Hello! My friend and I have started this new story that I'm super excited about! It was her idea and we've brain stormed but I've written the story. Her name in Rein, in case you're wondering! I hope you guys enjoy so please tell me what you think! Have fun!
Fire is an inferno of desire and emotion. He was taught by Igneel that as long as you have that passion and desire to protect, your flames will never die or be snuffed out. Natsu didn't have much he wanted to protect though. He was three years old after all, and he was quite the pain in the ass, or at least that's what his father said. He did whatever he wanted, and all the people who worked for his father couldn't do anything to stop him. Igneel is the leader of The Dragneel Clan, an infamous mafia group ran by his family. Because he was the son of such a strong and threatening man, the people who worked under his dad didn't do much when he misbehaved and caused mischief.
But despite their violent ways and traditional beliefs, the Dragneel clan isn't all bad. They worshipped their dragon and fire gods like any good magical family should. They respected their powers. It was quite ironic that a mafia family could have such good relations with only the most noble of clans.
The Heartfilia's. Their magic came from the stars who passed on their powers to their great ancestor. The Heartfilia's were a clan full of light and positivity. They were the complete opposite of the Dragneel family, a clan often associated with death and destruction. Yet, these two clans were rather close, going way back to when the gods first granted humans their powers. These two families had a good bond, and it's the same to this day, even after the Dragneel's used their power to take control over Magnolia.
Which was why Igneel took him to visit the last remaining Heartfilia while she was in the hospital, delivering a baby girl. He was three and it was one of the first times he left the Dragneel estate to see the outside world. He remembers how strange he thought everyone looked. They weren't wearing traditional Japanese robes, and their posture was horrible. Natsu was taught how to fight and to defend himself the moment he could walk, and some things are engraved in him, that all these other people didn't do.
It was odd, he thought as he clutched at his fathers kimono while they walked down the hallway. This building was also rather strange. There were no tatami mats and you didn't have to take your shoes off before entering. The doors opened inwards instead of sliding and the halls were huge with tall ceilings and fancy contraptions that took you up and down. Igneel called it an elevator.
Natsu also noticed the way people looked at them. He never thought Igneel was scary, but all these people looked very frightened as they passed. They gasped, pointing to the tattoos swirling around his arms and chest while whispering to their companions to quiet down. It was so obvious that they were scared, like how Igneel's clan members shook when he was especially angry. He knew his dad was really strong, but didn't know it was to the extent that random people were scared of him. It was kind of cool.
"Dad?" Natsu looked up at Igneel and tugged at his robes. "Why are we here?"
"You'll meet a new friend today."
Natsu grew excited. He had a few friends like Gajeel and Erza, but they got pretty annoying at times. He can't wait to meet them and run in the gardens playing hide and seek and tag! He wonders what they're like and if they can use magic. Natsu was practicing his fire magic and how to fight with skill instead of just throwing his fists around. Igneel always said technique is important, but you also need to have a passion and assertiveness to wield real, scorching flames. He hopes this new friend can practice with him and help him grow as strong as Igneel!
Once they got to the room, Igneel knocked on the door, before he opened it and ushered him inside. A young woman on a bed was cradling a blanket to her chest and a tall, blonde man stood next to her while smiling down at the blanket.
"Jude, Layla!" Igneel smiled at his old friends and grinned. "Congratulations on the baby girl! Her names Lucy, right?"
"Igneel…" Layla smiled at him and gestured him over with her hand. "Come and greet my precious daughter."
Igneel placed a hand on his head and walked over to the new family, leaving Natsu by the door to stand there a bit awkwardly. Who were these people? They seemed to be close with Igneel, but that man dressed in different clothes. Though, his posture was good.
"She's beautiful, just like her mom." Igneel flirted a bit, causing the woman to giggle, but the man didn't look very pleased.
"Watch your tone with my wife."
Igneel just laughed before he looked at Natsu and grinned at him. "Come here, son. You want to say hi to your new friend?"
"O-okay…" Natsu wandered to the side of the bed where Igneel was, and yelped when his dad picked him up and set him on the bed.
"Be very gentle, Natsu." The woman spoke softly. "She's fragile."
Natsu stiffly nodded but followed her instructions on how to position his arms. She set the bundle of blankets in his lap with her head propped up on his arm. He stared down at her, big brown eyes looking back at him and small hands reaching out. He was entranced… she was gorgeous. Her mouth opened and closed with small noises bubbling out. He wanted to touch her so he reached his hand out to poke her chubby cheek. She wiggled and her face scrunched, looking rather unpleased yet cute. How precious and curious.
His magic suddenly sparked with his back steaming and the tips of his hair catching a flame. He could feel his heat, his passion, his desire to protect. To protect this little thing in his arms and take care of her forever.
"N-Natsu—" Igneel stuttered. "You're doing it. Flames of emotion." Igneel's been trying to get him to make them, but he's never been able to. But with her, it was just instinct.
He thought he might scare her, and he felt scared that he would make her fear him, but her chocolate eyes shined. It's like there were stars glittering in her eyes and she reached her small, chubby hand out to him. A soft light emitted from her fingers and drifted up to tickle him on the cheek before it exploded into a small stars of speckled light. The adults around him swooned at Lucy already preforming magic, but all he could do was just grin at her. His fire flared and crackled on his back, his love for the little thing oozing.
"I'll take care of ya, okay, Luce?" She made a small noise and did a little wiggle in his arms.
