Hey Guys,
Here's the next chapter as promised. A lot happens in this chapter and it is also the longest so far. For most of you who put in reviews for the last chapter, most of your questions will be answered here, though some will continue into the next few.
Oh, and a warning: Gray is a jerk in this chapter. Please note, I like Gray's character a lot, so he won't be staying like this. He's just having a moment where he makes a really bad decision. It does have a purpose as it links to another plot point later, so it's not just there for extra drama.
As always, I hope you enjoy.
- Singed
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail
Ten Days Later
Lucy sighed as she sank into the hot tub. Her friend April mimicked her actions precisely. It had been a good vacation. No worries, no fighting, all of her needs had been taken care of and most importantly, no pink haired heart-breaker to ruin it all. When she'd arrived ten days earlier April had been ecstatic. However, when April took a good look at Lucy, she knew something was horribly wrong. She'd tried to get her to talk about it, but no matter what she did Lucy just clammed up and asked that she be left alone on the subject.
April did as asked, but she'd been able to figure out somethings. Lucy only acted this way when she had her heart broken. Grant it she'd only had one real crush before she'd run away all those years ago, and the most they'd even done was hold hands. But when he'd started going out with another girl Lucy had acted just the same. April was even sure that the guy in question was that pink haired weirdo, Natsu. She honestly didn't get it herself. Sure, he was hot but definitely not someone she would have gone for, but if the tone from Lucy's letters could be interpreted correctly he'd made her happy. Happier than anyone else ever had, including her mother.
"So, Lucy, when are you actually leaving?"
"In four days. You trying to get rid of me?"
April laughed and shrugged. "No, I love having you around, but I do need to go out of town for work and it'd be rude with a guest still here."
Lucy felt bad and looked at her friend horrified. "Oh my gosh April, if you'd told me I would have…"
"Lucy, I have a right to pick when I go. I was planning on leaving sometime this week anyway, so it's not that big a deal."
"Oh, good," Lucy said leaning back into the water and closing her eyes again. In truth, April was making all this up. Lucy had been showing signs of trying to find a reason to stay longer, and if there was one thing April knew, it was that Lucy needed to confront whatever was going on.
"So, how is the guild life?"
Lucy took an extra-long time in answering. "Guild life is good. It's very exciting and I couldn't ask for better friends! I'm one of the lucky ones, April."
"That's good. Of course, it doesn't sound like you have much time for love."
April had cracked her eyes to watch Lucy's face and was startled to see a tear streaked down her cheek and her face crumple. Ever the practical one, April just sighed and sat up. "Lucy, are you ever going to tell me what happened?"
"I know I should. It's just ... I wanted to escape even for a little while, but I've come to realize that I'm just running away and I hate myself for that."
"So then are you not going to go back?"
"No, I have to. Fairy Tail is my home and I won't give it up, even if Natsu does love another."
"So it is the fire brain." Lucy nodded and sighed. "So what'd he do?"
Lucy sighed even louder as Plue, who'd been lounging by the side of the pool, came over and plopped into her arms. "It's a long story."
"Hey, the way I see it, we've all the time in the world until dinner. Then you're on your own." Lucy smiled and recounted the tale since her last mission for April.
"So you see, his mate must be Lisanna, there is no other explanation." April was silent for a long time. Lucy looked to her for a reply but all the girl did was stand up and climb out of the hot tube to dry off.
"Yeah, I guess I can see where you're coming from, but Lucy it just doesn't add up."
"What doesn't?"
"I mean, you're convinced that all your friends and even your own instincts are wrong. But even I have to say based on everything in your story, except for the last part of course, makes me think you're his mate too."
"But April he kissed Lisanna!"
"But Lucy, we live in a world of magic! You honestly can't think of some other explanation?" Lucy stopped dead and wondered herself. It was true. There might be another explanation.
