What Fairy Girls Want
by Ulquiorra9000
Chapter 11: take me for another spin (and make it count)
Natsu had practically sprung out of his hotel bed this morning, psyched for today's soccer game! Hell YEAH! Soon, he and his buddies would take on the Crocus University Sabertooths and show the world what MCC can do. But that wouldn't be until later at the huge CU sports stadium. Until then...
A sightseeing tour with the lovely Cana Alberona!
"Hurry, Natsu! The trolley's about to go!" Cana cried happily as she and Natsu jogged across the sidewalk and toward the waiting trolley. The trolley, painted a festive green and yellow, was almost full, with a handful of people ready to get on board.
"Excuse me, folks! Coming through!" Natsu worked his way through the crowd, holding Cana's hand tight as he went, and he had just enough time to buy two tickets from the conductor guy before he and Cana stepped aboard. Whew, that was close. Natsu took a seat with Cana settling cozily next to him, and the trolley jolted into motion.
"Wheeeee! We're riding a fancy Crocus trolley," Cana joked as a few locals gave her annoyed looks, their faces clearly saying Typical tourists!
Natsu smiled toothily. "I promise not to get carsick. That only happens on long drives."
"What, like the bus ride from Magnolia to Crocus?"
Natsu felt his stomach lurch, and he grimaced. "Ugh, don't remind me. Six hours on that stupid bus! My tummy was killing me. And Loke wouldn't stop kicking the back of my seat. He's like a kid."
"That jerk." Cana reached into her little purse and held out a packet of gummy worms. "Will this cheer you up?"
"Score! Thanks!" Natsu pocketed his prize, then sighed comfortably. "My life has suddenly gotten so busy, Cana. It feels great to kick back and check out Crocus like this."
"Anything for my sweet Natsu," Cana said warmly, taking Natsu's hand in hers. She squeezed. "Crocus is a magical city. Let's take in all the sights together."
Natsu nodded. "Yeah!"
He'd never done a morning date before. So far, he was loving it.
"Look at that," Cana said, pointing out the window. "That's the biggest fountain I've ever seen! So fancy!"
"No way." Natsu marveled as the trolley passed a huge intersection, where a mammoth fountain with a circular base gushed with water in eye-popping patterns. On top of the central pillar stood a fancy sabertooth cat (booooo!), with fish and mermaids around it shooting arcs of water in alternating patterns.
"That's one of four fountains in the city," an older lady to Natsu's right mentioned. "They're the cornerstones of the city. Is this your first time seeing one?"
"Yeah," Natsu told her. "Totally rad."
The old lady smiled. "They say that if two lovers meet at all four fountains and make a vow at each one to always be together, it'll come true. That's how I met my husband."
"It's a local legend," the lady's friend piped up.
"Oh. Like a ghost story?" Natsu said.
Cana snorted. "No, Natsu, you won't get haunted. Unless you count the specter of love following you, ready for some action." She winked.
The two old ladies. "Are you two a couple?" the first one asked.
Cana shared a look with Natsu. "This is our second date," Cana said brightly. "So far, it's been a blast! Crocus is so romantic."
"Well, I think you two are delightful together," the old lady said with another smile. "Be sure to mark those fountains on a map and see them all. If you get my meaning!"
"We sure will!" Cana cheered.
Natsu checked the fountain over his shoulder as the trolley moved on. Oh man, was this it? The big decision? Natsu loved the idea of visiting all four fountains with the right girl to make that promise, and he couldn't say no to that joyous look on Cana's face.
Still...
"Wow, look at all these cute shops," Cana gushed as the trolley moved on to a street lined with bakeries, cafes, florists, and coffee shops. "It's like date central, Natsu. And they've even got a classy liquor store! See it? Vintage wines, the sign says."
"Nice place," Natsu commented as the trolley rolled past the shop in question. "I'm more used to making beer runs for Gray and Elfman. What's it like, picking out a fine wine?"
