draws closer and closer, her hands shaking from nerves. Chocolate eyes continue to linger on the oblivious boy, and she's pretty sure everyone has noticed by now, but she doesn't care.
Smiling and wishing someone goodbye, a quick peek has her heart soaring. Natsu's next! Her hard work, stress, and begging paid off! Lucy's face brightens as she calls him over, trying to control her shaking voice. He turns away from his conversation, green eyes making contact with brown. Lucy's heart beats like a war drum, blood thumping through her ears, as the cutie makes his way over.
In slow motion, the sunglass-wearing freak shoves Natsu aside and plops his items on her counter, shattering the illusion. He immediately flirts, trying to swoon the blonde with cheesy pickup lines and flattery. Eyes wide and shocked, Lucy sends the boy a tight smile while grinding her teeth. She quickly scans his items to shoo him away, but the teen is persistent.
Panic washes over Lucy as she spies on the line one last time, but quickly fades to relief. As Mavis calls the next customer, Lucy's annoying wingman shoves the pink cutie aside, sending the blonde a small wink.
Scratch that, he's the best.
"Your beauty outshines the brightest stars in the sky, like a radiant beacon of light," the ginger pauses, dragging the girl back to reality. "Lucy, I cannot bear the thought of parting from you." Even after paying, he shamelessly asks for her number and continues spewing compliments.
Lucy's patience is thinning and she's ready to explode; another eye twitch and "I'm not interested" seems like a challenge. Just as the teen opens his mouth, a fist connects with his jaw, sending the flirt tumbling into yet another display.
At least there's something to clean now..
"What the hell was that for?!"
"I'm tired of gettin' shoved around, go call one of your girlfriends an' let me check out!"
Panicking, Loke's voice grows desperate. "Don't listen to him, you're the only one for me!"
He tries to keep the blonde's attention, but she doesn't notice. Her heart skips a beat as she finally faces Natsu. Her eyes widen and pulse quickens, feeling a wave of nervousness and excitement all at once. Time stands still as they lock eyes for the first time, Lucy's cheeks growing warmer by the second.
"Yo!" Natsu says, merchandise spilling from his arms like a bulldozer.
He does have dimples!
Trying to play it cool, Lucy goes through the standard cashier questions, eager to keep the conversation rolling (and an excuse to hear his voice). "Did you find everything okay?" She asks, grabbing at the pile of goodies.
A familiar book, hidden by snacks and video games, catches Lucy's eye. "You like The Adventures of Happy and Plue?"
"Hell yeah, I do!" Natsu grins, "That stripper over there, Gray, says it's lame. He clearly has no taste." He jabs a finger in the wingman's direction.
"Lame? It's only the greatest manga of all time!" Lucy stifles a laugh, unable to deny the fluttery feeling inside her chest. "What's your favorite arc?"
"Obviously when they get lost in the Boundary Forest-"
"And Happy grows a mushroom on his head-!"
"Then Plue challenges the Demon King to a dance battle!" As they burst into laughter, Lucy feels a strange sensation in her chest. She's never had a conversation click so naturally before- it feels like they've known each other for years. He's cute, funny, and has similar interests? This guy is perfect!
Meanwhile, Gray and the owner eavesdrop, exchanging knowing glances. Mavis' eyes sparkle with pride and giddiness.
"I'm glad we agree Happy's way better than Plue," Natsu says, handing over his debit card.
Caught off guard, "What? Plue's obviously better."
"As if, Happy's a talking cat. That's like, ten times cooler than some snowman," Natsu scoffs.
"Plue's a dog!" Lucy's cheeks puff out, hands balling at her sides. How dare he offend her Pluey like that!
Natsu's gaze turns blank, his dazzling smile absent. "You might wanna get your eyes checked lady, he's clearly a snowman."
Secondhand embarrassment consumes Gray, the urge to hide behind his hand overwhelming. He shouldn't be surprised the idiot would mess up, but he had slight, microscopic hope.
Mavis, on the other hand, giggles, enjoying their banter.
