A/N: Yo! I've had this AU in my head for a while and stoked to finally be putting it out there! It started out as a one-shot… then many ideas later, I ended up turning it into my first multi-chapter fic! I love this trope / AU so I hope I can do it justice. Thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoy the first chapter!
Natsu sighed deeply, pulling into his driveway and shutting off his truck.
It was another restless night with little to no sleep last night, making his head hurt this morning. A dull throb still ached at his temples, his movements sluggish and slow. Already eager to crawl back into bed till tomorrow.
It was always hard for him to get back into the routine of things when he was home. Whether it was two days after or two months after. Some days he wanted to be everywhere at once. While others, he struggled to find the energy to do much of anything.
Lately, it was more of the latter. Natsu had barely been able to drag himself out of bed today for a couple of errands before he just wanted to crash again.
Natsu opened the door and threw his keys onto the small table by the front door, kicking off his boots and flopping down on the couch with another drawn-out sigh. He was grateful for the seclusion and quiet the rural outskirts of town provided around his home. The main area was usually too crowded and noisy for him most days.
Happy trotted in with a mrow, hopping up onto Natsu's chest with a soothing purr.
"Hey, buddy," Natsu murmured, scratching behind Happy's ears. He reached out for the remote on the coffee table, turning on a random show in the background and let the pull of sleep take him.
Booms rumbled through his bones, gravel showering over him. A constant annoyingly high pitch rang in his ears, muffling the shouts surrounding him.
"Dragneel move! Now!"
"Natsu!"
Natsu woke with a start. The haze of the dream slowly faded back to static.
"Natsu."
Gray's concerned face came into view. He sat on the coffee table in front of Natsu, a hand on his shoulder.
Natsu's shirt clung to his clammy skin. His fingers itched to pull the damned thing off him already.
"Sorry to wake you. We saw your truck and were knocking, but you weren't answering so Gray used his spare key," Sting said, standing beside them, hands tucked in his pockets.
Natsu sat up slowly, taking a few deep breaths trying to ground himself.
"You alright?" Gray asked, concern etched on his face.
Natsu cleared his throat a bit. "Yeah, sorry, guess I must'a knocked out when I got back earlier," he rasped, rubbing his face and running a hand through his hair. He'd become used to seeing that expression on Gray and some others more often than not these days.
He glanced towards the window, seeing it was already dark out. More time had passed than he thought.
"So what's goin' on?"
"We're meeting up with some of the crew at Fairy Tail tonight, you should come," Gray urged.
"Yeah, come out with us tonight!" Sting chirped in.
Natsu chuckled softly, "Right, like I wanna hang out with you losers," he teased, leaning back onto the cushion behind him.
"Come on man, you never wanna leave this hovel of a house when we're back home. It would do you some good to get out for a while," Gray added, arms crossing over his chest. Natsu caught the stubborn glint in his eyes. There was a very low chance he was going to be able to get out of this.
Natsu's head lolled to the side with a drawn-out groan. "You buyin'?" He raised a brow to Gray in question, trying to hold back the grin that twitched on his lips.
If he was going to have to go out tonight, might as well make the most of it.
Gray narrowed his eyes, the muscle in his jaw twitching.
"Ugh, fine! Just hurry your ass up and get ready," Gray relented.
"Alright, alright." Natsu's grin was wide now as he made his way off the couch. Gray rolled his eyes.
Natsu stood to stretch, wincing slightly at the incessant ache in his shoulder that still refused to go away.
"There ya go!" Sting grinned, annoyingly bright, clapping Natsu's back.
"This better be worth it," Natsu grumbled, starting up the stairs to his bedroom.
The bar was loud and crowded and already made Natsu wish he was back on his couch with his cat.
He finally found a small space to squeeze through, reaching the bar counter, catching the familiar bartender's attention while the guys found their table.
"Yo, Lis!"
Lisanna turned, her bright smile widening when she saw him. "Hey, Natsu! So good to see you! The usual?" His long-time friend greeted cheerfully.
"Yeah su-," he started, his usual choice of draft beer on the tip of his tongue, "actually, can I get an old fashioned?" A smirk tugged his lips, resting his forearms against the counter.
Why not, Gray was paying after all.
"With the good stuff! And put it on Gray's tab."
Lisanna giggled, already bringing his drink and setting it down in front of him. "Only the best! Enjoy!" she smiled, going back to get to all the rest of her customers.
