Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. Hiro Mashima does.

The early morning light shone inside the empty pizzeria, the sound of a broom sweeping across the floor rhythmic and steady. Pizza Palace was just opening up, their ovens preheating with a low gentle hum. A raven haired worker unlocked the front doors and flipped the sign over to let the customers know they were open. After the task was done, he went back to sweeping, grabbing the dustpan to gather up all the dirt. He knew customers didn't really start coming in until roughly noon for lunch. Before he could even sweep one scoop in, the door open, letting loose the chime of a tiny bell. Gray turned slowly stifling a yawn as he welcomed the incoming customer.

"Mornin'" His greeting was slightly rough as he had yet to get rid of the gruffy sleepiness in his voice.

"Good morning, Prince Gray." A soft voice responded, floating around the room. The dustpan clattered to the ground, as Gray's eyebrows arched in surprise. He turned fully around to be confronted with a blue haired girl, her soft blue dress landed just above her knees in a cloud like effect. Juvia. Gray stood gaping at the women, as his brain frozen in the moment. It was only yesterday that the 'incident' happened, and Gray didn't get a wink of sleep last night as the minute he closed his eyes to try and succumbed to the blissful void her tearful eyes flashes in his mind. Least to say after the fifth try, Gray just ended up staying up until the wee hours catching up on some reading. He could feel the heavy bags from under his eyes grow throughout the night due to his lack of sleep. And the very reason was standing right in front of him, twiddling her thumbs, as she planted her gaze firmly on the floor next to his feet. Gray shook his head to try and come up with a coherent response. What did she even say again? He just hoped it wasn't a question and went with the most likely generic response.

"Uh...How are you..?" he asked gently as he wished he didn't notice the slight redness to her eyes.

"I'm...good." She admitted with a nod as her eyes glanced up to met his. Gray gulped before continuing. He borrowed a tactic of hers as he decided to have a staredown with the floor.

"I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean to yell at you like that…" He took in a much needed breath before continuing. "And make you cry. I'm sorry." He added once more noticing her eyes watering up as he apologized. Panic raised in his throat. What did he do wrong this time? Wasn't he suppose to apologize? Before he could ask her what was the matter, she bolted at him, arms wide. She crushed him against her body without care.

"Oh Prince Gray! I accept your apology!" Her hug tightened around his torso with each of her words. Gray swore he heard a rib crack. She continued her rapid talking, saying how she could never hate him and how she was so happy they made up.

"Ju-Juvia…" He croaked out. "Can't b-breathe…" he let his words ghost across her ear in hopes that she would hear him even in her self induced word marathon. However she didn't and Gray started feeling lightheaded. When the upcoming feeling of the cold shot through his bones, he shivered. His skin followed letting lose a ghostly chill. This seemed to bring Juvia out of her trance as she gasped. She quickly retracted her arms from his person allowing him to breathe. He took in deep gulps of air, mentally warding off the cold from within him. He pushed himself further away from Juvia as he grabbed ahold of the front counter for support. That was a close one. When he felt his heartbeat calm down, he turned to a worried looking Juvia. She moved to touched him, words of reassurance and pity on the tip of her tongue. Before she could even utter a lone word though, Gray moved out of her reach.

"It's fine. I know you didn't mean it." Gray said carefully as if defusing a ticking time bomb. Which in a literal sense he was. The last thing he needed right now was for her crying voice to bounce off the walls. That would be a disaster for the whole town. Juvia seemed to accept his distance with a looked of understanding. She stepped back a few feet of her own.

"Do...you guys have the oven fired up already?" Her tone obviously shy and hesitant. Gray grunted as he reached down to pick up the forgotten dust pan. With two swift movements, he swept up the little dirt pile and tossed it in the trash.

"Do you want your usual?" Gray asked casually as he went around the front counter to turn on the menu and register.

"Yes, please." Juvia nodded gratefully. A grunt was her only response once more as the raven haired worker moved to the back kitchen. The sound of the faucet faintly resounded before the sounds of kitchen work followed. Juvia sat down at her table that was tucked in the corner with a perfect view inside the kitchen through the wide window. She watched peacefully as Gray beat the dough into a ball, his fists pounding hard into the floury ball in order to make the crust the perfect texture. He sprinkled some oil onto the laid out flatten crust before smothering it in red sauce. With thoughtless hands he sprinkled mozzarella and Juvia's favorite topping. Anchovies. When he was all done he shoved the small pizza into the backs of the oven and washed his hands, riding them of the dead fish. Right as he grabbed the towel to dry off his hands, the bell outside signaled another customer.

Gray walked back out into the front, to be greeted with a figure basked in the morning rays. Long legs flowed into a curvy shape as Gray's eyes trailed up to the customers face. Blonde hair seemed carefully styled around a rounded face.

"Good morning." The customer greeted, stepping out of the shining light, making her features unshadowed. "Umm. I am looking for a guy named Natsu. He works here, right?"

