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At first, Lucy doesn't know what this crumbled piece of paper is doing sitting by her window. She thinks of just throwing it out, and then gets a little curious. As she opens it, the first thing she notices is Natsu's wobbly handwriting. And then, as the words start to click in her brain, her face turns bright red.
Natsu had not planned for this interview to be that elaborate. He thought Jason would just yell cool at a bunch of random information he would say, and he would be done. But apparently, the overly enthousiastic journalist was writing an article about teamwork, and he wanted Natsu's expertise on the matter. His first question had been rather simple. Who could he not leave for a mission without ? Natsu had said Happy, of course, and Lucy. Ever since that year they'd spent apart, he could not leave her ever again. And on top of that, he had promised her they would be together forever. And that's when it became complicated. Jason asked him to make a list of everything he liked about his partner Lucy Heartfilia. At first, Natsu didn't really get the question.
“What makes her a great partner?”
Jason had clarified and Natsu found himself overwhelmed with answers and he didn't really know where to start. So Jason gave him a piece of paper and said he'd come back in a few minutes. Natsu tried to write down everything he liked about Lucy as a partner. He liked everything about her really, this could take ages. When he came back, Jason was so happy with his list that he said the interview was done and he took a picture of the list and left. Natsu was slightly confused but he just shoved the list in his pocket and decided to go raid Lucy's fridge.
Lucy reads the list for the fifth time in two minutes. Natsu wrote that, she's sure of it. But why? And why is it here? Is he trying to tell her something? She's completely lost, and confused, and her heart hasn't stopped racing ever since she first read the list. She closes her eyes tightly, trying to stop herself from reading the list for the sixth time. She thought she had managed to push away and forget that stupid crush she had on her partner. Well, still has apparently.
“Why would he write that and leave it on my window?”
She whines loudly, already reading the list again. Then suddenly, the window slams open and Lucy hides the list under her pillow as Happy enters her room.
“Lushyyyy!”
He sings as he crashes into the blond's arms.
“You okay? You look a bit red.”
Lucy scratches his head gently.
“Fine, just a bit hot.”
She answers, trying not to betray her thoughts.
“Natsu asked me to come, he says he lost something and it might be at your place.”
Lucy quirks an eyebrow.
“What did he lose?”
Happy shruggs.
“No idea. He wouldn't tell me. He said it was a piece of paper.”
Lucy's eyes widen but she smiles at Happy when he looks at her.
“Nope sorry, haven't found anything like that.”
They chat for several more minutes and Happy leaves after a while. Lucy fishes the list out from its hiding spot. So Natsu dropped it by accident. Natsu wrote a list about her, and he dropped it in her place by accident. What an idiot. Lucy doesn't know if she should laugh or cry.
Oh she's in for a surprise.
A week later, Lucy still hasn't decided if she needs to tell Natsu about what she found and confront him about it. She walks to the guild having not slept much. The agitation in the hall makes her want to go home immediately. What's wrong with those people so early in the morning? Everyone seems to be gossiping about something. Lucy sits by the bar and waits for Mira to come her way. The Strauss seems way too happy for Lucy's comfort.
“What's going on?”
She asks. Mira smiles and just drops the new Sorcerer Weekly magazine that came out. Lucy reads the headline, her eyes feeling like they might drop out of their sockets.
NATSU DRAGNEEL REVEALS HIS FEELINGS FOR LUCY HEARTFILIA (page 12)
The blond can't formulate words as she turns the pages with shaky hands. And then she sees it. The list. The list she found in her apartment, and then it clicks.
Jason asked him to write it so he could write an article, and Natsu gave him the same idea she had first when reading the list, that he was in love with her. Lucy groans and drops her head on the counter. Of course Natsu doesn't love her, he's just naive and a bit too genuine about his friends. And now everyone in Fiore thinks he loves her.
“Oh God that idiot.”
Mira quirks an eyebrow at her.
“Are you not happy he loves you?”
Lucy looks up at her.
“He doesn't love me Mira, he likes me as a friend and Jason interpreted that.”
She states as her demon friend smiles. Lucy can only roll her eyes.
The door slams open just as Lucy is thinking of going to see Jason herself. She turns and Natsu walks into the guild, smiling and Happy flying around him. Everyone stares at him, and Lucy suddenly feels bad for her clueless partner. She stands quickly, grabs the magazine and runs to him.
“Natsu I'll explain but we should go. Now.”
She says. Natsu frowns but Lucy's panicked face and tense muscles tell him not to resist. He grabs her hand and drags her out the guild doors he just pushed. Happy shrugs and goes to the bar to ask Mira what this is all about. Lucy and Natsu walk to her apartment, Lucy's heart racing and she's only now noticing all the people looking at them in the street. She walks faster, startling Natsu a little.
“Luce what's wrong?”
As she shuts the door of her apartment behind her she drops the magazine in his hands and Natsu's eyes widen.
“Wait what?”
He stares at Lucy, his cheeks suddenly turning bright pink.
“Lucy I-”
The blond cuts him off, trying to reassure him.
“Relax, I know you don't love me like that but Jason completely misunderstood and...”
This time Natsu interrupts her.
“What do you mean I don't love you like that?”
His hands are on her shoulders, the magazine long forgotten on the floor. Lucy turns crimson and opens her mouth, only to close it again, at a loss for words.
“I told you we'd be together forever.”
He says and suddenly it dawns on Lucy that in his own weird way, that was him confessing to her.
“What... But that doesn't mean you-! How did you expect me to-”
Natsu smiles at her, such a soft and fond smile, Lucy feels like her knees might give in.
“Then I'm telling you now, I love you. And I love everything about you, all those things I wrote on that list and I know you found it, I mean every single word I wrote on it.”
He clarifies and Lucy's knees give in this time, Natsu's arms wrapping around her waist and pulling her against him to avoid her falling face fisrt.
“You okay?”
He asks, concern on his features.
“I'm sorry I... I thought you knew.”
He says, suddenly looking very much embarrassed and Lucy realizes she still hasn't told him she feels the same way. He starts moving back and she grabs his top, the words falling out her mouth before she can even think.
“I love you too.”
Natsu's mouth opens this time and they stare at each other for a second, not believing what just happened. Then Natsu laughs and buries his head in her hair as he pulls her close once more. Lucy closes her eyes, enjoying his warm chest and arms around her. This feels like home and so much more.
“So you really love my hair? And smell? And the way I smile at you, take care of Happy and never give up?”
She whispers in his ear, remembering what he wrote on the list. Natsu laughs a little nervously.
“Yeah... And the way you talk to your friends, consider your spirits, the way you laugh and your voice, and how you feel in my arms, and your skin, and your hands... I love everything about you Luce, I mean it.”
Lucy stares at him, the serious look in his eyes and his words making her a blushing mess. He smiles a little, and then her lips are on his and he's kissing her back, his hands snaking up her back and into her hair. They break apart for air and Natsu licks his lips, making Lucy blush, again.
“I also like the way you just kissed me.”
He breathes out and Lucy leans in to kiss him again.
Happy sips his juice, as Mira cleans the counter.
“You think she figured out he really loves her by now?”
Mira smiles.
“Yeah, and I'm pretty sure he's adding things he loves about her on his list right now.”
Happy winces, trying not to imagine what Mira is referring to.