Natsu turned while taking a sip of his drink, relishing in the warmth that traveled through his throat and chest and sweet spice on his tongue. He looked around in the crowd, when a sudden flash of gold crossed in front of him.
Well, more like crashed into him.
A figure fell into his chest, spilling his drink on him. Natsu tensed slightly and stumbled back into the counter. Natsu quickly grabbed one of their arms to steady them.
"Woah there! Ya okay?"
They pulled back slightly, revealing th- her, wide deep amber eyes, a pretty pink flush on her cheeks, and parted plush lips. His skin tingled underneath where her palms fell on his chest, her hair falling in golden waves that looked so soft to the touch.
Damn. She was gorgeous.
She looked down to Natsu's chest, seeing the splash of alcohol that was soaking into his shirt.
"O-oh no! I'm so s-sorry about your drink!" She fretted, stepping back quickly. Pulling her hands back and frantically waving them between them.
"`S alright, this shirt's nothin' special anyway," Natsu chuckled lightly, putting his empty glass on the counter giving her a warm smile before grabbing some napkins from the bar to attempt to clean up his shirt, admiring the way the flush on her cheeks grew when her amber eyes met his again.
"No, I'm sorry! Please let me buy you another one!" she insisted, already waving down Lisanna before he could get a word in.
Despite his reassurance, Lucy ordered him another drink anyway.
"You didn't have to, but thank you," Natsu chuckled.
"It's the least I can do! I'm sorry again, I can be pretty spacey sometimes and not see where I'm going," she laughed shyly, her gaze falling to the counter as her fingers fidgeted with the rim of her own glass.
"Hey, it's okay, I promise," Natsu insisted, "this place can get pretty crowded n' cramped. Hell, I crash into at least one person every time I come here. Just glad it was you this time and not some lame drunk guy," Natsu finished with a toothy smile.
Her amber eyes met his again, shining a little brighter with a smile that was already making his heart do weird things.
"I'm glad too."
Natsu felt the back of his neck flush. He cleared his throat before taking a sip of his drink.
"So what brings you out tonight?"
The woman sighed, finally seeming to relax a bit. "I'm meeting my friend here tonight," she started, glancing over the crowd towards the back of the room, "she's back there somewhere I think, but she said 'it would do me good to get out for a while," she finished, with finger quotes on the last part and an amused shake of her head.
Natsu barked a laugh. "Mine said the same thing to drag me out tonight."
"Their intentions are good at heart, I'm sure," she grinned.
A comfortable feeling soon surrounded them. Which usually didn't happen right away when Natsu met new people, but with her, the guard he usually built up around himself eased up a bit.
A warmth spread through his chest that he hadn't felt in a long time.
"Oh, my name is Natsu by the way," Natsu said, stretching his hand out to her.
"Lucy." She replied, putting her soft hand in his. Tingles shot up his arm at the touch.
Lucy. A name just as beautiful as she was.
"Nice to meet ya, Lucy." Natsu squeezed her hand with a wide fanged grin.
"Guess we should head back to our groups huh?" Natsu sighed, "Can I walk you back?"
Natsu noticed the faint blush creeping up her cheeks again. Maybe her drink was already getting to her.
"S-sure."
Natsu led Lucy back through the crowd towards the back of the bar where his group usually gathered.
"Lucy, there you are!"
Natsu looked up to see a petite blue-haired woman waving them over.
"Hi, Levy!" Lucy greeted, giving the smaller girl a hug.
Natsu noticed a few more of the group had shown up. Sting's friend Rogue chatted with Gajeel, who gave Natsu a nod when he came up to the table. Gray and Sting absorbed in their own conversation.
"I was wondering where you were," Levy grinned, turning to Natsu, "already met Natsu I see."
"Yea- wait you already know each other?"
"Yup. I've known these troublemakers since high school," Natsu smirked.
"We're the troublemakers? Yeah right, think you're talkin' about yourself, hothead" Gray cut in, "and you couldn't even bring me back a drink?"
"What? You can go get it yourself!" Natsu defended.
"Ignore them, Lucy. You'll get used to their bickering and learn to tune them out soon," Levy said.
Lucy giggled. The sound drew Natsu's attention back to her, sparking a flutter in his stomach.
"So guys, this is my amazing friend Lucy. Lucy, this rowdy crew is Gray, Sting, Rogue, and my boyfriend Gajeel." Levy gestured to each of them and squeezed Gajeel's shoulder as they gave their varied greetings back to her.