"Maybe we oughta check that place out later," Cana suggested. "I'll help you pick out your first wine bottle, Natsu. Mixed drinks at a house party are awesome, but there's something special about choosing a wine bottle. It almost feels personal. Is that weird to say?"
"I think I get it," Natsu said with a quick grin. "Wine is fancy and is all about personal taste. That's what Mirajane once said."
"And she was right. When you find the right wine, you know it," Cana said fondly. "It feels right. You just wanna take it home, run your hands all over it, then uncork it, and..." She mimed chugging from a bottle, and Natsu burst out laughing.
From there, the trolley rolled by a lovely park, with people and their dogs enjoying some mid-morning sun, and then Natsu and Cana saw a few historic buildings and museums, and a few more fountains (smaller ones), plus a huge shopping mall called UrbanSpot Crocus Mall.
"Damn, we should visit that place tomorrow before going home," Natsu mentioned to Cana, pointing at the mall in question. "It sure puts the Magnolia Mall to shame."
"Oh, I dunno," Cana said casually. "It looks great, but I've got more fond memories of the mall back home." She winked. "That's where the whole crew gets together when we all want a good time."
"Yeah, fair point."
The trolley eventually made a loop, stopping a few times to let passengers on and off (the old lady and her friend wished Natsu and Cana the best of luck as they disembarked). By that time, Natsu and Cana were ready to stretch their legs, and they carved a meandering path back to Natsu's hotel.
Cana couldn't wait any longer. She was positively giddy with excitement as she led Natsu into the hotel's front lobby, up the elevator, and into Natsu's room. Mercifully, they were alone, with Natsu's roommate Gray being otherwise occupied in the city.
That was when they fucked.
"OOOOOOH! Natsu, harder...!" Cana gasped as Natsu bared his teeth and kept grunting and thrusting, with both of them savoring the feeling of this new sex position. How had Natsu never tried this one before? It was so easy! Right now, Natsu had Cana pressed right up against the wall of his room, with Cana's right leg raised and tucked to make room for Natsu to pound her from behind. Who knew banging while standing up could feel so invigorating? This really let the blood flow hot!
"Aaaaaaaaah! Natsu, make love to me. I need you," Cana cried, dramatically gripping the wall with both hands as Natsu kept up the lovemaking. She was totally nude, her lightly tanned body heaving and rocking, her brown hair bun coming undone one strand at a time.
"How's this?" Natsu grunted, also quite nude, adjusting the angle of his thrusting just a bit. Damn, this felt terrific, ramming his cock into her straight up! Natsu admired how Cana's perfect round ass kept jigging rapidly as Natsu fucked her.
"A little more... mmmmf! To the side. Just a bit harder," Cana panted, so Natsu reached down and adjusted his manhood. He withdrew his cock until just the tip was in Cana's wet pussy, then tweaked the angle and slowly but surely slid it back in.
Cana's shriek of pleasure was all the affirmation Natsu needed. Nailed it!
Natsu playfully held Cana in place with his left hand while smacking her ass with his right, and Cana couldn't get enough of it. Cana kept wailing with pleasure as Natsu pressed her warm, sweaty body against the wallpaper, her right asscheek growing red and raw while Natsu spanked it nice and good. Then Natsu switched to the left hand, slapping Cana's left asscheek until it was cherry-red, all while jostling her lady parts like a beast. Oh crud, Natsu's legs were starting to get tired from all this, but he didn't dare stop just yet! This angle felt so damn good...!
"I... I'm come... coming...!" Natsu gasped, and sure enough, there was no stopping the pleasure train! Natsu felt his cock throbbing as it released its love, filling his condom while Cana sighed and groaned with satisfaction, her loose brown hair sticking in sweaty clumps. Natsu reached down to slowly withdraw his wiener, feeling Cana's fresh pussy lube as he went. Wow, Cana was like a horny faucet! She couldn't get enough of this.