She suddenly did a small hiccup, his eyes widening and arms pulling the small thing closer to him. She sounded like a small animal. Like a bunny making noise that were just the cutest thing in the world.
"Hickuu!" It was a small squeak of a noise. Natsu found himself smiling so tenderly, his heart squeezing as this lump formed in his throat. It feels like when he ate too fast and there's food going down so slowly. It almost hurt, and he felt a little anxious, but also so happy.
All he could look at was her, completely ignoring the adults who now got their phones out to record the cute encounter. Lucy then took a small, short inhale with her small nose scrunching. "Kah… kah… Ku!"
She— she just sneezed. And it was the most adorable thing in the world. He wants to keep her forever and take care of her and hold her for the rest of their lives.
"Are you cold, baby?" The blonde woman cooed gesturing Natsu to hand her back over. "Let me warm her up, dear."
Natsu didn't want to and pulled Lucy closer to his chest. "I-I can warm her myself!"
The three adults blinked in shock at his possessive behavior, but Natsu ignored them and heated his arms and chest up a bit so she was warmer. Lucy made a small kuu in content and wiggled in his arms a bit more. A small mumble bubbled up her throat before she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep. Natsu watched her as he moved his hand up to touch her head and play with the blonde hair peeking out from her blanket. His smile was so warm and his heart swelled at how precious she was.
"Maybe we'll be family after all, Layla." Igneel flirted again, once again, the blonde man not seeming very happy about it.
"I refuse to allow my daughter to marry the next heir to the Dragneel Clan."
"But look how much he loves her, dear." Layla placed her hand on Jude's which was on her shoulder and smiled up at him. "It wouldn't be so bad if a Heartfilia and Dragneel marry, would it?"
"There's a reason it hasn't happened in the past centuries honey. The Dragneel's are a family of chaos and destruction while Heartfilia's are known for your light, positivity and salvation. Our daughter is too pure to marry someone who will soon be doused in blood."
Natsu looked up from watching the newborn baby and shifted his eyes between the adults. He didn't understand what they were talking about, but Natsu knew one thing for sure. "I'm marrying her even if you hate it, old man."
Igneel snorted, the woman giggled and the man glared at him. "Give me my daughter back!"
Jude tried to slip Lucy from his arms, which Natsu wasn't about to let happen. He lit his outside limbs on fire, making sure to not burn Lucy, but keeping anyone out who tried to take her away. "Luce is mine!"
"No she's not, brat!"
His passion was smoldering. He sent the man a fiery glare with his sharp canines bared in a threatening way. "Don't touch her! I had her first!"
"Natsu…" Igneel, placed a hand on his flamed shoulder, causing his passionate eyes to snap back over to his dad. "Calm down. I think it'd be best if we leave."
"No, I don't want to! Not unless Luce comes with me!"
To his anger, Igneel reached into his barrier made of fire and pulled Lucy out unharmed. Natsu doesn't know why, but tears fell down his cheeks with his heart shuttering in panic. He didn't want to leave her, and Lucy didn't want him to leave either because she woke up and started crying loudly. Her small body shivered. He knew she was cold now that she wasn't with him and he wanted to warm her back up.
"N-no! Lucy!" His whole body burst into flames with his fists clenched tight. "Give her back!"
"Natsu!" Before he realized it, Igneel jabbed him on the pressure point on his neck, causing a sharp pain to shake down his body, before he fell limp with his world turning black. His flames went out, and Igneel easily caught him, throwing the three year old over his shoulder and bowing deeply to his two friends. "I'm sorry about him. This is the first time Natsu's ever been so passionate about something as you can clearly see by his flames. His emotions got the best of him, so please allow him to continue seeing Lucy. I'm sure they'll grow up to be great friends just like Layla and I have."
"Raise your head, Igneel. It's not fitting of you." Layla calmed her crying child down and smiled up at her close friend. "It's our families destiny to remain allies. I won't allow our bound to be tarnished after centuries."
"Layla—"
Jude tried to cut in, but she raised her hand while staring at her husband seriously. "You don't understand the Heartfilia and Dragneel bond, Jude. Give this child a chance. He's young and reckless, acting on the instincts he inherited from his passionate ancestors. Igneel was like him too when he was young. Natsu will grow into a fine young man and watch over our daughter. Give him a chance."
Jude seemed to contemplate his decision, but sighed and nodded down at his wife. "Fine, but the moment I see him making any move on my daughter—"
"You'll what?" Layla smiled at him as she held her hand up and let light shine in her palm. "Us Heartfilia's are meant to be close companions with the Dagneel's. If they fall in love, then so be it. Their powers may fuse into something spectacular like our ancestors have always tried with our close bond."
"Okay, Fine." Jude sighed again, but it was fairly obvious they would be talking about this later. Jude turned to Igneel with a scowl. "I'll allow Lucy to see your son Igneel. Just keep him under control."
"Sure." Igneel shifted Natsu on his shoulder before he walked to the door and opened it, but sent one last wink to Layla. "I'll talk to you later, darling."
"Oh, be quiet you." Layla, shooed him away, so he left with the door quietly closing behind him.
He left without a second thought, completely ignoring his few men positioned outside the door as they let him walk ahead a few paces. "Natsu, you're a real pain in the ass, though I can see why you like her. Those Heartfilia's are real pretty, huh?"
He shook his head and held his son in his arms with Natsu's head leaning on his shoulder.
"Good luck, kid. That's all I gotta say."