'Now why would a girl like this be looking for a washed up flame like Natsu?' Gray couldn't help but question. He suppose Natsu had gained a few followers since working here, but not nearly as many as him. He grimaced as he spared a glance at Juvia. She seemed to be trying to hide a very prominent glare in his direction, or well maybe it was towards her.

"He does, but he isn't scheduled to work today." His words caused the girl to deflate. She spoke softly her eyes darting to look around the joint.

"He told me to meet him here." She looked at her watch before tilting her head. "Though I suppose I am a little early." She smiled slightly to herself. Gray declared the girl shy and gentle, quite the breath of fresh air.

"Knowing that idio-ahem I mean knowing him, he might be a little late even." Gray laughed a little in an attempt to rid the air of the strange resistance. The girl rewarded him with a smile of her own.

"Do you mind if I wait here then for him?"

"Be my guest. My name's Gray, so if you need anything just holler." Gray offered as he started heading back towards the kitchen. Juvia's pizza was probably done, so he grabbed the wooden spatula and whipped it out. He added finishing touches as he sliced the pizza into six equal pieces.

Meanwhile, Lucy sat down at a high chair table, absentmindedly swinging her feet. She was 20 minutes early, and she knew her anxiousness would only drag out the time even more. She had gotten a text from Natsu last night saying how he wished to talk to her, and how sorry he was for ignoring her text. Lucy almost wanted to laugh as he proceeded to send her all the sad emojis along with some cheesy quotes about forgiveness. So call her a smuck, but here she was planning to meet the guy she couldn't get out of her head sitting on a high chair, swinging her feet like a blissful child. She had pushed away all the nagging thoughts about the secret Levy couldn't tell her about and instead focused on the present. Sure Natsu had ignored her for almost a week, and yeah being around him sometimes stressed her out, not to mention he is a huge weirdo. But there were these moments they had sometimes. Moments she couldn't really explain. He made her feel wanted. Treasured even.

'It sounds crazy, but...there isn't another way I can describe it.' Her thoughts on the matter always seemed to circle back to seeing him once more. Or twice more. Or thrice more. However many it takes to figure out what she is feeling and if it's something more. If it's a good feeling that she could take hold and never let go. Perhaps she is getting ahead of herself, but the light glittering emotions that bubbled up in her these past few outings, didn't seem to be going away, anytime soon. She glanced around the pizzeria noting it was desolate, except for a lone girl, munching away on a small pizza. The smell wafted over to Lucy, and her stomach growled.

'Now now Lucy. Pizza for breakfast is absurd.' she shook her head to rid herself of her temptation. Her eyes roamed to instead the black haired worker. What did he say his name was again? Greg? He walked with smooth steps back into the kitchen. His hair was tied neatly in a small ponytail in the back, revealing his strong jawline and hard facial feature. A harsh shiver ran through her body interrupting her observation of the man. Her stomach turned slightly as she notice the blue haired girl glare at her with the firey pits of hell in her eyes. She was teething on what seemed like a handkerchief, as she bounced her leg up and down. Lucy gave a small wave towards the girl, not really knowing what to do in a situation like this. Though her gestured seemed to fuel the flames and Lucy took solace in glancing at her watch once more. Five more minutes until he was suppose to be here. The screeching of a chair attracted her attention. Her heart sped up in excitement as she smiled brightly and raised her head.

In a stark contrast, riving in jealousy, was the blue haired girl. She had sat herself firmly in the chair across from Lucy, still glaring with a furious gleam. Lucy's comfort levels flew out the window, as the blue haired girl narrowed her eyes and spoke.

"I don't know who you think you are, but Prince Gray isn't looking for any sort of relationship right now." Though at the end of her sentence, her words lost their venom as she seemed to realize them herself. She shook her head before resuming her glare on the blonde.

"Gray? I'm afraid I don't know who you are talking about." Lucy replied confused.

"Oh don't play dumb with me. You know exactly who I'm talking about." At the still confused look in Lucy's eyes, the blue haired girl huffed as she gestured to the handsome worker in the back kitchen. "Prince Gray! You know the guy who you were totally checking out!"

"Whoa whoa whoa. First off, I thought his name was Greg. Second off I was not checking him out! I was just observing." Lucy defended as she felt her anger slightly grow.

"Oh trust me honey, you were checking him out! And I'm telling you right now that you have no chance in hell at him!" The blue hair girl started yelling.

"And I'm telling you I'm not interested in him! I barely know him!" Lucy now yelled back, not liking being accused. The woman just scoffed in response

"That's what they all say. A lowlife hussy like yourself should just vanish from his sight!"

"How about you vanish from my sight and leave me alone!"

"Not until you leave Prince Gray alone!"

"What are you? His bodyguard?! You seem more like a stalker to me!" At Lucy's words, she saw a flash of hurt run across the woman's eyes. Before Lucy could react properly the blue haired woman whipped her hand back in the air. Lucy's eyes contracted on the movement before she quickly shut her eyes, ready to flinch in hopes of dodging the hit. However before she had the chance to, a deep yelled resounded.

"Juvia!" The voice was reprimanding and angry. The pizza worker, whose name was apparently Gray, grasped the rude woman's wrist in his tight hold, stopping it from inflicting any damage.

