Serenity

x. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗧 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗗𝗢𝗢𝗥 💿

title: THE PIANIST NEXT DOOR?
summary: Natsu has this neighbour who plays the piano every night.
note: uppercase :)) Natsu - 28, main & Sting - 26, lives next door 
。。。

Midnight, 1985

A lonely Christmas night again.

Natsu sighs as he sips from the cheap wine that he had gotten from the shop just around the corner. He fiddles with the lighter in his free hand, contemplating if he should light himself a cigarette — you could hear muffled shouts from merry drunk men singing, "It's Christmas time again," and their peers laughing and mocking at how stupid they look as they stumble in their intoxicated state.

Natsu watches how the night engulfs the town with darkness, accompanied by a hazy glow from the streetlights and the moon which was covered by dark clouds, yet still managed to look like the brightest light in the sky. He hears soft scratching sounds and rustling of papers, Natsu assumed that the woman from Apartment 307 was writing again.

It was yet another sleepless night for Natsu, just like every other night. He finds himself sitting on his balcony, listening to whatever Apartment 309 was playing as he watches snow cascade from the dark sky. He was hoping the music that was playing and the wine he was drinking would be enough to finally lull him to sleep.

This was part of Apartment 309's routine every night, he would play classical romantic music and Natsu would always listen, mourning and crying over the death of his lover — well, past lover.

Chopin. He was playing Chopin this time, Natsu's thoughts start wavering over the man, Sting Eucliffe from Apartment 309

Natsu came to know his name from a small café just a few blocks from the building. He also came to know that he was a foreign man from Japan, only arrived a few months before; he would always wear attires in white or black — it was either one or the other. Sting would always never be seen in vibrant clothing, so it shocked Natsu to learn that he works as a barista in a coffee shop that was always decorated with so much colour.

He once did ask around the apartment if anyone knew him or was acquainted with him, but it seem nobody in the building knew much of who he was, nor did Natsu. All he knew was that he was a Japanese barista and that he would always play something on the piano every night — Not that Natsu was complaining, he played elegantly, but he would always notice how Sting's music would sound so lonely.

He was always seen alone, just like most of the people living in the apartment, never seen with anyone. Then again, he was only new to town so everything probably feels foreign to him.

Natsu stays on his balcony running through all the thoughts in his head, not noticing how the music was already over. He only comes back to reality when he hears the balcony door next to him open slightly. He tries not to glance, but he just couldn't help it.

One glance wouldn't hurt, right?

He peeks to his right as he sees Sting in a black vest top paired with chequered pyjama pants. A cigarette stick was seen in between his lips, unlit. Natsu watches as he stretches and releases a sigh before leaning on the railings — he had a slim body, you could tell he worked out now and then, but it didn't seem to Natsu that he works out every day. He then glances at his face, he had a sharp nose, small yet sharp eyes, and his hair was blonde and tousled about — Natsu thought he seemed to be in distress or he could just be tired. Sting then notices the pair of eyes that were scanning him, he turns his head towards Natsu's direction, he felt flustered he didn't know if he should look away or keep staring.

"Um... Hey," He awkwardly says as he waves, Sting nods politely with a smile. Followed by silence.

"I liked how you play the piano just then," Natsu breaks the silence, as he watches Sting remove the cigarette from his mouth, "Thanks," he says in English.

'So he can speak English, then again he has a job that involves speaking to people, Jungwon you are dumb,'

"Uh... Do you mind giving me a light?" Sting asks and Natsu, almost immediately, jumps from his seat and flicks his lighter. Thankfully, there was only a small gap between the apartments, so he didn't have to stretch that far.

Natsu watches as he helps light Sting's cigar. He had a pale skin tone, it wasn't too light, but it also wasn't tanned — He also seemed to have long lashes, and one obvious thing is that he seemed much taller than Natsu. Now don't get him wrong, Natsu is tall, his height is average for men, Sting was just taller than him. He also took this time to recall the sound of his voice, he did hear Sting once but it was muffled, but now it was clearer — a deep, velvety voice, quite soothing actually. "Thank you again," Sting pulls back with his lit cigar, inhaling and puffing out smoke.

Silence surrounds them again, but it wasn't the awkward kind, it was more of comforting silence. It felt like they had something in common, something that makes them feel at ease with each other.

"My name's Natsu Dragneel by the way," he introduces himself and Sting grins, "Sting Eucliffe, call me Sting for short," He replies and Natsu swore he felt something in his stomach. At that moment, the two started talking more, the conversation kept going on and on and on until there was nothing else to talk about. They stood there, talking to each other, laughing, and sharing drinks until they didn't notice the time, it was 5:32 and the sky was starting to come to life.

"So, why do you always play the piano at night?"

"..."

"Because every night, you're always crying, so I thought what better to do than accompany you."

I guess you could say that day, Natsu didn't have to spend his Christmas nights alone.

。。。

HELLO!!!! i'm back again hdhjhddh i'm so sorry that I haven't been active as much as, college is just so hard rn but I have this story to offer as I was listening to classical music on my phone. I imagined it to be more romantic??? so i hope I've portrayed it enough jhdhjdhjd DID you guys miss me??? i bet you did jdjdj take care guys! don't forget to drink plenty of water and eat plenty of fruits && vegetables :)))))