"C'mon Happy! Today's gonna be super fun!" Natsu pumped his fist into the air, the blue cat excitedly flying around.

"Aye, sir!" Happy replied, drool starting to deep from his mouth. "And just imagine all of the fishies they must have!"

His wings fluttered slowly, letting him drift down as he dreamt of the different mouthwatering flavors making his tastebuds explode.

Lucy giggled as she held out her arms to catch the cat, caressing him in her arms like a baby. She wore her red attire this time, her hair into two low ponytails on each side.

"Hey Lucy, have you ever tried clam chowder?" Happy curiously asked, the delicious dish making his mouth salivate.

Lucy shook her head, not familiar with the name. "Actually I've never even heard of that before; what is it?"

"What?!" Both Natsu and Happy shockingly yelled. The Captain accidentally jammed his toe into his other heel while the cat started coughing from yelling so suddenly.

"Son of a bitch!" He muttered, shaking his stinging foot for a quick moment from the pain shooting through.

Lucy laughed at him while petting the blue cat, hearing him loudly purr against her. The salmon haired man hopped on one foot a couple times, the blue feline hysterically cracking up at him.

"Well I guess we're gonna have to find a place with all the good fishes!" Happy exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.

Natsu waited for Lucy since she had trailed behind. Luckily they were only at the dock, so much less people were there.

Lucy was occupied by tickling Happy's tummy, her pace slowing down immensely. She didn't notice the salmon haired male squint his eyes at the cat in her arms while impatiently tapping his foot.

"Hey Happy, stop wasting our time!" Natsu yelled, crossing his arms.

The maiden giggled, both of her not minding Natsu's annoyed outburst as they finally approached him.

Happy stuck out his tongue. "What? You're just jealous you're not getting her attention!" He mocked.

Natsu's face darkened more red than a tomato, looking away with a pouty face. "No I'm not." He grunted back.

"Yes you are." Happy retorted before being tickle attacked once again, his laughs echoing through the air. He playfully patted her hand with his paws, making sure his claws weren't out so she didn't get scratched.

Lucy's smile only grew, several giggled leaving her racketing body. "You're cute when you're pouty, Natsu." She teased. She laughed as his blushing face turned towards her, speechless.

His lips pressed together and crossed his arms, knowing she was only subtly teasing him.

Lucy gently nudged him in the side to grab his attention again. He smiled back down at her and held out a hand.

"I don't want to lose you again." Natsu cheekily said, feeling her hand slip into his naturally. The blonde held Happy in one arm easily, letting him already fall into a light snooze.

The Captain sweat-dropped as he noticed his cat dead asleep in her arm. "I can't believe he fell asleep that quick; he usually hates being held by anyone, sometimes even me."

Lucy lightly giggled as his purrs grew. "Maybe I'm special."

He didn't doubt that statement for a second. "Maybe you are."

Their fingers slowly intertwined as they walked, Natsu letting Lucy swing their arms back and forth gently. He mentally thanked Mavis that Happy was still sleeping, or else he'd never hear the end of it.

"He loves her~!"

"Hey Luce, where did Gray take you yesterday?" Natsu asked, remembering the expensive restaurant he passed by.

Lucy purses her lips as she thought. "I remember it as 'The Sohona Genie', it was a really nice place."

Natsu's eyes narrowed, a bitter taste almost flooding his tastebuds. "That bastard."

As they reached a popular point of the city, Natsu made sure to hold the blonde beauty closer to his side so he wouldn't lose her. He was careful to make sure no one bumped into her from the blue cat still snoozing, cradled in her other arm.

He finally caught sight of a restaurant that seemed like a place that would have fresh fish and clam chowder. 'Ivars.'

Just before Natsu reached to open the restaurant door, a couple young men slowed their pace down, their eyes scanning Lucy. One of them whistled as the other one shouted a lame catcall, making Natsu turn his back towards the door.

His cold onyx eyes narrowed. "You bastards-"

"Look out!" Lucy yelped, tugging Natsu's arm just as the door slammed wide open, forcefully slamming against the wooden wall as a drunk couple sauntered out.

Her hand slid around his torso as she held his weight against her, making sure he didn't make them collapse on each other. Natsu's arm wrapped around her stomach while slamming his palm into the wall so the force didn't knock her over.

Natsu and Lucy blinked as the drunken couple mindlessly walked off. Both faces flushed rose red from their position.