"Prince Gray!" The woman, who Lucy assumed was Juvia, gasped before yanking back her hand from his grip as if it burned. "I was only trying to-"

"I know what you were trying to do. Now go back to your table." Gray spoke cold and calmly. He added seeing as she was frozen in place at his harsh distant words. "Now." Juvia moved swiftly to the other side of the pizzeria and pouted as she sat down. Gray could just feel the thundering clouds roll off of her, as she mucked in her own agitated world. He ignored the slight guilt in his stomach and instead faced the now slack jawed female in front of him. She stared at him, her eyes wide, and Gray almost panicked thinking that he had changed, his features sneaking out despite his control. He breathed out a sigh of relief as he was still in humanoid form.

"I'm sorry about Juvia. She is her very own storm just waiting to happen." Gray offered a somewhat apologetic smile. It seemed to work for Lucy as she smiled back hesitantly, possibly still afraid of the consequences, seeing as Juvia was watching her with a threatening eye.

"I'm just glad you were here to help. So thank you."

"No problem…."

"Lucy. Lucy Heartfilia." She urged her hand out in a simple introduction. Gray took it with a hesitance of his own, which made Lucy wonder if he was one of those types who didn't like formalities.

"Heartfilia, huh?" As soon as her name left his lips, he broke the handshake clumsily and shoved his hands in his pockets. "I heard about your dad in the news. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry. I wasn't close with him all that much." Lucy swept a stray piece of hair behind her ear as she waved off his apology.

"You said you were waiting for Natsu right? He still isn't here?" Gray questioned trying to get his mind off the slight ache in his hand and the thought that he might be seeing her dad very soon.

"Well It's only five minutes past when we were suppose to meet. I wasn't expecting him to be exactly on time by the minute." Lucy laughed softly, only realizing she was slightly lying due to the presence of disappointment within her. But as soon as the seed of disappointment was identified with quickly was replaced by anxious hope as the bell jingled. Lucy whipped her head around. Couched over, huffing and puffing, was the pink haired male she's been waiting to see. His clothes were rumpled and his hair a mess. He straightened himself out to the best of his ability, trying to monitor his breath. His eyes darted around the pizzeria, taking notice of the sulking Juvia and the Gray and Lucy on the other side. He gulped as he saw Lucy's eyes fill up with amusement, no doubt at his sorry state.

Natsu couldn't capture a wink of sleep last night, constantly tossing and turning at the idea of meeting up with Lucy the next day. He wasn't sure if it was the excitement that scared him, or his desire to understand her better, but whatever it was sure as hell didn't like being ignored, thus kept popping up in his mind when he would try to catch some Z's. So instead of rolling around in his bed, Natsu decided to go do something productive. He walked towards the kitchen area of their apartment, which oddly enough, already had the light on. The soft glow illuminated the dining room table, and his fellow roommate, who was reading one of his many books. Natsu shared a silent glance with him. Seeing as they were both in the same sorry state, Natsu had asked if he wanted anything to eat. After all eating was a productive thing to do in Natsu's book. Ten pancakes later, and the two were full, bellies stuffed and warm with the hotcakes. It was five AM before Natsu was able to fall asleep, to Gray's deep voice as he read out loud his book. The dining room table left a crick in his neck, the dull ache tense within his skin no matter how many times he rubbed and massaged it. It didn't help that he woke up late, roughly about ten minutes ago, explaining his messy state right now. He walked towards Lucy with a sheepish smile adorning his sleepy facial features.

"Took you long enough, flamingo head. Lucy had been waiting forever now." Gray punched Natsu in the arm. Natsu returned the punch with the same force.

"Thanks for keeping her company." Gray then said something about confronting a certain upset bluenette under this breath before walking away. Natsu took the seat in front of her, noting her still amused glance, as she smiled brightly at him.

"Did you get in a fight with a bear on the way here or…?" Lucy laughed.

"For your information I woke up late." Natsu replied as he stifled a yawn. Lucy felt her heart stutter at the sleepy state he was in, reminding her of the night in the cab. The night when whatever this was started.

"So…." Lucy started up.

"Sooooo…" Natsu mimicked, with a cheesy smile, drawing out his in an attempt to annoy her. He was rewarded with an eyeroll and a slight huff under her breath.

"You had something you wanted to tell me?" Lucy bit out before she backed out, knowing she was a coward who gently peeled the bandage off instead of ripping it. Natsu shifted his chair closer into the table before clearing his throat.

"Yeah...about that. I'm just going to start this off with an apology."

"Were the fifty you sent over text not enough?" Natsu loved the way her eyes twinkled with teasings and mirth.

"It was only twenty, and no. No they weren't" Natsu shot right back. "So I'm sorry." He finished as he clasped his hands together and bowed his head.

"I already told you I forgive you." Lucy stated matter of factly, but seeing as he wasn't moving from his position anytime soon she restated. "But if you want to hear it one more time then alright. I forgive you." Lucy shook her head at his nonsense as he jumped right out of his position, his face lit with joy.

