Hurt so good •Nalu•

15

"Oi!"

I hear a voice as someone sits down beside me.

"Oh, Hey, Natsu." His grin shins so brightly I wouldn't have guessed he'd been recently injured.

"Your back early today."

"Yeah, I went to get another checkup." The moment Natsu hears this, he turns serious. Until I tell him I'm in perfect health.

Showing relief Natsu breaks into a smile. "That's great Luce!"

'He's always more worried about me then he is for his own self' I'm thinking this as I reach for my coffee cup, Mira just brought for me. My movement disrupts Happy's slumber and he jumps down out of my lap, bumping my bag. This causes the invitations to fall out.

Out of the corner of my eye I notice Natsu bend down, "Hey, Lucy, you dropped this." Natsu hands me the invitations, sitting them on the counter.

'Oh yeah! I should definitely ask Natsu to go as my partner!' The thought of linking arms with him and enjoying the party sounds like a lot of fun.

"Thanks, by the way, could I ask you a favor?"

"Huh? Sure."

While showing him the tickets, I ask if he'll go with me to the party. However...

"Eh, that kind of party, huh?" Wearing a half troubled and half uninterested look on his face, he shakes his head no. "I don't do celebrity parties. I always feel out of place."

"Yeah, but I don't exactly fit in either.. are you sure you won't come? You don't have to work, do you?"

Natsu crosses his arms behind his head and looks to the side. "I should be off that day, but I've never belonged in those types of places."

'I decide not to press the matter anymore. What a pity.. oh well.' "Okay, I understand, sorry to be pushy, I won't ask again." I try to hide my disappointment, as Loke slides into view.

"My Lady, if he won't go as your partner, I'll gladly step in!" He says while flashing me a flirtatious wink.

But then, Natsu does something I don't expect. His arms drop, as he leans across the counter, sneering at Loke with angered, annoyance, and points a finger at him. "Yeah, that ain't happening." Then he turns back towards me with a grin, "Lucy ask me again."

"Huh?"

Confused by what's going on and even more confused at what he said, I'm shocked. The two men are still bickering when I finally come to the realization. "So, wait! You'll go with me!?" Because of my out burst they both stop and stare, Mira even peeks her head from out of the kitchen.

Natsu bashfully shrugs, letting go of Loke. "Well, if it means that much to ya.."

"Really that's great!" I cheer with excitement, not noticing Loke shrink back into the kitchen with streams of tears.

We're talking about what to wear and what they'll have to eat. I mention that a Dragon's of Iron concert will be held during it too. I'm starting to feel in a playful mood when we get to the topic about dancing.

"Uh, i don't know how to dance."

"That's ok! I'll teach you! Let's practice right now." I'm in such high spirits with Natsu accepting the invite that I jump from my seat and call out to Mira from behind the counter.

"On it, Lucy!"

I voice my Thanks and reach For Natsu's hands, pulling him from his seat. Leading him a little forcefully to the center of the room, "Whoa, Lucy!" Natsu shouts. Meanwhile, the song Mira chose comes from the speakers. As the smooth music fills the air, I press my body close to Natsu. "Um, Luce, aren't we a bit to close?" He whispers with tinted cheeks.

"How are going to dance if we're not close?"

Just like he warned me, Natsu didn't know how to dance. Even for a good-natured liar it would be impossible to cover up. His steps are unsynchronized and he stomps on my feet repeatedly. As expected of a firefighter, Natsu has a burly body, with a brawny chest, and muscular arms. It takes all his focus to move his hulking mass in rhythm with the music. I'm amused by his efforts and touched by them at the same time. 'I'm glad he decided to go! Haha, I'll have to thank Loke later.'

Natsu and I continued our clumsy dance, as the song ended Mira chirped cheerfully. "Time for a slow dance!"

The song becomes softer and Natsu shrugs lightly. "I've come this far." Natsu then wraps his arm behind my waist. I rest my head against his chest that smells faintly of smoldering ash, mixed with sweat.

In the distance Loke crises out, "That should be me~!" But Mira quickly smacks him, "Hush, you! I've been waiting for this since day one."

And our slow dance goes on...