"And you already beat me to it, but this is Natsu. I've known these guys a long time. They can have a bit too much energy at times but have good hearts I promise," Levy laughed.
"I can see that." Lucy gave Natsu another bright smile that lit up the room and he could tell he was already falling. If his hot neck and clammy palms were any indication.
They got situated at the table with the rest of the group. Natsu pulled out a chair for Lucy beside him. She thanked him with a warm smile.
A comfortable chatting buzz fell over the group. Bright laughter with some good food and drinks and soon getting wrapped up in their own conversations.
It had been a while since Natsu came out with the group like this. He had been declined most times they offered recently. He didn't feel up to being around crowds or want to bring the others down with the mood he felt himself stuck in most days. But so far, he was glad he came out tonight. That warm feeling in his chest lingering.
Natsu glanced over at Lucy, who was sipping her drink contently as she watched the rest of them interact. She even made that look effortlessly beautiful.
He cleared his throat before taking another gulp of his drink. "So Lucy, how do you know Levy?"
Lucy turned towards him. "Oh! We actually met in college here in Magnolia. We were in the same orientation group our first year and became fast friends," Lucy started, wearing a fond smile, "But I had to leave in the middle of my second year and move back home to take care of my mo-" Lucy cut off.
Natsu frowned in concern at the sudden unsteady tone in her voice, her gaze distant. Before he could ask if she was okay she continued.
"To, um, something came up and I had to move back home. But we've always kept in touch. I just recently moved back and it's great to see her again." Lucy tried to give him a reassuring smile as her gaze drifted back down to the table, her fingers playing with a napkin.
Natsu could hear the slight strain in her voice. He got the feeling that it must be something she wasn't ready to talk about yet. He fidgeted in his chair, an uneasy ache in his chest, feeling the need to comfort her in some way.
"Hey, Luce, I'm sorry if I pushed you into talkin' about something you didn't want to yet, it's not-"
Lucy turned to look back to him, lips slightly parted and her amber eyes a little wide. Natsu quickly realized he just let that nickname slip out.
A flush quickly shot up the back of Natsu's neck, running a hand through his hair.
"Sh-shit, I'm sorry, Lucy. Probably think I'm some nosey pushy idiot. Already givin' ya nicknames and askin' about stuff I-"
"Natsu, it's ok," Lucy said softly. She gave him a warm smile, placing her hand over his forearm, "I don't mind, really… and I- and I rather like the nickname..." she trailed off, a cute pink starting to dust her cheeks.
"Are you sure?"
"I-I'm sure," Lucy's eyes found his again. The slight haze of sadness in her eyes had seemed to fade for now, allowing the warmth in her amber depths to shine through and draw him in.
Natsu's skin tingled underneath her soft palm, his fingers itching to clasp over her hand. What was wrong with him?
"Well I-, uh, I'm glad. It suits you." Natsu gave her a soft smile. He scratched the back of his neck, feeling his hair starting to stick to the warm skin there. The faint pink on Lucy's cheeks grew.
"Yo, Natsu."
They flinched and broke away, bursting out of the little bubble they were in.
"Huh, what?" Natsu looked around, wanting to smack the smug grin from Gray's face when he caught it.
"We were just talking about the fair comin' up next week. We're actually home to catch it for once, you wanna go?"
"Oh that's right, it's that time already."
"Fair?" Lucy asked.
"Yeah! The local fair here in Magnolia. It comes around every year, but I usually miss it 'cause I'm out of town."
"Oh, do you have to travel a lot for work?" Her eyes curious.
Natsu smiled. "Yeah, somethin' like that. Gray, Sting, and I are in the Marines actually, so we're usually deployed out or something."
Slight tension filled his chest. They always missed so much when they were away, but Natsu had grown used to it over the years.
"O-Oh wow, that's amazing. Thank you for all that you do," Lucy smiled warmly, squeezing his hand.
"Sure thing," Natsu said, returning a soft smile, "but the fair is awesome! They got rides, games, lots of food," Natsu's eyes got brighter with each mention. "It's gonna be fun! If you're free, you can come with me-, I uh, I mean us, go with us?"
More warmth crept up his neck. Keep it together, Dragneel, geez.
Lucy giggled softly. "I would love to, Natsu."
They eventually decided to call it a night a few hours after that. The group made their way outside, stepping into the cold night air.