"Thanks Luce!" he held out his hand for a high five. Lucy automatically reached for his hand to receive and almost bursted out laughing, her smile so big her face ached.

'Who high fives the person after being forgiven?' Lucy thought as the satisfying sound of their hands hitting resounded. What she didn't expect though was not being able to retract her hand as Natsu smoothly kept hers in his own, bringing it down to rest on the table. He gave her hand a light squeeze, before they both fell apart into giggles.

"And now you are holding my hand hostage?" Lucy questioned, secretly liking the way his warm hand covered hers, making her feel an odd sense of security. Whenever she was with Natsu she couldn't get the feeling of being real out of her mind. She was more than a student who happened to get straight A's and impressed her professors. She was more than a body walking a path of life blindly towards the future. She felt so much more than a single person alone in the world with big dreams. Lucy squeezed Natsu's hand, and the fuzzy feeling overwhelmed her. Natsu's eyes searched hers, with a deep understanding, and right then and there Natsu almost did something silly. He almost threw caution to the wind, allowing his sense to fleet along with it, fully taking the consequences of his shoulders. But that didn't mean she would, despite the look she was giving him seemed to signaling all the right signs. Perhaps she would be the one. The one who would accept him for who he is, for what he is.

"You don't seemed to be fighting it, princess." Natsu stated softly caught in the little bubble they had created for themselves.

"Maybe I don't want to fight it." Lucy matching his tone of voice. They both let the giddy feeling engulf them, neither noticing the brewing fight in the corner of the joint until the yelling started.

"You always treat me like a child!" Juvia's shrill voice echoed off the walls, making the back of Lucy's head release a jolt of pain. The spell was broken between the two, leaving them both wanting more.

"Maybe you should stop acting like one then!" Gray responded with an even voice, contrasting Juvia's loud voice.

"I'm not acting like a child! You always use that as an excuse!"

"Yeah well it's because you always pull stunts like this!" Gray's voice strained. He couldn't believe he was fighting with her again. But her behavior was getting out of control again and she didn't care about the path she found herself on. The lights flickered slightly at the energy being put off. Juvia's face crumpled in on itself before she opened her mouth wide. Natsu's hands were quick as he covered Lucy's ears completely with his hands, blocking out the oncoming noise. A ear shattering wail broke out, making Natsu and Gray whince. Lucy was left confused as she could hear someone screaming, but not the full force. She moved to uncover her ears, but Natsu's hands were firm and steady over them, unyielding. The yelling stopped a split second later, as Natsu's hand limped on their hold, only to be removed a moment later to cradle his own head. With Lucy's hearing now restored, she heard crying and whispers from the corner of the pizzeria. Turning her head she was greeted with the sight of Gray kneeling down his hands outstretched but not touching Juvia's form, which was crumpled over in the fetal position. Lucy was about to jump up to go over and check up on the Juvia to make sure nothing was wrong. Even if the woman yelled at her, she didn't deserve to be in pain. However when her muscles moved to walk, she was stopped by the sound of the grunt of a certain male. In front of her groaning and rubbing his forehead was Natsu.

"Oh my god! Natsu. Are you okay? Was the scream that loud?" She made her voice soft yet firm. She tilted his head up and removed his hands that were applying pressure to his temples. Their positions reminded her of a few weeks ago, when she checked his nose for damage.

"Yeah. I'm fine. I'm just going to have a splitting headache." He cracked open his eyes, and wasn't surprised to see Lucy's face in such close proximation. Worry swam in her eyes, deepening the brown irises into a dark rich chocolate, her lips slightly apart as she breathed in and out. His breath automatically synced up to hers, their chests rising and falling at a steady pace. Lucy's hands took up a space next to his eyes, just resting underneath the curve of his brow, and she applied a delicious soft pressure. Natsu's headache ebbed away as if allergic to her touch. He leaned into her hands, wanted very much for her caress to never end. However it seems fate was out to spite him for as soon as he thought that her fingers stopped their magic, and she spoke in a hushed whisper.

"Should we...check up on them?" She gestured her head subtly towards Gray and Juvia. Juvia had been coaxed out her balled up form, silent tears down her face, she looked shocked and guilty. Gray had stood up and was anxiously looking over towards them, his body heaving a sigh. He moved back to bend down closer to Juvia and whisper something in her ear. She nodded and rushed to her feet, and without a spared glance towards the duo across the room, she fled the building. Lucy's eyes followed the blue haired woman as she became a small speck on the street down the block. When she looked back to Natsu, Gray had made his way over.

"I'm sorry you guys had to see that." He stuffed his hands in his pockets, mulling over his keys taking comfort in the slight jingle. His eyes found Natsu's with a silent question shining within.

"I'm just glad Lucy didn't have to hear it. Juvia's screams sure are loud." Natsu stated with a side glance towards the blonde. The tension melted away in Gray's body, relieved at the fact Lucy was spared from the woman's wails.

"She told me to tell you guys she was sorry. She can't control her emotions sometimes." Lucy spoke up.

