A/N: Quick drabble based off of chapter 421. I actually wrote this when the spoiler came out xD Natsu really has been going out of his way to make Lucy happy of late, it would be nice if something like this were to happen. Enjoy.
Lucy watched as Happy flew Chelia away, Wendy and Carla not far behind. She watched Natsu's figure slump for a second. It certainly took someone special to borrow Happy from Natsu. The dragon slayer certainly looked as though somebody had clipped his wings.
Another explosion rang out across the town as a plume of smoke rose up from a building to the east. They were attacking from both sides simultaneously! Were there really 100,000 solders waiting at the gates for their turn at the Lamia Scale piñata. That was absurd. Where did all these maniacs even come from? Lucy could only assume that there had been a plan long set into motion. It made sense for the attack to occur on the eve of the festival, a time when all the Lamia Scale members were not only present but exhausted. On top of that Jura seemed to have missed the years proceedings leaving a golden opportunity. Lucy had to give the attackers credit, their timing was near on perfect. However, she knew for a fact that there was at least one person in town that those hooligans had not counted on.
Lucy snapped out of her thoughts and looked up. Natsu was gone. In a panic she frantically looked for the dragon slayer quickly spotting him weaving his way towards the now burning cascade of buildings. It had always been Natsu's nature to rush head first into danger, especially if it meant helping others. However as Lucy watched him move she couldn't help but feel a sudden wave of familiar emotions rush over her.
She was alone.
It didn't matter that Natsu had grown so powerful that she doubted an army of only 100,000 could stop him. It didn't matter that he finally found the perfect excuse to blow off some steam. All that mattered was that at that very moment the emotions that tore at Lucy's skin were identical to those of a year prior. He was leaving her again.
She would not have that.
"NATSU"
Her voice trembled through the city, ricocheting off the builds like an excited dog. It didn't matter that he potentially would have heard even the gentlest whisper, the sound that bellowed from the blonde's lungs was probably heard on the moon. Natsu immediately stopped in his tracks and span round, a frown written on his face.
"Lucy? What the hell? Hurry up."
Lucy faltered for a second before sprinting to his side. She had half expected him to tell her to stay put, inform her of the dangers. She was pretty sure he no idea of the pain that still dwelled in her heart. Nor the fact he was, and had always been, her medicine. As she finally neared him she felt her sadness transform into anger.
"Were you planning on leaving me behind again?"
Her voice was much more needy than she would have liked, she had been going for strong and commanding. Natsu simply blinked, reaching a hand to scratch that back of his head, as he always did when he was nervous.
"I thought you were right behind me."
The nerve of this boy. Lucy wanted to berate him, but as she opened her mouth to speak a scream filled the air followed by short series of explosions. Natsu's eyes snapped in the direction of the scream before quickly settling back on Lucy.
"Look Lucy I trained for the whole year to protect the people I care about. I'm strong enough now, I know I can keep everyone safe."
Lucy nodded slowly, again feeling the needed to argue but her words died on her lips as Natsu beamed his signature smile at her.
"But I still need someone to protect me right? So stay beside me."
With that he grabbed her hand an tugged her towards the battle field. Lucy knew she shouldn't be smiling, that her checks shouldn't be glowing a brilliant red especially as they were making their way into battle. She just couldn't help it. It just didn't matter, as long as she was by Natsu's side.