"Thanks Luce, I would've been smushed by those idiots." Natsu sighed, slipping his arm back. His hand accidentally grazed over her bare stomach, quickly bringing it back behind his head to ruffle his hair as his cheeks darkened.

Lucy awkwardly laughed. "You're welcome, it's no problem at all." She cheekily smiled and help Happy with both arms, the cat still purring loudly.

The Captain propped open the door, a charming smile on his face. "Ladies first."

"I didn't realize Happy was a lady too." Lucy teasingly giggled, stepping through the doorway. The young man shook his head, chuckling as he mentally sighed.

"You still need to work on takin' compliments, Miss." Natsu mumbled in her ear, sending chills through her body. The jolt wasn't causing her skin to crawl with goosebumps, but rather of flushing.

Lucy bit her lip, turning towards his close face. "You need to be more direct about them." She smoothly glazed off her tongue, her words easily the affect to Natsu's inducing smirk.

"You should stop avoiding them." He huskily replied, seeing that the blonde hadn't expected quite a comeback from him.

Lucy puffed her flourishing red rosy cheeks, having no words to slip out back. She turned her head, both knowing that he'd won that time.

After entering, they were quickly seated into a booth next to a large window, sitting across from on another.

Natsu glanced down at his exceed in her arms. "He's never been asleep with anyone, not even myself for this long. You're really somethin' else." He admired, watching her gently stroke her hand across the cats' head, her fingers massaging the soft spot between his ears.

"He could've just been tired." Lucy replied. She looked down at the purring cat, his whiskers twitching in satisfaction within his deep slumber.

Natsu pressed his lips together once again from her avoidance. Every time he'd slip compliments, she'd smoothly avoid them as if the words never left his mouth. "It's because he has a liking to you."

Lucy shrugged her shoulders. "I think it's because he's just hungry."

His fingers tapped against the wooden table, trying to think of ways to weave through her invisible webs. "Exceeds tend to take after their owner."

Lucy stopped grooming him, meeting his striking gaze at her. She was stuck, his words finally capturing her like a rope being tightened. His gestures had been becoming more obvious every day, the thought in her mind becoming more clearer, even if she was avoiding them. Her feet shuffled as another heat flash colored her cheeks, her palms becoming sweaty.

It was more than a polite gesture; it was simply his way of showing something differing from friendship, maybe further more meaningful. Another way of displaying interest.

"I'm sure it's completely different." Lucy lightly giggled, forcing an innocent smile upon her flushed face.

Natsu closed his eyes, almost wanting to stand up and shout bluntly so she couldn't avoid his words. He couldn't understand how she slithered around compliments and facts so well, more in fact why she kept her distance.

His fist somewhat pounded against the table, rattling the silverware and cups of water, causing Lucy to jump in her seat. "If I didn't like you I would've thrown you off the ship in the middle of the damn sea." His voice agitatedly husked, meeting her brown orbs again.

"Well, I am a mermaid so it would've been good for me anyways." Lucy smiled.

Natsu sat there motionless, blankly staring at the young lady across from him. After a few seconds he sighed heavily through his nose. She was hard to catch, but his chase only continued to run. His words had easily made their way to other females who've casually flirted with him in shops all his life, leaving them in the dust after they chased him.

His hot and simple words melted a certain whitenette's heart like butter, never having the thought of needing a backup or two.

It was his first time doing the chasing, but he liked it. She intriguingly motivated him in all aspects, the fire within him finally feeling alive. 

Before Natsu had enough time to reply, a waitress approached them, still having her eyes on her writing pad.

"Hello my name's Ember and I'm your waitress for today-" her hand dug in her apron and grabbed out packed saltine crackers. She glanced at Lucy, rolling her eyes as she threw them at her. "-and I'll take your orders." She purred as her eyes laid on Natsu.

Lucy squeaked as the crackers hit her bare shoulder, catching them in her hands. She watched as the redheaded waitress carefully handed another packet to Natsu, a smirk playing on her lips. Her grip tightened around Happy without knowing as her eyes slightly narrowed.

Natsu grabbed the small packet, already knowing the redhead was hitting on him. "One clam chowder and two salmon chip n' fries baskets." He said, pretending to check out her figure.

Lucy's eyes trembled, watching him hungrily look at the other female.

"And...could I have an extra glass of water? I think I'll need more than one now." Natsu daringly husked, already having the waitress swoon under his words.