Round 2 would have to wait just a few moments. Until then...
"So comfy," Cana sighed happily as she lay nude on the king-sized bed next to her carnal lover. She had her arms and legs apart. "Don't you feel like royalty in here, Natsu? I could spend all day in here if I didn't hear those cute shops and liquor stores calling to me!"
"You said it," Natsu said cozily, laying at a 90-degree angle to his lovemaking partner, watching the ceiling. "I almost forgot for a minute there that we've got a game this evening."
"Mmmmmm. If I weren't so eager to see CU get its butt kicked on that field, I'd almost ask you to skip the game," Cana commented. She reached over and took Natsu's hand. "Crocus is such a romantic city. Did I mention that? I just want to see it all with you. Morning, night, whatever."
"That sounds like a lot of fun, babe." Natsu was still panting for breath, his mind still racing excitedly from the lovemaking, yet as a few quiet moments passed between him and Cana, he started to feel... something. Or maybe it was something he wasn't feeling.
Natsu carefully tilted his head to get a peek at Cana. She looked perfectly cozy, laying there in the nude, her eyes on the ceiling. So... what now? Natsu agreed that sightseeing in Crocus kicked ass. He loved that Cana loved it here, with the fountains and wine. And did he love her?
He wasn't ready to say it.
Cana glanced over and made a naughty smile. "I can see you peeking at me, lover boy."
"N-nothing!" Natsu blurted out, springing upright and wondering why he always responded that way when startled. "I was just admiring how chill you looked."
Cana's smile widened as she also sat up. She tossed her hair. "Chill? I'm just catching my breath until I'm ready to tear you apart." She bared her teeth and mimed claws with her fingers. She laughed.
"Seriously, though..." Cana swept aside her loose hair strands. "What do you think, Natsu? We just had our second big date, and it was right here in the most romantic city imaginable. I have to know..." She suddenly looked coy and bashful, kneeling on the comforter and clasping her hands under her chin. Her lovely violet eyes even glittered a bit. "Natsu, do you feel anything... special with me?"
"Um..." Natsu opened his mouth to answer, then felt his dull mind hit a brick wall. Shit! What did he say? He knew this moment would come when he agreed to date Cana, Lisanna, and Lucy all at once. These girls were already doing him a big favor, letting him go out (and bang) all three before choosing one. He owed them some straight talk.
His heart wasn't ready for this.
"I'm guessing we don't have the luxury of a third date to decide what we are to each other," Natsu said, scraping all his brainpower together for that one. "Normally, you use the three-date rule for sex, but we did the nasty on the first date. What comes next?"
"I was hoping you'd tell me," Cana admitted.
"Well..."
They stared at each other for a moment that seemed to last an hour. No one moved a muscle.
"I don't know either," Cana suddenly said. She swung her legs off the bed and gathered up her clothes. "Natsu, I have to go. Sorry about this. I'll watch you at the game! Go whoop some Sabertooth ass!"
Natsu hardly knew what to say. And was it just him, or did Cana look uncomfortable, or even... embarrassed? Did she feel as stuck as Natsu did? But this date was her idea! Natsu had the feeling she wouldn't be satisfied unless a serious love confession took place. But if neither of them could muster the words...
"I had a good time. Thanks for today," Cana said distractedly as she finished getting dressed. She grabbed her little purse and headed for the door. "Let's, uh... give each other some space until tomorrow. Okay?" She looked over her shoulder at her date.
Natsu nodded. "Okay. Sure."
Cana looked like she wanted to say something else, but she didn't say a word as she swung open the hotel door and hurried out. Natsu watched the door close, twice as confused as before.
Oh, man. What had he gotten himself into? This was his fault, wasn't it? But Natsu wouldn't get any answers just yet. Play it cool, man, and let Cana figure out her own business on her own time.