"Listen Lucy, in four days bored that train and head home. Then go to the guild hall you're so proud of and demand answers. Beat it out of that partner of yours if you have to. If he truly loves this Lisanna girl, then sure, you were right and everyone else was wrong. However, based on what you told me it sounds like he was just humoring an old friend that he was actually becoming annoyed with."
"You're reading between the lines again April," Lucy said, climbing out of the hot tube herself.
"Yep, and you're being too literal in the delivery of the facts." It was an old book argument between them and they laughed about it all the way to dinner. Four days later, April watched Lucy buy a ticket to Magnolia and board the train. They exchanged promises to continue to write and April watched her friend disappear. Her smile vanished with the train and she became worried. There was no guarantee that Lucy would actually go to Magnolia. Even if she did, April had seen Lucy stealing herself for something major. It had almost been like watching her prepare for her execution of something. That Natsu sure had done a number on her friend.
On the same day that Lucy finally told her friend April about her situation, the guild had to watch an exhausted and pissed Natsu stalk into the guild hall. He downed an entire pint of fire whisky, and then left again for heave knew where. Ever since Lucy had ran off it had been the same routine. He'd found no clues at Lucy's apartment and so he'd made a list of all the places Lucy liked to go or old friends she'd mentioned. He'd systematically gone to each place on his list over the last ten days. Enduring countless bouts of motion sickness just to be disappointed to find her not there. Many of her friends or past associates had been worried that he wouldn't believe them because he looked about ready to get answers no matter the cost. However, all he had to do was smell around to know she wasn't there.
Natsu trudged to Lucy's apartment and climbed through the window. He dropped on her bed and took a deep breath. This was the only way he could sleep now. He'd tried his own place, but it was no good. He had to be surrounded by her scent to calm down enough to go into some type of sleep, even if it wasn't restful at all. He did find sleep that night only to have it cut short by Gray and Erza. Natsu awoke to see Gray making ice sculptures and Erza sharpening her sword.
"What do you want?"
"We want to know if you're going to continue these fruitless searches?" Gray answered, watching his ice swan melt.
"Or if you're going to be strategic for once and just wait for her."
"Wait for her!" Natsu cried, sitting up. "I can't Erza! I have to find her!"
"Natsu, look at yourself." Erza grabbed him and dragged him to the mirror. He didn't recognize himself. He had dark bags under his eyes, his hair was in complete disarray, and he was suddenly aware that the rotting odor was himself. "You are in no condition to continue."
"But I have to find her, Erza! I have to tell her…"
"And you will Natsu," Gray interjected, "but you're just going to have to trust that she'll come back like she promised. Have you ever known Lucy to break her promises?" Natsu thought about this, only to shake his head. No, Lucy never had.
"Good, then you will remain here for the next four days. However, as of right now, you will bathe."
"What!" Erza picked Natsu up and threw him into the bathtub, clothes and all and then left. He heard them leave shortly afterwards and consented to their wishes. He bathed properly, but only because he wanted to be presentable to Lucy when she returned. He then went back to her bed and slept through the night.
The next day, Erza and Gray were not surprised to see Natsu perched on the top of the guild hall, watching and waiting. Erza sighed and Gray turned a worried look towards Juvia who'd come up beside them. Yes, they'd gotten Natsu to agree to stay but that didn't mean that he'd do it like a normal person.
For those three days, Natsu became a recluse. He only came down to eat and do his business, but otherwise, he stayed put. He even slept up there. On the first night, Mira, Gray, Juvia, and Erza had climbed to the top to see if he would need anything, only to find him already asleep, wrapped up in Lucy's comforter.
"Lucy's going to be pissed," Gray said as they came down.
"Perhaps, but I think that Lucy will also think it cute and beautiful." Mira said, swooning. The other two girls nodded their consent and Gray had to agree with them that in his own way Natsu had become quite the romantic. So, it seemed odd to everyone that when Lucy finally showed up, Natsu wasn't there to greet her.
Lucy came walking through the doors of the guild hall around noon on the fourteenth day of her disappearance. Everyone greeted her very happily and she was overwhelmed by the response.