Natsu breathed in deep, letting the chill in the air cool his heated skin as he stood back a bit with Lucy.
"Are you parked far, Luce?"
"Oh no, I found one here in front luckily," she said, her warm smile glowing even under the moonlight.
"That's good," he said, digging his hands into his pockets. He could feel the incessant warmth still lingering on the back of his neck.
"Yo, Natsu!"
Natsu turned at the call, seeing Gray and Sting waving him over towards their car. Natsu raised a hand in acknowledgement.
Natsu sighed, guess the night had to end sometime. "Well, it was great meeting you, Lucy. See you at the fair next week?"
"Absolutely! Sounds like fun, thank you for asking me," Lucy grinned, "and thank you for such a warm welcome, Natsu. It was so nice meeting you too."
A toothy grin stretched his lips. "Yeah of course, anytime. Lookin' forward to next time! Night and drive safe, Luce!" Natsu gave her a wave goodbye before making his way back to the car.
Lucy, huh? He hoped it was the start of a good friendship.
The night of the fair came up quickly and Lucy found herself eager to spend more time with new friends… and see Natsu's bright smile again if she was being honest with herself.
It wasn't very often that Lucy made such a comfortable connection with someone so quickly, but his kind pretty eyes, and infectious laughter quickly put her at ease. After a rather slightly embarrassing introduction.
It wasn't one of her proudest moments, but it was memorable that's for sure.
She hoped it would be the start to a good friendship.
Lucy walked through the gates of the fairgrounds, hearing Natsu's cheerful voice before she saw him waving her over.
"Luce!"
"Hi, Nat-!"
He quickly grabbed Lucy's hand in his before she could finish, pulling her with him towards the food stands.
"Come on, Luce! There's some spicy chicken over here you gotta try!"
Lucy couldn't help the laughter that bubbled in her chest as she gripped his warm rough hand in hers. She looked back, waving at the rest of the group who followed them at a less eager pace than Natsu set, smiling at them fondly.
With the light that he radiated, his warm palm in hers, the bright wide smile he gave her over his shoulder, she would follow him anywhere.
Several food tents later, they ended up at a ring toss game where things just weren't going Natsu's way.
"Ugh! These games are rigged!" Natsu complained, running his hands through his hair as yet another ring missed landing on a bottle.
"Think it might just be you, Natsu," Lucy teased with a light giggle, patting his arm, "here, let me give it a try."
Natsu grumbled, stepping aside so Lucy could try her hand at the apparent cursed game.
Four rings later, each one landing perfectly on a bottle, Natsu was gawking as winning bells sounded and bursts of confetti were showering over them as Lucy won a perfect game.
"Wha-!"
Lucy turned to him, amber eyes shining brightly. An even brighter smile across her lips.
"I did it, Natsu!"
"Alright! A great game, miss! Here's your prize!"
The worker handed her a large oversized dragon plushie, Lucy hugged it against her right away.
"Aw, I love him already!" Lucy cooed.
"I can't believe you got a perfect game on your first try," Natsu mumbled.
Lucy laughed brightly, warmth spreading through her heart at the sight of his dramatic pout. He was so cute. Lucy wrapped an arm around his and tugged him away from the stand.
"Come on, you."
"I wanted to be the one to win it for ya!"
"Don't worry, you can buy me some ice cream over there to make up for it," she grinned.
"Sure thing, Luce." Natsu said, a crooked smile emerging as he turned to her.
"Wait hold still, ya got some confetti in your… " Natsu laughed, stopping them so he could pull the colored paper from her bangs.
Lucy's breath hitched. Her heart faltered as Natsu pushed some fallen strands from her face and behind her ear softly. He traced the line of her hair, his thumb brushing her cheek faintly. The strands of hanging lights surrounding them in a soft glow that glistened off his deep emerald eyes.
Natsu's gaze found hers, his eyes widening slightly as quickly retracted his lingering fingers that were in her hair.
"T-there! All better," Natsu said with a strained chuckle, palming the back of his neck. "S-so ice cream right?"
A fierce warmth had quickly covered her neck from Natsu's soft touch. Her skin still tinged where the rough skin of his fingers had lingered.
Get a hold of yourself, Heartfilia. It's just Natsu…
Although, the more Lucy got to know him, the more she was drawn to him. His warmth, the way he made her laugh, already craving to spend more time with him and know him better.
She hoped it was the same for him.
Lucy's expression softened. "Sounds perfect, Natsu."