Natsu slowly crawled off the bed to get dressed, wondering if he had really been the right person to give Elfman dating advice after all. Then again... maybe Natsu needed a break from all this too, just like Cana. As Natsu yanked on his boxer briefs and tracked down his socks, he decided that the UrbanSpot Crocus Mall was just what his tangled mind needed right now. With a friend, of course.
o*o*o*o*
"Wow, what a place!"
Natsu felt all his anxiety and confusion melting away as he marveled at the UrbanSpot Mall's arcade, a two-story festival of beeping and blooping games, clanking pinball machines, air hockey tables, some bowling alleys, and even a laser tag arena to the side. So much energy! So much fun!
Natsu put his hands on his hips. "I guess it's true. Whatever Magnolia does, Crocus does twice as good."
"Yeah, I had that impression too," a familiar voice said.
"Hey, Gray," Natsu greeted his buddy, grinning. "Right on time."
"Actually, I got here ten minutes ago. I played a few games of pinball while I was waiting." Gray jabbed his thumb over his shoulder at the pinball machines.
Natsu gave the machines a peek. "How'd it go?"
Gray rolled his eyes. "I got the ball stuck just when I was about to beat the high score. So you tell me!"
"Damn, that blows."
"Eh, I'll live."
"So, what else have you been up to today?" Natsu wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"I had another hookup with Juvia," Gray declared, drawing himself up to his full height, grinning ear to ear. "We toured Crocus a bit, then retired to her hotel room for a proper fuckathon. It's a good way to get me nice and limber before tonight's game." He offered a hand, and Natsu high-fived it with all his might.
"You and Juvia have really settled into a rhythm, huh?" Natsu commented.
"We have. So long as we keep it carnal, no strings attached," Gray said, sticking his hands into his pockets. "That's the way I like it. How about you? Get any action today?"
"Yeah, about that..." Natsu explained his morning date with Cana, including the fact that Cana seemed to be waiting for something that Natsu didn't give her.
"... so, what's that all about?" Natsu asked.
Gray narrowed his eyes. "I bet you can guess."
Natsu could guess, but should he go there? He was at this arcade to take his mind off stuff like that! But he thought back on Cana's smiling and happy face, and then he thought of that tense and expectant look she had made... he had to figure this thing out. And if he could tell anyone what was on the tip of his tongue, it was Gray.
"I think she wants me to say I love y -"
"Well, look what we have here! A couple of eagles in sabertooth territory."
Gray flinched. "Oh, shit. Red alert, Natsu!"
Natsu whirled around and beheld two cocky, familiar faces as a pair of blond and dark-haired chuckleheads approached. "Sting. Rogue. I'll be damned."
"If you're looking to soothe your nerves before the game, you picked a great spot," Sting Eucliffe, captain of the CU Sabertooths soccer team, noted. His eyes flashed with competitive fire. "I've got the high score on all the pinball machines. Did you notice?"
Gray looked away and coughed. "Uh, nope."
"You wanna go? Huh?" Natsu challenged them, fists clenched by his side.
"Chill out, bud. We're just here to have fun, like you," Rogue Cheney said, motioning with his hands. "We need to work out some pre-game jitters, too."
"Really." Natsu relaxed his fists. "Even you get nervous before a game?"
"A little, yeah," Rogue said casually. "What's the big deal?"
"The big deal is we're gonna make you run home to your mommies when this is over!" Natsu declared, his eyes spitting sparks of rivalry fury as he took a step closer. "You might set the high scores in here, but you're not puttin' a single point on that scoreboard in the stadium tonight."
"Hear that, Sting? The Eagles think they can take us," Rogue told his friend, folding his arms. "Whatever should we do?"
"We teach 'em a little humility," Sting decided, pounding his fists together with a wide smile. Wait a minute, that was Natsu's move!
"You're on, punks," Gray told them, also taking a step forward. "Pinball, air hockey, zombie shooter games, you name it, we'll take you down in it!"
"Yeah!" Natsu piled on, raising a fist.