Ember tenderly giggled, her fingers playfully gliding on his shoulder. "Oh, of course." She replied, her voice almost moaning the words.

Lucy caught her winning at him before sending a sneaky glare back at herself, swinging her hips back and forth as she walked away. Her face tightened along with the grip around Happy, not realizing she was starting to squeeze him.

She'd heard his voice tenderly husk to the waitress, feeling like she was being thrown under the dock like trash. The enticing smirk he sent her was revolting, a strange and angry feeling waving in her heart. How his onyx eyes lightened up when he looked at the redhead instead, it all made her want to run.

"Ow! Oi--I'm awake!"

Lucy jumped as Happy wriggled aggressively in her arms, gasping as she finally realized she had almost crushed him against her. Her body shook, painfully biting her lip.

Natsu looked at how uncomfortable Lucy looked, seeing her hands jittery.

"I-I'm so sorry Happy--I've got, I-I--please excuse me for a moment-" Lucy stutttered, shaking her head. She set Happy on the seat, quickly standing up and pacing away.

Natsu's eyes widened, watching her walk away. "Lucy, wait-!" He started to get up until he was cut off by the maid directly in front of his seat, a glass of water in her hand.

"Here you go~" Ember seduced, bending over far more than needed to set the cold glass on the table. She wet her lips with her tongue. "Too bad your date ran away, I'll check the restroom for you."

The waitress sauntered away, leaving the regretful young male in his seat.

Happy's eyes were disgusted by the sight, almost wanting to throw up as the redhead walked away. "Natsu, what the heck was that?!"

Natsu gritted his teeth, running his hands several times through his hair frustrated. "I messed up that's what I did-! I just flirted with the waitress to see if she'd get-"

"Why would you flirt with some waitress around the girl you're into?! Now she's gone!" Happy shouted, his words causing Natsu to freeze up. "Yesterday it may have been an accident, but this time it's all your fault!"

"Hold on, when did I say I was into her?! Please let me know cause I'm dying to know." Natsu spat, the lies slipping from his mouth like poison.

Happy shook his head, glaring. "You didn't need to say it, everyone can just tell by the way you act around her! I'm not stupid, but you're avoiding your feelings. The way you treat her, the way you look at her when no one's watching, you can't get more obvious than that." He out-lashed.

The people around stared at the salmon haired pirate and blue cat.

Natsu's lips opened to throw more lies back, but there was nothing leaving his mouth. Every word pierced into his heart, his chest feeling heavy. His fist shook as he slammed it on the table, clenching his jaw.

"I'll be right back Happy, ask the waitress to box the food to-go." Natsu frustratingly muttered, his heart awfully aching as he got up and walked towards the bathrooms. I'm so fucking stupid...

Lucy's fingers gripped the sink, gasping her breaths. She didn't know why she felt so mad, almost wanting him to see her like that instead. Brown eyes shut tightly, letting a few tears drop from her stinging eyes. Her heart achingly throbbed, her whole face reddening as more wet droplets cascaded down her skin.

The door slammed open, not even making Lucy move a centimeter.

"Sorry he could do way better than you, I'll let you know after he spends the night with me." The voice snarled in her ear. Lucy snapped up to see Ember grinning from ear to ear, leaning against the other sink.

"Besides, redheads are totally hotter than blondes, bitch." Ember continued, a satisfaction smirk glimmering at the sight of her competitor.

Lucy's body trembled, wishing her body would crumble and dissolve into nothingness. Everything she said was true, she wasn't worth anyone to spend their time with her.

"Now, I've got a job to do. Make sure you leave my man afterwards, okay? Now bye." Ember winked as she strode out of the bathroom, flipping Lucy off before closing the door.

A strangled sob escaped her mouth, turning her face towards the sink bowl and letting hot tears relentlessly flow down her cheeks. Her hand covered over her lips to muffle her cries, rib cage racketing every second.

"None of this ever should've happened--if only I'd listened to the guards that day I wouldn't even be here." Lucy cried under her voice, holding in one sob at a time with every ounce of energy she had.

She didn't know a figure was approaching the restroom door from the outside as she continued to pull herself together, knowing that the two were still out there waiting.

Natsu walked down the tight hallway, seeing the waitress walking the opposite direction. "She'll be like, totally fine. Just needed a break." Ember innocently piped, giggling as she walked by to resume her duties.