"It's fine. She seems like a good girl, just sensitive towards..." 'Everything regarding you.' "certain things." She finished. Natsu snorted and Gray scratched the back of his neck.

"Yeah…" Gray agreed lamely, as he licked his lips. "Anyways, I'm going to be in the back. Holler if you need anything, Lucy."

"What about me?!" Natsu complained.

"You work here. You can get it yourself!" Gray commented with his back turned towards the two already.

"Why you little!" Natsu yelled to his retreating figure. Lucy laughed at the exchanged between the two friends. Natsu's head snapped back to Lucy, before sheepishly smiling. He joined in on her laughter, allowing his gruff voice to harmonize with her soft laugh.

"So that's the infamous Gray I keep hearing about."

"I've mentioned him before?"

"Maybe once or twice."

'And then I asked Levy to spill everything she knew about you….' Lucy sweatdropped.

"Well that's him." Natsu decided if Lucy was going to be around more and more she should know a few boundaries so he continued. "He doesn't really like being touched. It's umm, what does he called it…" Natsu pulled a blank.

"Haphephobia?" Lucy prompted.

"Yeah! Or at least something that sounds like that." He scratched his head.

"Thanks for letting me know. Gajeel used to have something like that, and then Levy helped him get over it."

"Oh yeah? Well his case is a little bit more...complex."

"Maybe that Juvia girl can help him? She seems pretty close to him." Lucy recalled the way she was trying to 'protect' him from her earlier.

"She's super overprotective of him, yeah, but I believe the problem is Gray not wanting to really change. Or at least change the way she wants him to." Natsu sprouted off. Lucy wanted to ask what made Gray not like being touched. Normally a case like this had a core relation to trauma in the childhood or teenage years. But seeing as she was getting into perhaps darker territory, she decided to hold her tongue. She could always get to know Gray better and ask him herself.

"Oh she is overprotective of him alright." Lucy commented instead. Natsu seemed to catch something hanging onto her words and raised an eyebrow.

"Did something happened with Juvia before I got here?" Natsu questioned, the image of Juvia glaring when he enter the shop clear in his mind.

"Umm. Not really anything big." Lucy averted her eyes not wanting to relay the information.

"Luce, Do I have to pry the answer out?"

"No. It honestly wasn't anything big. She just walked over to me and just said I should stay away from Gray. Nothing too bad." Lucy played down the incident.

"Okay." Natsu said not really believing her. He may not have know. Juvia very well, but from what he's seen of her actions these past few months at the pizzeria, she rarely ever stops at "just saying" something. His face must have portrayed his thoughts.

"I'm telling the truth!" Lucy replied at his skeptical agreement with a slight smile on her face.

"I didn't say you weren't!" Natsu defended with his hands raised in mock surrender.

"Ah, but you implied." the blonde pointed out.

"But you implied something happened first." Natsu countered a look of victory shining proudly in his eyes. The two had a stare down, before a loud clattered broke the two apart. Gray had placed a platter of pizza between the two, the delectable smell finding its way to cloud Lucy's thoughts.

"Half of it is spicy pepperoni with peppers, and then the other half is just cheese with stuffed crust. I didn't know what you would like." Gray spoke towards Lucy. She gave him a gracious smile at the kind gesture.

"This is perfect. Thank you!" Gray waved her off and went back into the kitchen. When she looked back at Natsu, half of his side was almost gone, pizza sauce dripping down his chin.

"You got a little something there." Lucy held in a laugh at his embarrassed state, and pointed to her chin. Of course Natsu being Natsu tried to get the sauce off of his chin with his tongue, swiping the muscle across his chin as far as he could go. Lucy shook her head at his antics.

"Here." Lucy grabbed a napkin from the dispenser and wiped the offended red sauce from the man's chin. "There. Now was that so hard?" Natsu only huffed out a thanks. Lucy, having contradiction her previous resolve, ate two slices of the pizza, loving the way the cheese tasted fresh and the sauce not too heavy. She allowed Natsu to plow through the rest, which he gratefully accepted.

"It is amazing how much you can eat. The average human stomach would burst, or at least you would suffer a severe food coma." Lucy spoke mostly to herself, recalling their first restaurant they ate at, and how he inhaled the whole food platter.

"Maybe I'm not your average human." His words were clear as he had chewed his last bite of the food. Something rung out from his sentence to Lucy, as the air stilled between the two, the sudden shift almost shocking Lucy. She patted her own mouth with a napkin and only hummed in agreement. Natsu seemed to choke on the atmosphere, noticing it for what it was, and what he had say. "Ahem. Uhh, so do you wanna get out of here?" Natsu asked cocking his head towards the door.

