It's flowers this time.

Erik watches as Natsu swings out his window with expert ease, catching hold of a tree branch and shimmying down the trunk. The bouquet in his hands tips a little, and Erik can practically feel his brother's cringe as he catches a rose before it can fall, tucking it carefully into place. There's a million things wrong with this scenario, not least the fact that Natsu is being careful, but he lets it slide with a slight grin, watching him tiptoe down the path and climb over the fence to avoid the squeaky hinges on the gate.

As if he wouldn't notice, Erik thinks with a sigh. As if he doesn't know exactly who the flowers are for.

He lets the curtains fall and climbs back into bed, flicking an idle glance at the clock. One forty-five in the morning. Same as always.


Natsu almost drops the cookies, and it takes everything Gajeel has not to pop the window open and scream at him to be more careful.

Heart in his mouth, he watches as his brother climbs down the tree yet again, sucking in a hard breath when he loses his grip slightly. But he makes it safe and sound, and Gajeel breathes out a long, long sigh, gaze following the familiar tuft of pink hair as it vanishes around the corner and into the dark.

That was the last batch of cookies too, darn it. But he lets it slide with a shake of his head because he knows who the cookies are for.

"Idiot," he mutters. "I hope he doesn't get arrested again."


"He's going again."

Sting stands at the window, biting his lip and twisting his shirt in his hands. "What if the old man shows up? He already got Natsu arrested once."

"That was 'cause you freaking shouted when you saw the Charizard," Rogue points out dryly from the top bunk. "And Natsu was being an idiot and couldn't decide whether to run or to catch the thing."

"Still," Sting insists, "it's dangerous. I thought Luigi was gonna have a heart attack when her dad showed up with the baseball bat."

"I think her name's Lucy, Sting."

"Natsu said it was Luigi."

"She corrected him immediately afterward; do you never pay attention to anything?"

"But she's his girlfriend, shouldn't he know?"

Rogue pauses a little. "I dunno if she's his actual girlfriend. He's probably just whipped."

"He's sneaking out at one in the morning. Of course she's his girlfriend."

Rogue's face scrunches up. "You really think a girl like that would go out with a guy like him?"

Sting pauses. Thinks it over. Flops back into his bottom bunk.

"… Yeah, you're right. He's probably just whipped."


"Natsu, are you going to the Heartfilia mansion again?"

Natsu jumps about three feet into the air, his horrified gaze shooting up to the window above him. "Wendy? What – no – what're you doing awake at this time?"

Wendy leans over the windowsill. "It's a little obvious, you know. Sting and Rogue might've bought it when you told them there were a lot of rare Pokémon in there, but I figured there was a different reason you wanted to climb the fence." She tips her head to the side. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"What – no, no, no! You've got it all wrong, Wen – she's just somebody I ran into at a store one time and thought it was cool to see again. I don't know her that well. And I definitely haven't been sneaking out to see her or anything. Nope. Just, uh, catching Pokémon. That time we got arrested was the only time, I promise ya." Natsu tries a grin, but Wendy only frowns.

"You know I hate it when you lie to me."

The guilt is too much. She can see it in his face, right before he looks down.

"Promise you won't tell Laxus?" he asks softly.

"As long as you promise to be more careful this time," she responds. "That baseball bat was really scary. I didn't know what I was going to do if you got seriously hurt."

"Aw, Wendy, I'll be okay." He gives her a Natsu grin, big and bright and fiery as ever. "Don't worry."

"Promise?" she presses.

"Promise," he assures her. "Now get back to bed – you've got school tomorrow."

So does he, but she's not going to press the issue. "Okay. Stay safe, Natsu."

"Sleep well, Wendy."


"Yo, Natsu."

Laxus's hand clamps down on his little brother's shoulder, and reflexively, he blurts, "I didn't do anything!"

"I didn't say anything about you doing something," Laxus grumbles. "Just – here."

Natsu blinks at the information pamphlet in his hands. "The Wonders of Growing Up? The heck is – wait, hold up."

"Be careful," Laxus advises with a cough, ignoring Natsu's horrified stare. "The last thing we need is another dragon slayer in the family."

"What – no – it's not – It's not like that!" Natsu screeches at the top of his lungs, but then Laxus is already snorting and walking away like the skeptical big brother he is.

"Oh yeah, and Natsu?" he calls over his shoulder.

"What."

"Go oil your window. It squeaks when you open it."