The Odd Couple

Date night day 7 (Modern AU)

Natsu pulls his car into one of the drive-in movie's parking spots and looks over to his passenger, "we got about 15 minutes till it starts, do you want any snacks, cause we should order it now."

"Yeah, maybe a drink and some popcorn…. Oooh," she slaps his shoulder, "see if they have those fancy seasonings for the popcorn too, like the sriracha powder!"

"Oww," Natsu rubs his shoulder, "why do you always gotta hit me?"

"That's just how I show I care."

"Tch." As much as he wanted to keep arguing, he knew it would be pointless, and probably more painful. So, instead he quietly places their orders as Lucy grabs the blankets and pillow's they brought along to set up on the hood.

Lucy Ashley was the closest thing to a best friend that Natsu had. Sure, it was an odd relationship. People assumed she was the bully ordering the weaker guy around because Natsu could never turn her down. Take their current situation. Lucy never asked if he wanted to see the movie, rather she showed up at his house and told him they were going. But that was another interesting quirk about her. The things she demanded often revolved around something he enjoyed anyways. Like this movie, that he had talked about before it came to town. She could have chosen any of the five other movies playing, but she picked what she knew he would like.

By the time the food arrived, Natsu and Lucy had settled onto the make-shift recliner they had created. Two large downy blankets running from the roof, over the windshield, and the hood, plus a couple of oversized body pillows made watching the movie here at the drive in, just as comfortable as a couch. Natsu hands Lucy her own bucket of popcorn complete with the fiery powder he couldn't handle before diving into his own.

"What's this about again?" She asks him.

"It's a space odyssey where this girl lands on a planet of robots and meets a human that was raised by the king of the robots since he was a kid. The king asks her to take the guy with her on her adventures and that's what the movie is about. They run into all kinds of good guys, bad guys, they find out the guy is connected to some kind of legendary like mother of the universe, it's pretty weird and fascinating at the same time."

Lucy laughs, "sounds like something you'd be into. So does the guy and girl end up together?"

"I have no idea," Natsu blushes, "I'm not really watching it for that part."

"Oh. Right I forgot…" her voice tapers out.

"Forgot what?"

"It's nothing," Lucy turns back to the screen, "not a big deal."

It was hard to tell with the dim lighting, but Natsu could have sworn Lucy was blushing. He turns away to the screen as opening credits began. 'Probably my imagination,' he counseled his confused and curious mind. It was time to focus on the movie anyways. But why was she blushing? They weren't talking about anything embarrassing. 'Let it go and watch your movie!' Natsu takes one more glance at his friend and gives in.

She could help but wallow in her popcorn as the movie progressed. It was a good movie, don't get her wrong, nice plot, lots of funny moments and action, not to mention the cute couple the main characters were turning out to be… But, ugh, that was part of the problem. Natsu for his part was enthralled with the whole movie. Somewhere within the first 30 minutes he'd grabbed the pillow, placed it on his lap leaning into it, and was soaking in every detail as if she wasn't even there. This damn oblivious man!

Lucy groaned internally, what did she expect? She should have known him well enough by now to have been able to figure out how he would behave. And yeah okay, so it's not like there was any reason for him to act any differently. They were after all just two friends watching a movie together. She hated to admit how much she loved his shy personality, but at the same time, always having to be the dominant one got tiring sometimes. Throw in the fact that Natsu never picked up on any cues she tried to throw on occasion and voila, frustration city.

'Fine! If that's how it's gotta be!'

Dropping her popcorn tub on the side of the car, she reaches over and pulls his out of his hands and give it the same treatment. "Hey! I wasn't done with that," Natsu gripes. But she totally ignores his kvetching, shifts her legs to the side, pushes him off so he's no longer leaning on his pillow, and lays down with her head effectively on his lap facing the screen. "L-Lucy?" The final touch was pulling his arm to drape around her mid-section, then placing one of her hands under the pillow, clutching lightly to his thigh. "Lucy, why'd…"

"Shhh," she snuggles down to get comfortable, "watch the movie."

Suddenly the cooler air of the night was replaced with the rise of his body temperature and Natsu gulps hard. How the hell was he supposed to focus on the movie now! He closes his eyes and tries to focus on evening out his racing heart. She was probably getting tired. No sweat. No point in getting all worked up for nothing. Though she's never laid down on his lap before. And she's never put his arm around her body before. Natsu tries desperately to erase the thoughts he was having. No, it's not possible that Lucy had those kinds of feelings for him!

As much as he'd fantasized of such a possibility, Lucy had always just treated him like, like just a really close friend that she was comfortable around. Maybe she was cold and that's why she wanted his arm around her for the additional heat. Yeah, that was a good possibility!

"Y-You know, if you're getting cold, we have an extra blanket."

"I'm not cold," she mumbles, rolling her eyes at the realization that he still wasn't picking up the signals!

"Then if you're getting tired, we could just go. I-I could always watch this later…"

Lucy turns onto her back with a groan. "Dragion, can't you just be normal and figure out what I'm hinting at already! Or do I gotta spell it out for you?"

Natsu blinks at her confused, "spell what out?"

"Oh, My, God!" She sits up. "I don't know if I should smack you or just leave you here confused or maybe both!"

"Wait, don't tell me you like me Lucy," Natsu shifts uncomfortably, "I-I never would have imagined that you would."

The normally headstrong and feisty girl sudden feels a bit tongue tied. "Wh-why wouldn't I? I mean…" her fingers fidget in her lap. "I know I'm kinda mean to you but it's because I don't know how to just come out and say how I really feel." Did the air get even warmer? "Y-You know what never mind," Lucy moves to get off the hood, "sorry I ruined the movie for you." But just as she about to slide off the hood, Natsu grabs her arm.

"Wait."

When she turns back, his head is hung low and his bangs have fallen to cover his eyes. "Why?"

"You didn't ruin the movie," he mumbles, "I'm just a little shocked, is all, cause I like you too."

Lucy moves back closer to Natsu and tips his face up. "Do you really?" her voice is hopeful.

He nods as the blush on his cheeks intensify, "I—I," he scratches the back of his head, "kinda already pretend these are like dates we've been going on."

"Oh, you're a sweet little dork," she caresses his cheek with a smile. "Then shall we finish our movie date?"

Natsu leans into her touch, "I already know it's got a happy ending…"