"Sure." They picked up their things and headed out, as Natsu yelled to Gray a short goodbye. The morning rays spotted the sidewalk as it fought its way to warm the ground through the many obstacles the city offered. Lucy didn't realize how chilled she got from the AC of the pizzeria until her bare shoulders took in the warmth of the sun. Lucy reached into her purse for her sunglasses, seeing as squinting all day was going to give her a headache. While she was digging through her purse in search of the pair she paid no mind to where she was going. Her feet caught on the uprisen pavement of the sidewalk and she toppled forward, eyes widen at the realization. Natsu leaped to catch her wrist in his hold to keep her from falling face first into the concrete...or at least that's what he would have done if he hadn't been busy eyeing the ice cream shop across the street with their fancy signs displaying the sweet icy treats in such a distracting way. He always did have a sweet tooth, unfortunately for Lucy. Her knee hit the ground taking most of the blow as her hands shot out to catch herself in front. Tiny rocks and sand particles made indents in the palm of her hands as she grimaced at her mistake, a dull pain shooting through her arms. Natsu, after noticing her sorry state, crouched down on the balls of his feet.

"Is there a reason you are looking so intently at the sidewalk, or are you really that much of a weirdo?" Natsu grinned as he held in a laugh.

"I just tripped!" Lucy defended her face reddening as she hurried to gather her pride and dust herself off.

"For a princess, you sure are clumsy." Natsu mumbled as he wrapped an arm around Lucy's frame to help her up. Lucy was just about to retort when a sickly feeling hit her stomach causing her heart to drop as her mind searched for a reason. Her nose picked up a nauseating scent, the black tendrils attached to the smell licked at her nerves. Her body going rigid in Natsu's hold made the man stop in his own actions. "Lucy? You didn't sprain your ankle or anything did you?" Natsu's chest vibrated with his words against Lucy, whose mind was working overtime to identify the horrific smell. Finally her brain made the connection, and allowed for other actions to be made, like speaking.

"No, no. I'm fine. I just….umm."

"What is it?" Natsu finished helping her up, as her limbs seemed to respond to her own efforts of standing back up. Natsu's face came into her view, and she noticed the skin scrunched up between his eyebrows, his own eyes concerned yet curious. She looked for any premature aging and wrinkles, briefly letting her eyes glide to his hands to scan for yellowed nails. Both checked out normal and clean, contrasting the deep lingering smell of cigar smoke emitting off of his body.

"Can I ask you something?" She didn't mean for her voice to sound so serious, but what was on her mind was no laughing matter. Natsu was taken back by the sudden change in her demeanor.

"Um. Sure?"

"Well…I don't mean to overstep any boundaries or anything, but…." Her tongue seemed to lose its ability to form words and she let her sentence hang in mid air.

"Go ahead. I promise you don't offend me or anything. It takes a lot to do that." Natsu finished jokingly, in a half hearted attempt to lighten the mood and see a sliver of a smile on the blondes face. But alas Lucy's features remained solid, her mouth if not turned a little downwards now. She gulped and willed her mouth to move, hoping what was about to come out wouldn't be insensitive of her. She knew this topic was a hard one to have, but if she was going to be friends, or maybe more with a person, she just had to know. "Do you know the implications of smoking and the longtime effects it has on a person's body?" Lucy's face held no trace of a smile, instead it seemed a emotionless mask was in place, her voice professional.

"Where is this coming from?" Natsu asked, completely confused. One minute she was tripping over her own feet, and the next she was asking him about smoking. He could only assume she was testing herself some more definitions or test questions in her head again, so be played along. He continued in favor of ignoring his own question "I mean…I guess. Doesn't it like blacken one's lungs and increases the risk of cancer and like breathing problems?" He cringed as he wished his words were more professional. He envied how such difficult and intelligent words could just roll off her tongue as if it was a second nature to her. Though he supposed if she was studying medicine that's exactly how it should be. She seemed satisfied with his answer, her head giving a small nod. Whether that was for him or herself, he didn't know. What he did know though was he wanted to see Lucy smile instead of whatever emotionless ghost was possessing her right now.

"Not only that but it can lead to several types of cardiovascular diseases, and smoking causes almost half a million of people into a premature death. And yes it causes lung cancer, but it can also trigger cancer almost anywhere else in the body. That's only a few reasons why smoking have negative long lasting effects on a human body." Lucy urged as Natsu grabbed her hand and continued their trek down the street towards university grounds.

"Is that so?" Natsu asked casually, leaving an opening in case she wanted to continue spiraling out more information and facts.

"Yes! And it's a very serious matter to consider when trying to live your life to the fullest. It can affect your schedule in life and your relationships with friends and family. And in this day and age, it's hard for smokers to find a significant other due to the fact that they are already married to a cigarette." Natsu wondered throughout her little speech why her nails dug slightly into his skin on his hand. He wrote it off as her being so spirited into her words and beliefs. Suddenly the back of Natsu shirt came into contact with cold brick as Lucy pulled Natsu to the side of a building in an alleyway. "Are you listening?" She asked slightly with a pout. Natsu almost laughed but held it in.

"Of course I'm listening. I already told you how much I enjoy when you ramble on about medical things." Natsu replied wondering once again why her hold on his hand tightened.

"Okay, then you understand what I'm saying?" Lucy leaned in closer.

"Smoking is bad and is basically short changing yourself in life." Natsu answered not quite sure what direction Lucy was leading the conversation in. Lucy's confusion outweighed Natsu's though as her eyebrows knitted and her eyes narrowed.