"Gosh guys, I really hadn't realized that you'd miss me so much."
"Of course we missed you Lucy!" Mira cried. Her cry echoed throughout the guild and Natsu's ears twitched. He'd fallen asleep because he'd barely slept the night before. When the clock had struck midnight, Natsu's imagination had begun to go wild. He wondered if she'd come during the night and so he decided to not sleep until she returned. This of course had backfired and he had fallen asleep around dawn.
Now, hearing Mira's cry, he jumped up and looked around in confusion. His senses were on overdrive and it was his that nose told him what he wanted to know. He got a whiff of the air and smelled for the first time in two weeks that unique scent. Lucy was back! He could pick out her scent a mile away. Natsu ran for the trap door, but was horrified to find it locked. Someone had locked it from the inside. It had actually been Gajeel. He was trying to make sure that when Natsu finally got to Lucy he'd be so riled up that he'd make his move, allowing Gajeel to win his bet. Natsu yanked and pulled with all his might as Happy flew up to the top where Natsu was busy wrenching open the door. With a cry of triumph, Natsu freed the door from its hinges throwing it backward, almost hitting Happy in the process.
"Natsu! Lucy's back!"
"I know Happy!" Natsu ran down the stairs at a blinding speed. He'd finally see her! His Lucy was just down stairs and when he saw her again, he'd make sure she didn't leave his sight until she promised never to leave without him again. Natsu was happier than he had been for weeks at just the thought of seeing her again and this elation seemed to send him all the faster down the stairs.
However, Lucy was having much darker thoughts. While on her trip, Lucy had bought a magical potion in Marigold. She liked to visit the magical shops at all the towns she'd travel through and when she walked into that one, she found herself wandering through the potions section. She was just about to leave, when a potion in a black bottle caught her eye. It had been called forget-me-not and when she read what it did, she bought a dose worth right away. It claimed to make you forget the one thing or person that had hurt you the most. Lucy had been shocked to discover that it was in a powder, not liquid like most. When she'd said as much to the shop attendant, he'd smiled sweetly and nodded.
"Too many folks making rash decisions right away and drinking it as soon as they bought it before they can give it a good hard thought. This way it forces them to think about it before they do anything."
"So how do I use it, if I do decide to take it?"
"Just add it to a drink sweet enough to mask such a bitter taste." She'd thanked the attendant and had gone to meet with April to board the train. She'd thought about using it while on the train, but she'd chickened out. Instead, she made a deal with herself. If Natsu was there to greet her when she returned, she'd not take it and see where the chips fell, but if he weren't then they weren't meant to be. After all, it'd probably meant that he and Lisanna had mated and were elsewhere.
Seeing neither Natsu or Lisanna confirmed Lucy's fears and she sighed. She never thought that she'd be so cowardice as to run from her emotions like this, but having her heart shattered was worse than she'd ever thought. Sure, she'd experienced something similar when Fairy Tail had disbanded and Natsu had left for a year, but this was worse. No, she'd forget him. After all, it was better this way. Natsu would not let her live without him. He'd make sure to keep the friendship going regardless if she remembered him or not. After all, it wasn't like she'd be a different person, she'd just meet her best friend all over again. But this time he'd already be mated and hopefully she wouldn't be foolish enough to fall for a married guy.
'Yeah right,' an inner voice said, 'you'll always love him, but he'll already be taken the next time you meet him. Thankfully when you find yourself heartbroken all over again, you won't have the added misfortune of your hope destroyed.'
"Mira, could I have some juice?" Lucy asked as she sat.
"Sure thing Lucy. What kind?"
"Any, I'm not being picky." Mira nodded, but something in Lucy's tone told her to be weary. Smiling, but watching carefully, she handed Lucy the drink. Lucy thanked her and then steeled herself. She took a few sips and waited for Mira's piercing gaze to drift elsewhere. If Lucy had been paying attention when this finally happened, she'd have heard his voice yelling her name like it was a life line.