Sting and Rogue shared a curious look, then turned their attention to the two MCC Eagles on their turf. "Bring it," they said in unison.
First up was the basketball toss game.
"Is it ironic for soccer players to compete in this game?" Gray wondered as the four boys started tossing those balls. Gray's ball swished right into the net. Score!
"Nah, it's all good," Sting said off-handedly. He even made a show of tossing all his balls into the net with elegance, and Rogue wasn't far behind. Natsu scored a few nets, but it wasn't enough, and Sting and Rogue had a much higher total score.
"First game's ours," Rogue declared, hands on his hips. "Better bring your A-game, Eagles!"
Natsu cracked his neck. "I'm just getting started, punk."
Next was air hockey, 2v2. And this time...
"Crap!" Sting yelped as Natsu expertly bounced the puck off the edge and sent it rocketing into the Sabertooth team's net.
Natsu grinned widely. "Keep your eyes on the puck, chumps!"
"Yeah, whatever. Here comes my serve!" Sting declared, and he blasted the puck across the table, only for Gray to intercept it and bounce it toward his teammate, who scored another point through Rogue's sloppy defenses. End result: 10-5, Eagles victory!
"Now that's how it's done." Natsu high-fived Gray with gusto.
Then came pinball.
"Over there! Get it over there!" Gray cried, pointing as Natsu furiously mashed the flipper buttons on a dinosaur-themed pinball game. "If you get it in, you score a million points!"
"That's what I did earlier this morning with Cana!" Natsu retorted as he kept bouncing that metal ball around.
"Who's Cana?" Rogue wondered.
"Oh, just Natsu's super-hot date who toured Crocus with him," Gray boasted, arms folded. "As for me, I'm hooking up with this chick Juvia. She's all over me."
"Hey, that's pretty cool," Sting said with a thumbs-up. "Crocus is the most romantic city in Fiore, after all."
"Really. And when was the last time you scored a date?" Gray challenged him as Natsu tried to score those 1,000,000 points.
"I'm gonna ask out my classmate soon. Just working up the courage first," Sting told him. "Her name's Yukino. She's studying microbiology."
Gray scoffed. "That's..." He paused. "That's kind of awesome, dude."
"Thanks."
Then Gray snapped out of it. "No! We're rivals! Prepare to get crushed in these games!"
Natsu ended up scoring 546,700 points on the dinosaur pinball machine, so Sting took his turn... and scored 1,440,900 points! He even got it in to score that sweet million! Shit!
"That's what I'm talking about!" Sting hooted as he and Rogue bumped fists.
"Lucky shot," Natsu shot back. "So you're up 2-1 in games. That won't last long!"
And it didn't, since Sting and Rogue challenged the MCC Eagles to a zombie shooter game, only for the Eagles to slaughter twice as many of the digital undead. Then, Gray found a motorcycle racing game, and the Sabertooths were the true kings of the road on that one. Next, Natsu and Gray wiped the floor with Sting and Rogue in a Wheel of Super Fortune-style game, tying it at 3-3.
"Wow, you guys are good," Rogue commented lightly. "This is really firing up my competitive spirit!"
"I'll show you who's boss," Natsu fired back, pointing. "Find us another game, pronto!"
So they did. And in the end, no matter how many games the four dudes played, the two teams stayed even, even after they did a whole lap around the arcade.
"Man, I'm all played out," Sting said wearily, wiping his brow. He smiled. "Natsu, Gray, you guys are somethin' else. I can't wait to play a great game with you in the stadium tonight."
"And enjoy the Crocus nightlife if you have the energy for it," Rogue added. "Our clubs and bars are second to none! You'll see."
"That's right. You'll hafta drink away all your woes after you get creamed tonight!" Natsu taunted them. "See you then, Sabertooths!"
"Until then!" Sting said, and he and Rogue waved as they took their leave.