"So we both agree that smoking is bad." She pronounced each word carefully as if speaking to a child.

"Yes."

"And that people who smoke are only causing more trouble for their health and relationships with others."

"Yes…?" Natsu couldn't help but let his answer end in a questioning tone. Lucy looked up into his eyes, with an overwhelming sense of confusion.

"Then why do you do it?" Lucy finally asked, addressing the elephant that was graciously walking beside them the entire time.

"Do what?" Natsu asked, though it seemed the further he went along in this conversation the more his confusion piled up.

"Smoke!" Lucy half yelled in frustrations. She took a gulp of air before she swallowed thickly. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to yell, it's just that I don't understand if you know what you are doing to your body, why would you still actively smoke." Lucy let her mouth ramble, her tongue seemingly foreign in her mouth as she spoke heavy words. "I mean I understand if you are trying to quit, and I can help you with that! There is gum and patches, and even E-cigarettes nowadays. Though vaping is a last resort method since we have yet to foresee and research the long term side effects of the vapor." As her mouth began to move faster than her mind, she tried her best to calm down and speak slower. It wasn't until Natsu interrupted her mid sentence that she had a chance to catch her breath.

"Whoa, whoa whoa. Lucy. I don't smoke." Natsu placed his hands on her shoulders as he peered into her eyes, trying to calm the girl. "I mean, I tried it once when Gray offered one, but that was years ago. I haven't touched a cigarette since." Lucy eyed the man before her, knowing he was lying. There is no way a person could smell of smoke and nicotine that strongly when they don't smoke. Though she questioned if it was her place to interfer. Who was she to try and change Natsu's lifestyle, a man she just met less than a month ago. But if she was going to hang out with him more, what type of friend would she be to let him continue hurting himself. Lucy analyzed his words, and realized he just outed that his friend Gray smokes too.

"It's okay to be in denial. There is nothing to be embarrassed about." Lucy started up her speech

"No, but it's true! I don't smoke! What made you believe that I did?" Natsu questioned his voice higher in pitch despite himself.

"Your clothes! They smell of nicotine and only people who smoke have that aspect. Though I am surprised at the intensity of the stench seeing as it doesn't seem to affecting your body's physical aspects yet." Lucy mumbled to herself as her hand cupped her chin. Lucy seemed to be lost in thought as she absentmindedly continued to rub her chin. Natsu couldn't believe what was happening. He seriously hadn't touched a cigarette since Gray offered him one, and back then he only accepted because of the situation. He lifted up his shirt to his nose, taking a long inhale to see if he could smell any traces. Nothing out of the ordinary he deemed, and proceed to lower his shirt, not before Lucy came back to the real world and noticed his very apparent lower stomach that was exposed to the world. Her words were fast and flustered as she grabbed ahold of his shirt and shoved it back down.

"W-what do you t-think you are doing?!"

"I was just seeing if I could smell anything."

"And did you?"

"Nope." Natsu said popping the P. "And that's how it should be, considering the fact I don't smoke."

"But…" Lucy without another thought took his shirt in her own hands and smelled herself. The black smoldering stench came back full force, and she had to hold herself back from retching away. Natsu noticed her reaction and had a thought. He immediately stripped off his shirt. He dropped it absentmindedly on the ground.

"Maybe it's just the shirt. Or the detergent I use…" His sentence fell flat as he realized the absurdity of it. Lucy laughed despite herself.

"You are telling me you think it's your laundry detergent?" Her eyes held a childish mirth to them that was a relief to Natsu. His body lost a tenseness that had developed.

"Or maybe your nose is just a little wonky."

"My nose is wonky? You were the one who damaged his cartilage twice in the same day!" Her smile gradually found its way on her face.

"Who's fault do you think that was?" Natsu yelled back at her with a cheerful laughter of his own. The two started a stare off, or at least until Natsu 's eyebrows did a little dance that made Lucy roar with laughter even more.

"Okay okay. I get it! I get it! Maybe I'm just smelling things then." Lucy let the incident go as laughter settled into her brain. She always was an overthinker. And perhaps she was just trying to find a major flaw with Natsu. But this wasn't the first time she had thought he smelled like smoke. Before she could ponder the thought anymore she shook it forcefully from her head. She wasn't going to think about it. Natsu said he doesn't smoke, and she trusts him. Therefore he doesn't smoke. She raised her eyes up to his, only to trail them over his current shirtless state. She took a huge step back and yelped. Her hands swiftly covered her eyes.

"W-why are you shirtless?!" her words stumbled out. She heard a low chuckle come from the man in front of her.

"I took it off because you said it stunk." He explain as if that was the only logical action. "Did you just now notice?" Natsu asked with a hint of amusement in his voice. Lucy chose to ignore his obvious teasings in favor of more pressing matters.

"Well put it back on!" She demanded as she peeked through her fingers.

"I can't."

"And why is that?"

"I dropped my shirt on the ground and it fell into a puddle." He picked up the neglected shirt. "I don't really want to wear it since it's all dirty."