Totally fine my ass. Natsu gritted his teeth as he stood right next to the women's restroom door, leaning against the wall. He furrowed his brows as he listened for any sounds, shoving a hand into his pant pocket.

He twisted his head to clearly hear muffled sniffles, luckily for his great hearing. Waves of regret coursed his body, wishing to take back everything he did to see her react.

Natsu waited impatiently, cussing himself out more and more.

Is this what Lisanna felt like when she cheated on me?

Happy's words tore his mind, seeking deeper thoughts for the truth hidden underneath. Natsu wanted nothing more than to take back his disgusting actions, knowing he hurt her. She did everything to the best of her ability to help him, and this is what he repays for? No part in his body wasn't heated, leaning his head against the wall while shutting his eyes.

Every soft cry he heard clawed his insides, his lungs burning to keep from shouting. Thousands of invisible gashes made his heart ache with his chest tightening agitatedly, regret swallowing him whole.

Natsu couldn't imagine leaving Sohona without her, a large part of him would be completely empty. Her father would embellish him past the state of death, but it still wasn't a crime large enough for the actions he tried to pursue.

He needed her.

After waiting for a period of time, he heard the door barely start to creak open, snapping his head up.

Natsu tenderly gazed at Lucy kept her head down, slowly slipping through the door. She looked small; shrinking herself as much as possible.

"Luce."

Lucy stopped, feeling his hand lead her to where her feet were directly in front of his. Her left side was close to the wall with his arm closing off her right. She didn't want to look up, she was so unstable and vulnerable, taking unsteady breaths in hopes to calm her mind.

"I'm sorry, dammit Luce I'm so sorry."

Natsu slid a hand underneath her chin, terrified to see what he'd done to her.

"It's not your fault, I don't know why I just left you guys but please don't-" Lucy stumbled out, stopping as her eyes met his heavy gaze.

The heartache in Natsu's chest was an insatiable fire burning every ounce of oxygen in his body, barely able to inhale through his burning throat. Indescribable swirls of pain, ache, distrust, sadness swarmed in her cocoa-brown eyes, every sparkle he noticed was fogged. They dared to hold back from what caused them to cascade tears in front of him, hiding the pain she truly felt.

He'd made her cry, because of him.

She couldn't even force a smile upon her face to hide how shattered she was.

"I'm sorry for leaving you, I don't know why I got so overly--annoyed. I didn't mean it." Lucy whimpered, her eyes glazing with a glassy sheen of tears. "I don't know how to explain it with words, but it just hurt my feelings...a lot."

Natsu was dumbfounded as she bit her lips and blinked a few times, heart struck by her honesty. His hand moved to her flushed cheek, regret lusting in his gaze. As delicate as a rose she was, she was still just as enchantingly gorgeous like a rose with raindrops on its fragile petals.

"Stop apologizing when nothing's your fault." Natsu stated gently. "I was being stupid, please know I'd never leave you for anyone."

Lucy's eyes blinked a few times from her vision blurring, tears dripping from her eyelids and slid down her cheeks. "I shouldn't be interfering with what you choose to do."

"Why is it in every situation you make sure the blame's on you? I acted like a dick to take you out and pretend to go along with some other waitress. I'd leave my ass too if I was you." Natsu wiped a few droplets from her face with his thumb.

She held her breath as a cry almost escaped her mouth, shakily exhaling. "Because it's always been my fault my entire life."

Natsu only brought her head forward, nuzzling against her forehead. An unrecognizable heat flash rose to his face, his eyebrows furrowing as he shut his eyes. His onyx eyes pricked with a sting, the emotion that lingered in his chest finally clawing its way out.

"I keep holding you back, it's better if I stayed in Sohona."

He really didn't deserve the angel he'd met over a month ago, he was the demon that made her life Hell. His thin lips gently placed on her bangs over her forehead.

"I should go so you don't have to worry anymore-"

Natsu let his lips travel against her skin to her exposed cheek, kissing it tenderly while his hand still cupped the other side of her face.

"Don't ever say that again." He frustratingly husked, kissing away tears on her left side while erasing them with his thumb on the opposite. "You're worth more to me than any amount of gold offered to trade you over."

Lucy closed her eyes, a battle of emotions clashing within her mentality. The sensation she felt when his lips pressed to her cheek was heavenly, wondering if she wanted more. She didn't know whether to push him away and run from what she let herself fall under or let the Captain comfort in ways that were undeniably making her heart race.

