•••

The party was a total blast. No surprise there. That was the Fairy Tail way after all.

The newest recruit, Gajeel Redfox, was a scary looking man, and Juvia's long time friend. However, contrary to his intimating looks, he was a hearty man, with a burning passion for singing, despite being terrible at it, which, unfortunately, everyone had to experience that evening.

Preoccupied as she was, Lucy couldn't help but snicker at the sight of her best friend, Levy, blushing slightly at the sight of him.

"Somebody's got a crush~" Lucy teased in an annoying sing-song voice.

"Nuh-uh." Levy huffed, however, her face was painfully red.

"Uh-huh, sure. Anyway, what department is he in?"

"I think he'll be assisting in the event planning and such."

"Oh?"

"I know right? Who would've thought he'd be an event planner of all things?"

"Oooh~ looks like you know a lot about him Levy-chan~"

"I do not!"

"Yet.." Lucy added with a wink, making her red friend go even redder, if possible.

It was already pretty late out so Lucy decided that it was finally the time to head home. She walked towards the cafeteria's exit to go and collect her things when Cana's slurry voice stopped her.

"Hey! Where're you going Lucy?"

"Uhh..home Cana. It's pretty late now."

Cana wobbly walked up to her and intertwined her arm with Lucy's.

"Nuh-uh." She said, shaking her head. "No can do. You promised to be my drinking partner the next time we would meet."

"But we just-."

"Can't hear you! What'd you say?" She interrupted loudly. Then tilting her head towards her as if to listen better, she suddenly proclaimed. "What's that I hear? Yes? A YES! Let's go Lucy!"

And just like that, the poor girl was dragged back in the party by her enthusiastic friend.

"Cana, really-"

"Aww c'mon now Lucy! Don't be like that! I'd like to have a shot of a few rounds with you myself!"

"Don't encourage her Gray!"

However, he just smirked at her, while she was helplessly dragged in.

"But tomorrow's a work day! And you know alcohol and me don't exactly go hand in hand!" Lucy tried to reason, with a hint of desperation in her voice.

"Oh you! Master will give you a day off tomorrow! And you could use one too. Eh Master?"

"Wha-? Oh yeah yeah. You can sure do Lucy, always working!" Master muttered woozily, completely drunk himself.

Looks like there was no way out now.

•••

The bright light of the morning made Lucy squint her eyes, even though they were shut tight.

She squirmed, now, for the first time realising the presence of the soft mattress under her, and the comfortable warmth of the sheets.

And also, of someone's embrace.

Alarms went off in her head, and she opened her eyes, wide in shock, and was about to scream her head off when she caught sight of the colour salmon.

Her scream died down in her throat when she saw how Natsu looked, sleeping peacefully next to her, and enveloping her in a tight embrace.

Completely flustered, Lucy tried to squirm her way out, but her panicked movements only made him tighten his arms around her waist.

"N-Natsu?"

He furrowed his eyebrows a bit at her whisper, but continued sleeping nonetheless.

"Natsu!" Lucy said a little bit louder this time .

"Shhh don't wake him up Lucy!" A voice whispered, coming from her left.

"I have to though." Lucy answered absentmindedly. However, after a few seconds, realisation hit her like a truck and she whipped her head to the left, only to find a little, blue cat.

"Oh it's just a cat.." she sighed, turning away again.

'Wait..I don't own a cat. And it's BLUE!'

Lucy turned to her side again, panicked and about to scream, when she felt little paws on her mouth.

"I told you to not wake him up!" The cat whispered, quite agitated.

"Don't make a sound okay? Wait till he wakes up." It said, removing its paws from her mouth in the process.

And let's just say Lucy did the exact opposite of that.

•••

"WHY? Why is there a freaking talking cat in my house?"

"Jeez, nice to meet you too Lucy." It said, rolling its eyes.

Natsu had woken up with a start from Lucy's scream and was now sitting on the couch, rubbing his eyes, still trying to snap out of his sleepiness.

"God Luce! Could you be more gentle when you wake someone up in the morning?"

She shot Natsu a very dirty look which he luckily didn't see because of his half asleep state.

"Don't think you're in the clear yet Natsu! What were you doing, sleeping on my bed?"

Her questions demanded answers but her face was pink when she recalled that moment.

"Huh? Then what'd you expect me to do? Sleep on the couch?"

Unbelievable. This guy was totally crazy.

"Yes genius! The bed is off limits. The next time you try something like that, you're going to get a good morning punch instead!"

"I'll be totally worth it though." He said, grinning. "It's like sleeping on a fluffy cloud..." he added with a sigh.

"I wanna sleep in on it too!" The cat added.

"Of course 'lil buddy!"

"No way! Not happening!"

"Meanie.." Natsu and the cat mumbled darkly. It ticked Lucy off, but she somehow got herself to calm down.

"What are you anyway?"

"I'm a cat, can't you see?"

'This is going to be a pain.' She thought, groaning internally.

"Then why're you blue?"

"'Cause I'm a cat!"

"But cats don't talk! And neither are they blue!"

"Jeez, which rock have you been living under?" It said, looking at Lucy like she was the dumb one here. "I don't just talk, I fly too!"

And then, in an instant, bright white wings appeared behind it and it started flying. The freaking cat was FLYING!

"Way to go Happy!" Natsu cheered on.

"Wha-? Wait! How-?"

Lucy was finding it difficult to form coherent words now. She was a mess, with a billion questions attacking her.

"It's my magic!" Happy explained..well, happily.

You'd think that Natsu would've made her slightly used to the whole magic and supernatural thing. But you don't meet a talking, blue cat everyday which can also fly!

Finally, calming down enough after a few minutes, Lucy began her intensive interrogation.

"Why're you here anyway, Happy?"

"I came for Natsu! We're best friends you see, and a team, so wherever he is, I am too! Thanks for saving his life though."

"How'd you-"

"He told me last night."

"You've been here since yesterday?" Lucy asked, surprised. "Why didn't I see you yesterday then? Actually..."

"...now come to think of it, how'd I even end up back home? I don't recall coming back."

Natsu was fidgeting nervously, again avoiding Lucy's gaze. However, the latter didn't budge, and continued giving him the accusatory glare.

"Oh fine!" He exclaimed. "I was bored so I decided to go find you again, since it was pretty late too. But when I got there, you were completely wasted, so I bought you back home and put you to bed."

The light tint of pink dusting his checks was clearly visible, and that made Lucy blush too. She should be angry at him for not heeding to her words, but the fact that he bought her back home and put her to bed was truly touching.

"T-Thank you."

"Don't mention it." Natsu said, the light blush still existent on his face. "D-Don't get used to it though."

"You liiikkkee her..."

Happy's snickers were interrupted suddenly by the combined and irritated voices of Lucy and Natsu who both screamed the same thing.

"Shut it, cat!"

•••

Belle 🌸
🔥❤️🔑