Lucy had to mentally will herself not to ask all the questions running through her head. She slowly dropped her hands from her eyes and proceeded to keep her eyes low. She spoke to him as she eyed the dirty alleyway ground.

"How are we supposed to go anywhere with you shirtless?" Lucy asked the most important question. Based on the lack of response that followed she assumed he didn't think that far ahead. With a sigh, Lucy began to untie the jacket she had wrapped around her waist. She tossed it in his direction. He caught it in one hand and gave her a confused glance, not that she saw though since she was still averting her eyes.

"It might be a little tight, but I buy my jackets one size big so it should at least zip up on you."

"What if I stretch it out?" Natsu asked as he reluctantly started shoving his arms through the holes.

"Then I'll re-shrink it in the dryer. But I honestly don't think you'll stretch it out."

"Is that how it works?" he asked his voice overlapping with the zipper sound.

"You honestly know nothing about laundry do you?" Lucy asked, finally laying her eyes on him again seeing as he was appropriately dressed.

"I mean, you just add soap and then hang it to dry." Natsu started heading his way back out onto the street, Lucy in tow.

"Your poor mistreated clothes."

"You say that as if they have feelings." Natsu laughed.

"No. I say that as a normal human being who knows how to do laundry." Lucy poked his shoulder as if physically proving her point.

"I thought we already established that I wasn't your normal human being." Natsu said as he rolled his eyes. Though he secretly was enjoying the soft fleece inside her jacket on his skin.

"Well that's a given if you can't do laundry and randomly strip off your clothes." She joked. Natsu let out an exasperated breath as he quickly denied her statement.

"Whoa whoa whoa. If anyone strips their clothes it's Gray! He does it at least ten times a day. And that's on a good day." Lucy laughed as Natsu's face scrunched up in disgust.

"It sounds like you've been friends with him for a very long time."

"Too long." Natsu muttered under his breath. "We were both in the same orphanage and constantly got into prank wars and fights." Lucy's heart stopped.

"Orphanage? I thought your dad…" She let her sentence hang.

"He passed when I was 13. And since the relatives didn't want me they just placed me in a local orphanage."

"Oh. Natsu. I'm so so-"

"Sorry? Don't be. Orphanages aren't actually that bad as portrayed in movies. It's like one big family. One you can rely on at all times. And it was nice to have a huge dinner table full of friends." Natsu explained in a rather happy voice. Lucy felt like she was intruding on some important memories as he told her what his days were like in the orphanage. Most days included sitting in the timeout corner after making a mess with Gray. She laughed at the image of a tiny Natsu pouting in a secluded corner. They then proceeded to swap stories of their childhood, each one getting more and more personal. Lucy didn't notice they were holding hands until her phone started ringing and she moved to check the caller ID, only to be blocked by Natsu's hand in hers.

"Sorry." She muttered as she released his hand. She reached for her phone that was still vibrating and chiming wildly. She slide the bar across answering the phone.

"What's up Mira?" Lucy spoke into the speaker. A short pause later and Lucy was flustered and stuttering.

"W-who told you?" Her face steadily redden and her eyes flickered over to Natsu's for a brief second. The muffled sound of a voice chatted rapidly over the phone's speaker.

"I should have known he wouldn't have kept his mouth shut." Lucy mumbled as her hand brushed back her bangs in exasperation. Natsu lifted an eyebrow at her response, obviously curious over the whole exchange. He didn't know a person named Mira but whoever she was, seemed to be a good friend of Lucy's. The blonde's eyes seemed to move back and forth from Natsu's frame and the ground, her face reddening even more.

"Careful there Lucy, if your face gets any more red I'm afraid you'll explode." Natsu mumbled into her ear, not liking being ignored. Of course this "Mira" over the phone heard him and let loose a high pitched squeal. Or at least that's what Natsu assumed because of Lucy's wince. She shot him a malicious glare while she now tried to do damage patrol.

"Yes, he's here, and no you can't speak to him." She sighed in exhaustion. Talking to Mira was always a roller coaster ride. One eye roll later, "Because I say so. Now I'm going to hang up now and so help me if you are at my house when I get back I'm telling Laxus." Lucy's tone took on that of a mother's. "Ah. No buts. Goodbye Mira~" Lucy sing songed before she hung up.

"You could have at least let me just say hi to her. After all it sounded like she wanted to talk to me." Lucy just let out a snort.

"There is no 'just saying hi' to Mira. She has a way of prying what she wants out of people if given an opportunity." Lucy explained with a serious gleam in her eyes.

"Oh surely she can't be that bad." He laughed at Lucy's face full of dread.

"You'll find out soon enough. You are on her radar now after all." Lucy gravely said. Natsu couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh at Lucy's overdramatic attitude.

"Her radar? That seems a bit…"

"I'm not kidding! You'll see." Lucy pouted before she to broke out into a laugh. She inched her hand into his and they continued their merry walk, blissful and unaware of the watchful eyes of a bystander.

I've been stuck. I hope this chapter bodes well. Until next time.