Cursed Gift

'2, Is Beauty All that Matters to you?

CURSED GIFT

Based on the German fairy tale Swan Lake 

by -Kangacorn-

Admin: Jake

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NATSU and Lucy pulled back shortly, their bodies remaining close as they peered into each other's eyes. Lucy couldn't believe that he had kissed her, on the first day that she had arrived for the summer at that. They hadn't even shared a conversation, much less exchanged words. Was he only interested in her looks? Was that why he wouldn't say anything to her? Because her voice would dispel his enchantment with her?

She felt a bittersweet feeling curl into her heart. Could he truly be that shallow?

Then again, she was in the same boat. She had only uttered their usual greeting and danced with him all willy-nilly. She couldn't help it. There was just something about the way he looked at her that made her chest go a flutter. His face may have been what caught caught her attention, but it was his smile that caught her heart. As soon as she laid eyes on him, she knew that she loved him. She didn't know how or even why, there was just something inside her that said she did.

Natsu swung his arm to the side, his cape swishing to his back. "Arrange the marriage!" he exclaimed with a broad smile. The people of the ballroom cheered and threw their hats into the air in excitement.

Lucy quirked her eyebrows at this. Did she not have a place in the decision? Or did he simply forget to spare her feelings a thought? What if she wasn't ready to be wed? What if she had still hated him? What then? Force her into an unwanted matrimony? She didn't understand. How could one dance with her determine whether he wanted to be with her and rule for the rest of his life? Was it her beauty he was so attracted to? If his affection was based solely upon her face then she couldn't go through with this, it wouldn't be right.

"Wait," she ushered out. Everyone paused and turned their attention to the pair, halting their celebration.

Natsu turned to her. "What?" he looked to his hands. "You're all I've ever wanted, you're beautiful!" he smiled earnestly towards her. But his honesty wasn't what she was bothered by.

"Thank you," she said slowly. "but...what else?"

"What else?" Natsu repeated questioningly.

"Is beauty all that matters to you?" in the corner of her eyes Lucy could see her father shake his head in disapproval as he grunted. She directed her gaze back to Natsu.

"Natsu," Grandine called. Natsu rotated towards her, mid-panic. "what else?"

Well, thanks mother. That was very helpful. He thought. He knew what he wanted to say, he wanted to tell her how he'd been wrong all these years, that she wasn't a bad person. That was she splendid in every way and it was really ridiculous that it took him so many years to finally see that. But mushy things like that weren't his forte. He was the sharp shooter, the hunter, the leader. Not the Casanova. He had never felt the way he did before. He didn't know how to translate his feelings into words.

"What else is there?" he asked. His mother's lip quivered as Igneel gave him a thumbs down, making a buzzard noise. Lucy looked down in disappointment and her bangs fell above her teary eyes. He felt a pang of pain strike his heart, yet he said nothing. He feared he'd only make things worse. All he could do was stand there helplessly as he watched the love of his life walk out. Once everyone had left the ballroom he smacked his forehead, cursing to himself.