She quickly took the pouch from her pocket and poured it into her drink. She looked at it for a moment and sighed. She knew deep down that it wasn't the right thing, but she didn't know how to deal with this kind of pain. "Good-bye, Natsu," she whispered to her drink and raised it to her lips.
"Lucy!" Natsu cried, crashing into her. He picked her up in one smooth motion and whipped her around. The cup she'd been holding went flying and hit Gray smack in the face. Everyone was waiting for him to start something with Natsu, but even Gray knew that right now was too special. He'd wait until after the fire brain had done what he needed to do, then get his revenge.
"Natsu, what…" Lucy was suddenly on her feet again and Natsu grabbed her face, peering into it with such a look that she thought her own heart had stopped.
"Lucy, I missed you so much! How could you just go away like that? I thought we were partners!" His face had gone from elation, to anger, to hurt, so quickly that Lucy's head was spinning. It didn't help when Natsu placed his forehead to hers and peered even more closely into her eyes. Meanwhile, the guild had made popcorn and everyone ate while watching. Elfman was strategically wiping his eyes and others were placing bets. Gajeel grunted as Levy leaned into him, hugging and squeezing his arm, remembering their moment.
"We are partners Natsu," Lucy finally said. She tried to look anywhere but Natsu, but it was kind of hard when he looked at her like that. Like she was his reason for breathing. "I just needed a break, some vacation time, you know."
"Well that's fine Lucy, I can understand taking a break." Natsu pulled back a little and one of his thumbs absentmindedly rubbed her cheek. Lucy closed her eyes as chills lit up her senses. She needed to stop this now, or else she'd never be able to move on.
"Natsu…"
"But you have to take me along next time. We can leave Happy behind if you want."
"Hey," the exceed cried, but even for him, there was little heart in it.
"That's not it Natsu. I just needed some time to myself, away from everyone."
"But you can't mean me."
"Yes Natsu, I can mean you. Surely I'm allowed to want some time away from you." Natsu stepped back in betrayal and a look of true devastation set in. Everyone was shocked. They'd all thought that they'd be seeing another dragon mating ceremony today, not a devastatingly awkward heart break.
"But Lucy, I thought we were partners."
"We are Natsu! I love being partners with you, even though you destroy everything. I wouldn't want another one. I just needed a break from the partnership for a while." Natsu nodded, some of his hurt evaporating.
"Okay sure, but I thought that more importantly, we were friends. Best friends."
This was more dangerous territory than the last statement, but Lucy couldn't leave him without reassuring him a little. He looked so broken. "We are friends Natsu, the best of friends. I'd never want, nor find a better one." Some of Natsu's smile returned to his eyes and Lucy sighed in relief. This was going to work out, except for the fact that she was completely in-love with the idiot and he loved another, probably mated her by now too.
Lucy turned back to the entrance and started walking away. "Where are you going?" If Lucy hadn't known him better, she could have sworn he almost sounded panicked.
"Home, I'm tired and I need a bath. Besides I'm sure you need to spend some time with Lisanna today." A collective breath was taken by the guild.
"She doesn't know," Elfman whispered.
"Yeah, and she calls Natsu thick," Gajeel said back.
"This is better than any game show." Max commented, wondering if people would pay to see this kind of thing.
"It's just so beautiful," Elfman whimpered softly, and stopped trying to hide his tears. His manly tears of worriment, he'd later call them.
"Lisanna? Why would I see her?" Natsu's confusion and hurt was quickly turning to anger and he stalked forward, determined to stop her.
Something in his voice made Lucy turn around and stare at him in her own confusion. "Because you love her. She's your mate."