Her initial shock subsiding, Lucy's eyebrow twitches. Did he just insult her? Sucking in a deep breath, the blonde exhales, choosing to ignore his comment. Swiping his payment and handing back the receipt, Lucy steals one last glance. He doesn't seem malicious, at least. There's something about the boy's playful demeanor and easy smile that sparks her interest.
While Natsu fumbles with his wallet, Lucy bites her lip, slipping her bookmark from its paper confinement. Silently crying as she sacrifices her spot, the blonde hopes it'll be worth it. Her hands shake like a granny as she scribbles her name and number, cringing at the atrocious handwriting. To salvage the effort, she adds a tiny heart, hoping it'll distract from the chicken scratch.
Cheeks glowing like Christmas lights, Lucy slides the bookmark over, clearing her throat to ease her nerves. Asking someone out is so embarrassing, how do people do this? "Maybe we could argue about Plue later? There's this cute cafe-"
"Woah, is that a Happy bookmark? I knew you secretly liked him!" Natsu snags the cardstock, eyes alight with joy.
Lucy's heart soars, a light feeling filling her chest. He took it, he's interested in her! "Isn't it cute? My friend gave it to me!"
Flipping it over, Natsu's beautiful eyes squint, brows morphing into that adorable look of concentration. Flickering between the cardstock and Lucy's nametag, his smile slips into something sheepish, sporting a matching set of red. "Ah, sorry, I didn't realize…" He trails, sliding the bookmark back. Something flashes behind his eyes as he mumbles yet another apology, scratching his head before backing away. "I should go. Nice meeting you, Lucy."
Lucy stands frozen as Natsu's figure retreats, her mind buzzing with confusion. What just happened? One moment they're hitting it off, then he's running away? Where did she go wrong?
Her gaze remains fixed on him, even as Gray chases after, shaking the boy's shoulder. Loke also gangs up on Natsu, throwing wild gestures back and forth.
Turning towards the aforementioned bookmark, Lucy tosses it into her novel, not bearing to see it anymore. A rock sinks in her stomach as tears sting her eyes, bottom lip threatening to wobble. He probably has someone, of course a guy like him is taken.
Rejection sucks.
"She was eye-fucking you for an hour, dude!"
Gray's voice cuts through the gentle buzz of conversation, an eerie silence falling over the store. Strangers stop and stare, their curiosity overwhelming. Lucy's mouth drops, eyes wide and disbelieving. The blood rushing through her ears drowns out everything else as she stares in horror, unable to form words. As if she wasn't embarrassed enough, now that jerk goes and screams her creepiness to the world? And of course Natsu had to go and look over here, now everyone knows they're talking about her!
"Shit, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean-"
"Mind if I take my lunch, Mavis?" Lucy asks, avoiding eye contact. When given a nod of approval, the tomato-faced cashier scurries off.
"Hey," With a gentle squeeze, Mavis grabs the girl's elbow. "Take as long as you want."
Meeting her gaze, Lucy reciprocates the smile, owing Mavis her life.
With the trio gone and Lucy's stomach satisfied, the store's back to its quiet, boring self. Even the displays are organized, as if she imagined the whirlwind of testosterone.
It took a while to overcome the embarrassment, her brain playing the scene on repeat, but her saint of a boss shooed off all witnesses. Now if only she could survive her own humiliation. With a resigned sigh, the teen doom scrolls, thumb flicking through social media in numb disappointment.
"Hey, Lucy?"
Snapping out of her somber thoughts and slipping on her customer-approved grin, voice bright and cheerful, "Hello, how can I help you?"
"Oh, it's you. What do you want?" The facade fades, replaced with a hint of annoyance when pink catches her eye. Standing before her, Natsu holds Lucy's gaze longer than necessary, an awkward feeling forming in the air. What's he still doing here? It's been well over an hour since she left for lunch.
Leaning uncomfortably close, a flicker of embarrassment crosses his eyes. "Bookmarks. Do you have any?"