She'd never let anyone touch her so gracefully, lighting up new feelings that were being constantly drowned by her own lies about him.

Her mind flashed to last night, feeling the same warmth against her skin from him. How they'd only been so close, but yet so far apart.

"Natsu..." Lucy barely breathed, her soothing voice only leading to Natsu to tenderly kiss her more.

She felt the blissful kisses further away from her ear, her heart pounding in whether or not to turn her head to his.

All he could describe her was heavenly, too perfect to be within his reach. She could lure him in with her large rich chocolate-brown eyes, promising himself he'd never be the reason for the glimmer to disappear within their never-ending shades again. He wanted the reason to be him behind the smile her luscious pink lips formed.

There had to be something more than their friendship, he knew she wouldn't have let him do the things he did now if there wasn't anything she saw in him.

"Lucy.." Natsu mumbled, his eyes lustfully dazing in hers. He didn't move, testing to see if she'd move away given the chance. An opportunity to notice if he was worth staying for.

He didn't expect her to turn her head towards him, giving him better access to what his mind lured for. Heartbeats quickened as Lucy relaxed her lips, letting him choose to take the bait.

Natsu realized after her eyes fluttered closed, him needing to close the last gap before falling into pure bliss. She was giving him the last choice, not thinking twice to what he wanted.

"One, I got the food and paid for it and two, you guys should not be doin' that by the bathroom." A voice snickered before Natsu could close the last breath of air between them, both looking back to the interruption.

Happy flapped his wings, mischievously giggling as he knew what he did, almost bursting out laughing at their tomato-red faces. He swung the bag in the air, the contents of their delivered food.

Lucy chewed at her lips, smacking her face right into his neck, her face burning hotter than the sun rays she felt at Riduele.

She couldn't get the thought of almost having her first kiss again, except being interrupted hen she followed through this time.

Natsu wrapped his arms around her and darkly glared with his onyx eyes. having a burning passion to strangle his exceed. Happy shrugged pretending to be innocent, sticking out his tongue.

"I'm hungry, hurry up or else the food's gonna get cold!" Happy complained, laughing at the sight he'd bombarded with complete awkwardness to rise between the two. "I'll eat your food too, Natsu!"

"That little-!" Natsu growled, an anger burning hotter in his eyes than Lucy's ever seen.

Lucy decided to follow Happy's lead, quickly spinning out of his embrace. "I'm hungry too!" She giggled, winking back as his jaw dropped wide open, watching her quickly run after the cat that already flew out of the door.

Natsu stood there completely frozen, mentally tripping over her quick change of mind. "Fuck!" He cursed as he started to chase them, realizing they'd already ran out the restaurant.

"Hey~" A feminine voice purred, stepping out in front of him. Natsu almost fell as he stepped to the side around Ember, quickly gliding around her. "Where you going, babe?"

"To chase my girl." Natsu grinned over his shoulder, laughing as her expression dropped, disgusted.

He smacked the door open and looked both ways, his eyes landing on the blue cat flying away towards the left.

I'm not losing her again.

He ran through the hoards of people somehow, barely keeping the cat in his sight for a while until they reached a part of the city close to the docks that wasn't crowded.

Natsu sprinted across the wooden pathway downhill, realizing he wasn't getting any closer to the mermaid. His eyes boggled seeing that she'd already caught up with the cat, both racing away together.

"Since when was she so fast?!" Natsu loudly breathed, his grin spreading across his face as he watched them continue to run ahead of him.

It was as if this was the representation of him chasing after her.

Lucy and Happy were gasping for air while laughing as they approached a bench facing the water, placed directly onto smooth sand.

"You slowpoke! Geez you keep getting fat the more you eat, Natsu!" Happy yelled, setting the bag down on the bench. Lucy turned to see him vastly approaching them from a long distance away, admiringly gazing at him.

Natsu finally met them, breathing hard with a few sweat droplets forming across his forehead. "What the hell, Happy?! It's too damn hot to be running miles out here!"

"Oi, you sayin' you're out of shape? Man, I'm glad you have a shirt on or else you'd embarrass yourself with your fat stomach!"

"I'm in better shape than I've ever been! All you do is sleep and eat!"

Lucy couldn't stop laughing as the two males argued back and forth, still recovering from running the long distance. She slipped off her sandals and dug her toes in the smooth sand, missing the feeling back at home.

"Well I think it's funny today you wore an orange shirt to match with Lucy today instead of your other navy coats!" Happy yelled back, instantly making Natsu redden across his whole face.

