Chapter Text
Part 1 - Even if we're not friends
I uneasily turn on the bed. Hearing Lucy's breathing makes me so conscious of her presence. As if the heat of her body wasn't enough. I sit and observa Happy sleeping peacefully by our feet. Little bastard I think to myself, I wish I was sleeping like that. I gather the courage to look to my side, seeing her sleeping, with her back turned to me. I get up, because if I can't sleep, I definitely can't stay by her side anymore. Each step I take going to the kitchen reminds me of how tired I am, but there's just no way. I can't sleep now.
Happy is here because while I was travelling to talk to some suppliers, Lucy was taking care of him for me. I am here because I took her home after the party our friends gave right when I came back from the trip and she insisted it was too late for me to go back home alone. Even though I came here with my car. But there's no point on arguing with drunk Lucy, in fact, that's one of my least favorite things to do. It was for that same reason that I didn't fight back when she insisted we slept on the same bed, since the couch was too uncomfortable.
I personally find the couch much more comfortable. It's definitely better than the insecurity taking over me right now. Damn. I open the refrigerator, looking for something to "chill".
I'm not usually like this, insecure, insertain. But that is exactly how Lucy leaves me, without giving me any choice.
I grab a small bottle of soda, closing the refrigerator back and heading to the living room. I can see Lucy through the opened door of her bedroom, still sleeping peacefully, having no idea of how lost I feel right now. I open the bottle on my hands, drinking quite a lot of the soda. Lucy would probably not like to know that while drunk, she asked me to sleep on the same bed as her, so if she doesn't remember it tomorrow, I will just keep it to myself. "Friends should sleep in another bed" the wise Ed Sheeran once said. Or at least, he said something like that.
I sigh heavily, leaving my soda on the table and laying on the couch. Something bothers me, and I look at the bottle, suspicious. Will Lucy get mad at me for grabbing some soda without asking? She's very specific about what I can or can't grab from her fridge and it's not like she gave me a book with the rules. I mean, in her defense, it's not like I would read it anyway. When I close my eyes again, I miss her heat.
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I wake up in the morning with the Sun on my face. As I slowly open my eyes, I get used to the vision of Lucy's apartment and the events from last night return to my mind. Still feeling sleepy, I sit on the couch, and a red blanket slips off my shoulder. I don't remember bringing it to the living room with me.
"Good morning." The soft whisper makes my heart beat faster. Lucy is sitting at the table with a small smile on her face. "I would like to start the day asking you to speak quietly."
I chuckle. I'd be surprised if she wasn't hangover. Lucy has a mug on her hands and she is still wearing the dress from last night, only now with a blue sweatshirt on top. Her hair and makeup are a mess, but I don't say a thing, afraid the comments might come back to me later.
"I always speak quietly." I smile.
"You're a terrible liar." Her shoulders shake as she laughs.
Happy jumps on the couch and pushes my hand with his head, asking for affection.
"I could just talk to Happy then." I scratch behind his ear.
"He's a good listener."
"And he doesn't call me a liar."
"That's because he can't talk."
"You know what, I'm never letting you to take care of him ever again." I pick him up and she pretends to be shocked.
"You know he loves me more, right?" She takes the mug to her lips.
"You wish."
"Is true."
I look down laughing and Happy happily purrs, like he's being a part of the conversation.
"But seriously now, I think I should go home now. I still have a meeting with Erza later and-"
"Isn't today Saturday?" Lucy interrupts me.
"Yeah, but Saturday or not, it's still Erza."
"Good point." She leaves her mug on the table. "Do you want help taking Happy's stuff to the car?"
"You really don't have to. You're hangover, I can handle it." I get up with the kitty and walk towards the balcony, where I assume his stuff are.
"I'm hangover, but I can also handle it." She comes to me and takes Happy from my arms, walking with him to her bedroom. "His cage is in here."
"Be careful, he might scratch you." I warn her before grabbing his things. Lucy returns safe and sound, with Happy in his cage.
"I told you he loves me more." She gives me a cocky smile and I stick my tongue out at her. "Give me the keys and I'll leave him at your car." She extends her hand, waiting. My gaze goes immediately to her mess of makeup.
"Are you sure you wanna go out like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like" I point at my own face and she seems to get it.
"Oh. Who cares? My neighbors already think I'm crazy, I'm just giving them fuel.
"Then, be my guest." I give her the keys and she walks out the door.
Even with everything between us, it's great seeing Lucy again. We finish putting everything on my car and hug goodbye. From the car, I watch as she enters her building again and hear a meow from the passenger's seat, as if Happy is judging me. He seems to say When are you telling her, Natsu?
Never.
Never ever.