Lucy scolds herself for feeling disappointed, of course he's back because he forgot something. Natsu already rejected her advances, but still, she can't help the pang that gnaws at her insides. "They're on that black spinny thing."
"I need a yellow one with a bunch of cat faces." He says, not breaking eye contact. In fact, he leans further across the counter.
And she's the one with eye problems.
"I don't think we have anything like that in stock, but you may find something similar over there," Lucy emphasizes her point, trying to send the boy away. What's with this guy?
Natsu's face contorts in a scowl, his brows furrowed and mouth set in a thin line. "Gah, you're not understanding!"
"It's not my fault you aren't looking!"
Lucy's retort falls on deaf ears as Natsu scans her workstation, face alight when he locks eyes on her book. His fingers dart across the wooden counter as quick as a cat.
"Hey, that's mine!" Lucy swipes the book from his hands, clutching it to her chest. Her own fingers clench around the edges, holding her item hostage. Caramel eyes narrowing into a glare, one that Natsu sends right back.
"Give me it!"
"As if, get your own!" Lucy twists and turns away from his grabby hands, playing their own game of cat and mouse.
"Didn't ya wanna go to some cafe?!"
Lucy's eyes widen in shock, her body freezing in place. "What..?" Her voice is barely audible as her mind struggles to catch up.
Seizing the opportunity, Natsu steals the book back. Giving a triumphant whoop, he dangles the thing by its cover, pages fluttering in the air. Yellow, rectangular cardstock falls from the paper, twirling as it lands. Having no use for it, Natsu tosses the hardback with a thud.
"My book!"
"There, was that so hard?" Natsu asks, grin turning smug as he shows off his prize. A wave of bashfulness floods the boy but he stays confident. "So, when are you free?"
Forgetting the harsh treatment of her property, Lucy's eyes dance between her bent bookmark and the cutie's face. A pink hue slowly spreads beneath his skin the longer she stares. "What?"
"Uh, for our date." Natsu's hand instinctively moves to his cheek, scratching nervously as his confidence wavers. "If you're still interested, that is," his words faltering.
"Date? But, you turned me down." Lucy tries to deny the hope slipping between her words, not wanting to be disappointed once more. But she can't help it, he's just too adorable and damn her for wanting a chance with him!
"Yeah cus your handwriting sucks," he says like it explains everything.
Hot air puffs from Lucy's nostrils. "Is that any way to ask a girl out?" She asks, crossing her arms. "You know, you really suck at this. All you've done is steal my stuff, toss them like trash, and insult me."
"You're one to talk, you wrote Luigi! I thought that was your boyfriend or somethin'!"
"Huh? Give me that." Ripping the bookmark from his hands, and, sure enough, her name is far illegible. Her inner author slowly dies; you'd have an easier time reading a kindergartener's homework.
Starting off decent, it spirals down by the third letter, the 'c' being too crooked and combined with what's supposed to be a 'y.' The accentuated tail doesn't help the situation either, looking like an additional vowel than a cute design. "I'm surprised you could even read this!"
Natsu leans over the counter, smiling wide and flaunting his dimples. He rests his forearms against the surface, bringing himself inches from Lucy's face. The proximity is unexpected, yet she finds herself drawn closer, like a moth to a flame. His eyes lock with hers, their gazes intertwined as he looks up at her with affection.
Mirroring his grin, warmth spreads through Lucy's chest, making her feel lighter than air. They stare at one another for what feels like an eternity.
"So, who would win an arm wrestling match, a dragon or the Kraken?" Natsu asks.
"In a fair fight? Definitely a dragon. Have you seen how many arms the Kraken has? The guy totally cheats."
"Probably a sore loser, too." They both share a laugh before Natsu continues. "Glad we can agree on something, I don't think I could date a Kraken supporter."
Lucy bites her lip, the flesh slipping back to normal when she smiles. "Glad I meet your high standards."
"Yep! Everythin' except liking Plue, cus Happy's clearly superior."
"You wish!"