Lucy perked up, looking back at Natsu to check his attire, noticing it was different than usual. His scarf cross diagonally against his body instead, seeing that he in fact was wearing clothes the same color as her attire.

"What are you talkin' bout? I-I uh, that's o-obviously not true.." Natsu stumbled out, putting his hand behind his head as he faced the opposite direction from her. He could feel the embarrassed blush on his face deepen a scarlet.

Lucy on the other hand, thought it was truly the most cutest thing to see.

Happy rolled his eyes. "I totally didn't notice you scan Lucy's outfit before you went to shower when she was done getting ready!"

"Happy!" Natsu shouted, spinning back around to see Happy evilly grinning, the Captain's face almost surpassing the color of a pomegranate.

If it was possible, Lucy could imagine the steam rising from out of his ears like a teapot boiling, his eyes looking everywhere but meeting hers.

She playfully rolled her eyes as he kept awkwardly pacing a few steps behind the bench. "I think it's sweet; now I really want to eat." Her hand patted the seat next to her while Happy tore open the bag, savaging for his meal.

"Did you intentionally make that rhyme?" Natsu chuckled, plopping down next to her left side.

"Did you intentionally make the compliment a description of flavor about food and demanding to then eat?" Happy added, starting to inhale his deep-fried salmon strips.

Natsu and Lucy stared at the cat ripping apart his food, blinking once. "You could've at least handed ours over, dipshit." He annoyingly said, reaching over her body to snag the bag.

Happy shrugged his tail and retorted back. "Technically I'm not shit because I'm not using the tartar dip."

Natsu sent a glare at Happy from the corner of his eyes as he started opening the bag. "Tartar sauce is delicious."

Lucy let out a light snort, finding Happy's remark more funny than it'd really been an insult to Natsu. "Did you intentionally make the object and the insult rhyme because that's what it tastes like?"

Happy burst out laughing, chunks of fries spewing from his mouth and nose around the sand beneath him while Lucy's body racketed heavily. Her laughs joined along as she covered her mouth and leaned over, kicking her feet back and forth.

Natsu sat there, his eyes narrowing randomly straight ahead with his lips pressed together to form a line. He heard their laughs becoming louder, mentally sighing.

"Does the Captains name Natsu intentionally rhyme with poo-poo because that's what he is?" Happy snickered, dropping the fries he held between his palms back into his packaged food basket.

Lucy laughed harder than she ever had in a while, letting her body fall to her right side and resting her forehead against the bench.

The sound of her true laughter was infectious, having the sweet tone of twinkling bells while it was bright and cheerful like flowers on summer days, blossomed upon a peaceful field. Even though their remarks were towards him, his lips formed into a smile to see her happy.

"Fuck you, Happy." Natsu spat, not keeping a straight face any longer from her chiming voice that played in his ears like melodies.

She eventually sat back up, still releasing soft laughs that somehow continued to rattler her body. Her hands quivered when she held them out, biting her lip as an attempt to keep herself calmer.

Natsu carefully handed her a thin styrofoam lidded bowl, glancing up to her curious eyes that inspected it.

She blinked twice, her expression curious as a blank came to her mind, having no clue what he just handed her. The contents in it were extremely hot, quickly burning her fingertips holding it. "It's really hot."

Natsu kept watching her eyes until she started to wince. "Well don't hold it if it's too hot!" He exasperated, swiping it back. He set it on the bench and turned his attention toward her hands.

"You're such a dork." He chuckled, letting one hand graze the backs of her hands to inspect her reddened palms.

"You could've told me it was hot." Lucy winced as he pressed a thumb gently onto the side of her palm, obviously feeling the pain from the light burn she'd gotten herself.

"It wasn't hot for me, but I don't get pain from heat." Natsu replied. "Since I use fire, nothing burns me if I'm holding it." He held out his other palm upwards, creating an orb of fire the size of a baseball.

"While you're talkin' bout hot stuff, not like you're anything hot, your food's gettin' cold." Happy said between chews, showing more fries into his already-stuffed mouth.

"You couldn't be more gross." Natsu snapped back, popping open Lucy's small contained while opening his on his lap. He handed her a spoon.

Happy casually hovered next to Lucy as she stirred the creamy soup. The aroma was delicious. "You gonna eat that, Lushie?"

