The Fallen(Nalu)

10- Dance With Me

Cleaning.

That's the job that Natsu made me pick. We're cleaning someone's house. Us mages, who take down demons and evil mages, are doing somebody else's chores for them.

And the pay isn't enough either.

The debris on the floor moves softly as I move the broom periodically around on the floor, gathering everything in a little pile to be picked up when I'm done.

A somewhat fast, but soft, song plays throughout the room. The owner of the house put it on before she left for town. She claims that music can make any chore better.

Natsu brought the request to me and told me that that's the one he picked. He said that we can clean together and then be done early enough to go out to eat afterward.

Or at least, I'm cleaning.

I glance over to see Natsu moving around the room, moving his arms around like he's swatting away invisible flies. His hips do a little shaking and his feet kick out every once in a while.

I turn back to the task in front of me, smiling softly to myself. I set the broom back in the closet and grab a damp rag from the sink.

"That doesn't look like cleaning to me, Natsu."

I chuckle lightly to myself at his silliness and scrub away at the table.

"Cleaning is boring."

He drags out the word boring while he walks to stand on the other side of the table.

"Then you shouldn't have picked it."

I glance up to him with a small smile.

"Already done dancing?"

The word dancing comes out sarcastic and Natsu gives me a look. I laugh and look back towards the table.

"Well then, teach me!"

I laugh it off.

"Yeah, okay, Natsu."

I ignore it as if it was a joke and continue with the task at hand, but Natsu stays across the table.

"C'mon, Lucy! Teach me! Teach me!"

I stop and look up, giving Natsu a deadpan look.

"Natsu, we're doing a job. Plus, that last time we danced you stomped on my toes."

Natsu nods enthusiastically at me.

"That's why I need you to teach me! You don't want to be seen with me when I dance like this!"

"We're doing a job Natsu."

He turns his head away and pouts. After a moment he turns his head back to me with a bright look.

"We can dance just like when we did at that ball we went to a long time ago. The whole team was there and we were supposed to catch that escaped prisoner or whatever."

I purse my lips slightly and stare just below his eyes.

"You were wearing that red dress, remember. Back then it was you who wanted to dance."

He outstretches his hand.

"Won't you dance with me again?"

I stare at his hand for a moment with pursed lips and a torn gaze.

My hand slightly tightens and I turn away from him.

"No."

My voice comes out stern and the sound of Natsu's presence fades out. I sigh heavily and kneel down on the floor to scrub off all of the spots.