Natsu and Gray needed a moment to cool down, then faced each other. "I've got a good feeling about tonight," Natsu said smugly. "Don't you?"
"Yeah. But..." Gray scratched his head.
"Huh? What's up?"
"Based on our last game against the Sabertooths, I thought Sting and Rogue would be total dicks to us," Gray said. "But you know what? They weren't half bad."
Natsu looked at the exit door where Sting and Rogue had gone. "I... guess you're right. I didn't really notice."
"You seemed tense, though," Gray added. "I don't blame you, since you're so fired up for tonight's game."
Natsu scraped together his limited brainpower and came to a simple conclusion. He hung his head in shame. "I don't think it's about tonight's game."
Gray gave Natsu a knowing look. "Is it about a girl? Or rather, three of them?"
Natsu remembered the awkward moment between him and Cana earlier today, when he had failed to say the words she wanted to hear. "You got me, Gray. That's a billion points. I just can't decide what to do."
"Hang in there." Gray clapped a hand to Natsu's shoulder. "You'll figure this out. Things are going great with Juvia and me. Follow our example."
"All you and Juvia do is shag when she snaps her fingers," Natsu teased him.
Gray went red. "That's not...!"
Natsu gave him a look.
"... not incorrect."
"Hey, chin up. It's more than you had last year. And now Juvia's actually tolerable to be around instead of being your wacko stalker."
"Stalking ain't nothin' to laugh at," Gray pointed out. "But you're right about the rest. True, Juvia's doing better than ever, and I like being around her now. We're connecting. This is going to be our year."
He had a vaguely distant look as he said it. Uh-oh. Did he need to relieve some tension on the soccer pitch tonight, too?
Natsu looked around. "Are you game for a round of bowling? We've still got time before getting ready for the game."
Gray cracked his knuckles and headed for the lanes. "Bring it on, Natsu. I'll get a strike with my first ball."
And that he did. Cheater!
o*o*o*o*
"Is that your fourth martini?" Laxus Dreyar asked as his girlfriend received her order at the bar in a quaint Crocus establishment.
Mirajane gave him a playful smile and lifted the glass. "What's the matter? Do you think I can't handle it?"
"I've seen you drink six martinis and stay on your feet. And with a mug of beer to wash it all down," Laxus noted. "But..." He checked his fancy watch. "We have to get going soon, or we'll miss the game. Or at least, miss all the best seats."
"Oh, it's no problem." Mirajane tilted back her glass and downed the whole thing in one go. Wow! "Do you see that empty glass in front of you, my dear Laxie?"
Laxus' eyes locked onto the empty glass that had held his fifth scotch and soda. "Yes...?"
"If you can knock out five of those, I can have a few of these without you questioning me," Mirajane said with a tipsy giggle. She swatted her boyfriend's shoulder. "And besides, didn't we agree to have a little more fun this year and shake things up?"
"Did you mean actual adventures, or just shaken cocktails at new bars?"
Mirajane snorted with laughter. "Both, you big silly! Besides, I have a big idea in mind, and I'm not brave enough to do it unless I'm a little sloshed first."
Laxus' ears parked up at once. "Is this a new bedroom idea? Because I can get us a cab back to the hotel pronto -"
"Nope!" Mirajane held up a finger. "The MCC Eagles are about to play, and I wouldn't miss it for the world. Now, let's get a move on. I have to do some prep work first. Find us some seats, and I'll take care of the rest. Just follow my lead!"
Laxus broke out into a cocky grin. "Oh my, what does my fierce queen have in store for me this evening?"
"A game you'll never forget, buster. First up: a cab! Time's wasting!" Mirajane stood up, set some Jewel bills on the counter, and grabbed her boyfriend's arm, half-dragging him to the front door.
Laxus felt the lusty, barely restrained strength of his girlfriend's grip and knew for sure that whether the Eagles won or lost, he'd win the game of love tonight. After three years with Mirajane, how could Laxus do any less?