Lucy sweat-dropped as Natsu gave him a look. "It's super creamy and thick and it just melts into your tastebuds." Happy continued, drool seeping from his tongue.

Lucy bit a smile back, keeping in a laugh. "That doesn't sound right."

Natsu sputtered out a laugh, running his hand through his hair as Happy sat down on the bench in defeat. "Lucy, why would you think of that?! I thought you were an innocent, good girl!" Happy shouted, making the Captain laugh harder.

"I'm sorry but you said it." Lucy softly said, grabbing the cup in her palms since it cooled off enough. She blushed to see Natsu biting the collar of his shirt while laughing from her comment.

"I didn't expect you to say that, which makes it even funnier." Natsu barely managed to say between laughs, his shoulders shaking. "You crack me up."

Lucy cheekily smiled. "Oops."

As Natsu's laughs calmed down eventually, he glanced over Lucy to see a familiar face. Onyx eyes immediately narrowed, quickly going cold. The figure was walking towards them on the sand.

He casually ran his right hand through his hair slowly, stretching it along the back of the bench behind Lucy. Happy eyeballed his movements, making eye-contact with the Captain to wiggle his eyebrows a few times.

'Shut up.' Natsu mouthed before Lucy glanced up.

"Hey Lucy." Gray waved, slowing down until he stood a few feet away from them. "I was wondering where you went, but obviously charcoal brain managed to not lose you this time."

Natsu tsked, throwing a French fry at Gray's head, successfully landing a direct hit. "No reason for you to spend the day with her since you did yesterday."

Gray crossed his arms, flexing his toned muscles. "I did tell her I'd like to get to know her more." He roughly replied, meeting Natsu's flaming eyes with an icy glare of his own.

Lucy gulped as she glanced between the two, feeling the tension quickly thickening the air. She could almost see the flames and ice clashing in the air.

"Well if you'd like to know Gray, I've never had clam chowder before." Lucy quickly said before Natsu could sparkly reply, catching both males off-guard.

Gray surprisingly raised his eyebrows. "Never?"

Lucy nodded, gleefully smiling. "Never, I'm more prone to eating lentil soups or vegetables instead at Riduele. Natsu kindly took me out to try it, so I'll tell you what I think about it later tonight."

Gray nodded after a few seconds, showing a side-smile to her. "Okay, see you later Lucy." He walked off by himself, leaving them peacefully without making another argument boil.

Another line popped into her thoughts, deciding whether or not to let them know. Natsu quickly noticed, smirking at her smile knowing she was holding back.

"I can tell when there's somethin' on your mind, Miss." He nudged, aware of how her smile seemed more secretive than the usual soft one that defined her cheekbones.

"Does Gray intentionally rhyme with gay because he's secretly into you?" Lucy laughed out, quickly following with the cats' voice echoing behind. "You know people only argue with one another because they care." She added, emphasizing on the last word.

She laughed harder as he playfully shook his head and heated up his hand that rested behind her, his warm fingers tickling from the back of her neck to her shoulder.

Lucy quickly set down her soup to the side before ending up dropping it as her shoulders hunched for protection. He slid right next to his side and let his other hand tickle her exposed side. His touch was more effective from his fingertips being hot enough, making sure it wasn't where it severely burn her.

"Na-Natsu! I can't bre-eathe!" Lucy gasped, her laughs only motivating the dragon slayer to continue for a few more seconds. "That's whatcha get for sayin' that."

Happy side-glanced at the two, a sneaky smile spreading across his face. Yup, I knew from the very beginning.

After his tickling-attack, she leaned against his side, her body snug against his like gloves. His arm gently rested against her back and snaked around her figure.

Natsu sighed in relief, appreciating her smooth words to somehow convince him to leave. "You're really good with words."

"I didn't want you to start fighting here in the open, so I only tried to steer the conversation away." Lucy replied, seeing Natsu's face fall flat from her answer.

He mentally groaned again, once again being swerved. "Again, compl--you know what, never mind."

Lucy's stomach folded like a house of cards, chewing the inside of her cheek. "-but thank you." She quickly added, seeing his face immediately lighten up.

Natsu secretly grinned to himself as his gaze softened, a light tint of red appearing on the bridge of his nose. "You're welcome."

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"So Captain told me all about how he was the first person to introduce you to clam chowder? He seemed pretty excited." Mira giggled as she stretched her legs, cracking her toes.

"Clam chowder is quite delicious, I'm surprised you haven't ever tried it until now." Erza commented.

