(A.N.) Hello, thanks for reading. This isn't my first work but my first one finally posted upon the site. I'm very far into the actual writing of the story and the next chapters will be posted promptly. Please feel free to review. Any constructive criticism is greatly welcomed. Again thank you.
A sigh slid out of her mouth, to fall heavily, like a sack of bricks among the cherry petals. It was dusk out in the courtyard behind fairy tail's main building, but even being the cherry trees could not lighten her mood.
Natsu had been avoiding her lately. Not in his usual prankster way either.
The rare times she did see him it was in brief passing, hasty on his side without even a "Hey Luce~" before jovially continuing on his way. No dragging to the mission board. No hopping through bedroom windows. Not even his scent of campfire and linen lingered through her kitchen at three in the morning.
Yes. It was true. She missed her personal firecracker.
Having had enough sulking (or simply a change of scenery, she had not decided), she trudged back to the main hall for her vanilla shake, this time, with rum in it.
"Miss Lucy! Please be careful!"
She paid the river men no heed as she drunkenly teetered on the wall between the river and the sidewalk. Giggling and swaying,she maneuvered home from half-witted memory and tripped up the stairs, barreled into her front door.
It opened from the inside, leaving her to fall hard onto the cold hardwood floor.
Her blurred vision had no time to register the pink-haired man in front of her as Natsu.
"So Lucy, this is how I find you. As tipsy and dainty as usual." His words were laced with venom. His coal eyes burned through her thin shirt, her short skirt like the fire he could kill with.
"Natsu!" She picked up herself up clumsily, immediately falling into his arms for the best hu-
She fell right out of them. No, she wasn't THAT drunk. He simply did not catch her.
"Natsu, what th-"
"I'm sick of it."
She opened up to retaliate but a swift hand held her off.
"You are never without needing scraping up Lucy. It's either you're calling out your Spirits to do most of the work or you're using your best skill to try and fail to assault the enemy. Or you're here, like putty in my hands."
His tone was that of being in battle. The only time when he was truly serious. If Lucy wasn't sobered up then she wouldn't be. Ever.
"You see Lucy Heartfilia, I came to tell you personally that your contribution to our team will no longer be necessary. Lisanna will do a much better job."
She stood up. She straightened herself. And she slapped Natsu for all her strength.
He didn't even shift an inch.
Instead it became her whose was thrown against the wall. Natsu holding her lightly by the neck, pressing against her sinful yet naive curves.
"I'm sick and tired of playing hero for the girl who can't get her shit together. Sick and tired of defending a girl who enjoying being treated like a leg o' ham on display. In fact,"
He pressed on her, the wall hard enough to bruise.
"I think it's time for a bit of reciprocation. No...retribution." He hissed against her ear, sending shivers up her spine, before diving into her neck.
Her landlady was on vacation that week.