Nalu One Shots

A Forced Smile

Wizards and guilds.

*Lucy's POV*

It's a nice morning. I'm up and about to enter the guild right now. I walk in and was greeted by Erza and Gray, but when Gray waved at me, Juvia wouldn't stop glaring. -.-' I walked away not wanting to be called "love rival" today.

I saw Natsu sitting at the counter so I thought I'd join him. He was drinking a glass of water and talking to Mira. I slowly approached them so I wouldn't interrupt their conversation. "Hey Natsu." He stopped talking and glanced at me a bit, "hey...I just remembered I forgot something at home, you can just cancel my food Mira." He gave me a forced smile and quickly left.

     A forced smile.

     Mira pulled me out of my thoughts, "Lucy, are you and Natsu okay?" I shrugged, "I don't know. Lately he's been ignoring me and I've been trying to talk to him but he keeps making up excuses." Mira sighed, "did anything happen?"

     Did anything happen? I mean we were okay, we went on a mission and after that was when he started ignoring me.  Did I do something to upset him? But what?

     "I don't know Mira, I can't seem to remember anything bad happening." She put Natsu's glass away and turned back to me, "well it must be something important, Natsu's not one to deny food." I thought about it as Mira walked away. I have to keep trying, I don't want to lose Natsu. Even though we're just friends, he means a lot to me. I got out of my seat and ran out the guild. I have to talk to him, maybe I could fix things between us.

     Gosh was I stupid for running all the way to Natsu's house. It's so far! I was outside of his house trying to catch my breath. I forgot about his amazing sense of hearing, he came out to check what it was. "Lucy?...What are you doing? Are you okay?!" I nodded because I was still trying to breathe. He sighed and ruffled his hair, "c'mon, you should come in, I'll get you something to drink." We walked in and I sat down, a few seconds later he set a cup of water in front of me and sat down beside me, "when you feel better, I'll walk you back to the guild." Even though he was ignoring me, he always still tries to take care of me, I guess it's a habit. It was quiet for a few minutes before I decided to talk, "Natsu?" He got up and stretched, "I gotta finish cleaning, just tell me when you're ready."

"Nat-"

"Rest up."

"NATSU!" He flinched at my sudden outburst. "...what?"

"What happened? What happened between us Natsu?" He forced a smile again and looked at me, "nothing Lucy." Why? Why does he keep giving me that painful look? What did I do? "Why?" He looked up at me confused. "Why? Why do you keep forcing your smiles at me?...When you're happy to see someone, you don't force your smiles!! You don't make yourself look happy!! What did I do Natsu?! WHY ARE YOU GIVING ME SUCH A PAINFUL EXPRESSION?!"

"Dammit Lucy!"He sighed and sat down, "I'm avoiding you." I looked at him, why won't he tell me why? "Why? Why are you avoiding me?" He sat their and looked at his hands, then he started laughing, "I'm pathetic, I'm the great Salamander, I defeat crazy monsters and I'm made to slay dragons, but I can't even defeat this." I crossed my arms, "you're avoiding the topic." "I'm not." I through my hands up, "what does your fights with monsters have to do with this?!" I started to break, "dammit Luce! I always put myself in death situations but I can't even tell you I love you!!-"

The room went dead silent.

"W-what?" He sat up straight and put his arms up in defense, "I-I mean I...that...I meant...I-I heh." He sat back down and put his head in his hands. "I screwed up. Sorry Luce." I looked at him confused, "what do you mean?" He got back up and shook his head, "let's just forget it, I'll walk you back now." He turned away but I didn't want him to forget. I didn't want things to go back to normal. I want us to be more. I hugged him from the back and he stopped walking. "Lucy please. Let's just go." "No!" "N-no?"

"Natsu I love you!" He stiffened, then shook his head, "no you don't. You only think that because I let my feelings slip. I'm sorry. Let me just walk you back."

"Natsu stop! Why are you denying it?! Why can't I love you?!"

"BECAUSE I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH!.....B-because no matter how hard I try or how much time passes...I'm never going to be good enough for you Luce. I'm a mess, I can't do anything right, the only thing I'm good at is beating up people. Lucy you're a beautiful smart women, and you deserve much more. I can't let my feelings mess things up. You deserve a responsible guy, someone who can take care of you. Someone who can make a family with you...a-and be able to provide for you.....I-I....I'm not that guy!" He started crying near the end, it hurt to hear him cry. I hugged him tighter. "No! Natsu I love you, and you love me! I don't care if there's some guy who's more responsible or more careful! It doesn't matter who it is, you're always going to be the one I choose! I-I don't want to see...m-my future...with someone else!" I started to cry, "I want to be with you Natsu! You're more than enough! You're k-kind...and you're protective...a-and I know you would n-never leave me!!...please...j-just please don't leave me."

He gave in and turn around, he hugged me back, he squeezed me like I was going to disappear if he let go. "I love you!....I love you....I love you...I love you Luce." I smiled in his chest, " I love you too, don't ever think you're not good enough for me. You're everything I want. Everything I need." He nodded.

"Luce?"

"Hm?"

"Can I um can I call you mine? I mean when people ask?"

I laughed, "of course you can. Even if people don't ask, I'm yours Natsu."

...

...

...

"So...does that mean you'll be my girlfriend?" I giggled, he really is nervous. I hugged him tighter, "yes Natsu." He happily sighed and nuzzled my hair.

This time he didn't make a forced smile.

Bonus:

The Next Day

Natsu and I were sitting at a table then suddenly he picked me up and sat me on his lap. He wrapped his arms around me and put his head on mine. I was gonna ask but he started talking, "what the hell are you looking at Gray?"

I turned and saw Gray looking at us. He shook his head, "chill I'm not checking out Lucy. I'm just wondering how she can be with such a dense idiot like you. Even Loke's a better choice." He smirked knowing he pissed off Natsu.

"OI YOU WANNA GO ICE PRINCESS?!"

"I'M NOT A PRINCESS FLAMEBRAIN!"

I sighed then laughed, some things never change huh?