"Mira, gross!" Lisanna added, scooting away from her a few feet on the bed as Mira continued stretching her body, popping a few bones.

Lucy's face blushed, thinking back to their 'moment.' "Anything specific?" She asked, anxiously tapping her fingers against the ground.

Mira tapped her cheek with one finger. "He did admit he did something that he still feels bad for, but he didn't say anything about what happened."

Lucy's face intensified to a blossoming, vibrant pink, biting at her lip. All the girls in the room looked at her for an answer.

"Ah-h..well.." Lucy started, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. "I don't even know how to explain it.."

"He confessed his undying love for you!" Levy squealed, making a few others gasp and start dramatically squealing too.

"Gray-sama will be all mine to love now!" Juvia cheered, hugging a pillow close to her chest.

Lucy's face was surpassing a perfectly ripened cherry, waving her hands as the girls got louder. "No, that's definitely not what happened! I can promise you-!"

"Well did he make a move? It's so obvious he's into you." Evergreen interrupted, flipping her voluminous hair over her shoulder.

"N-No! We're just close friends!" Lucy blabbered, shaking her head. "He wouldn't ever take an interest in me, that's ridiculous."

"You guys would be the cutest couple ever!" Mira romantically gushed, her eyes the shapes of hearts. Lucy continued to shake her head, rejecting every comment that came her way from her friends.

Her and him together?! That was out of the question, ranging the furthest from boundaries. Honestly, she didn't even know what her feelings were about imagining it.

Lisanna flatly sat on the bed, feeling a wave of jealousy make her skin shiver intently. "Did he kiss you?" She asked, her tone of voice completely monotoned.

Levy covered her mouth to keep from squeaking out loud, dancing on her feet. Erza patted her shoulder, lightly smiling.

A moment of silence passed over, and ruptures of high-pitched squealing filled the room again like a bunch of puppies all excited to play.

Lucy struggled to find any words that were capable of keeping the volume down to a minimum, her thoughts exquisitely limited from the pressure.

"N-no, of course not! Well, no--yes? No, not really!" Lucy stampeded, feeling like she was stuck in a jigsaw puzzle with her own words. "Indirectly?"

Lisanna's eyebrows raised, her eyes widening. "Indirectly?" Her breath hitched, caught in between her throats to hear an unexpected reply.

"Do tell!" Levy shouted, lightly jumping on the bed springs. "Did he kiss you on the nose, the head, your hand, what about your feet?"

Everyone turned to face the short bluenette jumping on the bed, an amused and strange expression on each of their faces. "What? It was a serious question!" Levy threw her hands up in the air.

Lucy quickly smiled, her gaze falling back on a random spot on the floor. "It was actually on the cheek." She shyly said, touching the spot where he'd left invisible marks against her silky skin.

"That's even better!" Levy loudly shrieked, her body jumping higher in excitement.

Evergreen was pacing while repeatedly saying "oh my god" to herself, the scarlet-haired woman sat there smiling while mostly everyone else was screaming about it.

From above, most of the males were chilling up on the decks.

"What the hell are they doin' down there?!" Gajeel muttered, clearly annoyed with the high-pitched feminine screams that made his ears cringe. "Shrimp better have an explanation tomorrow."

Natsu shrugged his shoulders. "Probably the weird things they typically do."

Their voices continued to pierce through the air, mostly coming from Mira and Levy.

"We're going shopping tomorrow, you're going to look so good for the festival!" Mira exclaimed, yanking Lucy up into her feet.

Lucy sweat-dropped, the blush continuing to flourish like a blooming rose. "You don't have to, it's fine." She lightly laughed.

"Is everyone down for a girls out day?"

"Fuck yeah!" Evergreen shouted from the back.

Erza shook her head, smiling. "I could use some time away from the guys, they get on my nerves after a while."

Lucy couldn't back out, so she nodded in agreement. "Sure." Mira grinned widely at the blonde for a moment, until she brought her into a death-suffocating hug. "I can't breath--Mira!"

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Chapter 15 is complete 💯

I'll casually apologize for how lengthy this is. Like wow. I could've cut this into two separate chapters. Oh well.

Anyone like it that there was an Ivars in this though? I could really go for some clam chowder right now

And some kisses in the hallway next to the bathroom--without being interrupted *cough*Happy*cough

The Gifted Mermaid
❀ by queen_random1 ❀
❤️Thank you for reading ❤️