"My Mate!" Natsu roared. Lucy took a step back in confusion as Natsu jumped onto the nearest table and began pacing. Lucy registered two things at once. One, Natsu was burning his shoe prints into the table. Two, Lisanna slowly making her way into Lucy's line of vision. Looking more guilty than Lucy ever thought anyone could look, Lisanna mouthed the words, 'I'm sorry.' Then for a split second, Lisanna became her twin. Lucy normally would have been furious but her attention was quickly taken by Natsu again and Lisanna was forgotten.
"Lisanna is not my mate, Lucy!" Natsu argued. "I'd want my mate to be strong, compassionate, kind, and loyal. I'd want her to put others before herself and yet be stubborn as a boar. I'd want her to be able to win regardless of the odds with either power or brains, hopefully both."
"But Lisanna has those qualities." Natsu turned his dangerous stare towards her and grabbed her gently but firmly, pulling her on top of the table with him. He grabbed her face again and spoke fiercely.
"I'd want her to cry at books whenever the hero is in danger. I'd want her to stand on her own two feet, without the help of her family name or money. I'd want her to make a big fuse and a lot of noise, but only because she's trying to hide her own amusement and love for the place and people around her. I'd want her to always tell me I was being a pervert when I snuck into her bed at night, but let me stay anyway because she doesn't have the heart to throw me out after a tiring day."
The guild hall was silent. You could hear a pin drop. Lisanna, who would have been devastated by such a speech two weeks ago, smiled conceding defeat. He really did love her and for the first time she was aware that her idea of love and what love truly was were different. It was time that she found that for herself.
Lucy, having finally put it all together was shocked. She'd never thought that he'd say all that, she never thought that he could or even would. Still there was doubt that wouldn't go away. So, Lucy played a card she hoped wouldn't back fire.
"Natsu, I still don't understand."
"You Lucy!" He pulled her face closer to his and allowed the next statement to be breathed more than said. An action that sent tingles across her lips. "I love you. You're my mate."
"I am?"
"Yes." That was so Natsu, saying such an important sentiment in such few words, and so nonchalantly. A brilliant smile broke out on her face and Lucy closed the gap between their lips.
She pulled back before Natsu had a chance to respond. "I love you too, you idiot." A cheer so deafening rose up from the guild, but both Lucy and Natsu ignored them as Natsu recaptured Lucy's lips. It was a passionate kiss. If Lucy hadn't known better, she'd have sworn that he'd been kissing lots of women. His lips were warm and chapped, but she'd expected nothing less. His hands knotted in her hair, as she brought her arms around his neck. Things would have gone on like that for a while, except Gajeel suddenly knocked on the table.
"Hey firebreath! Keep that to the bedroom! We need that table for the reception."
"Reception?" Lucy breathed. Natsu, she noticed tensed up as Gajeel turned his gaze to her. Right, the mating side effects.
"Yeah reception. We pretty much figured this was going to happen as soon as you returned, so we had the whole thing planned." Gajeel walked off, much to the relief of Natsu. Mira took over from there.
"And if it hadn't happened, we were just going to have a Lucy has returned party." Lucy smiled as she was helped down from the table.
"Come on Luce," Levy said taking her arm. "Let's get you dressed and ready to party!" Lucy found that this meant that she had to call out Virgo and Cancer to prepare her, but she was delighted by the transformation. Her dress was skin tight, even by her standards and was the perfect shade of blue to complement her eyes and hair. Her blond hair had been placed into a beautiful up-do with ringlets of curls falling down her back.
When Lucy returned to the party, she found that Natsu had also been transformed by being forced into some actual clothes. These too were skin tight and hinted to all the toned muscles that she knew were there. Lucy had had time to think in the other room while being prepared and she realized that she had some misgivings about sleeping with Natsu that night. Yeah, by dragon slayer standards, this was their wedding. Once he gave her his mark, probably sometime at the reception, the only thing left to do was, well each other. But still, they'd just started kissing. Now however, one good look was enough to know that she was definitely going to be helping him remove those clothes. When she made eye contact with the object of her affections, she saw that he was thinking the same thing. His heated gaze made her shiver and she turned to a smiling, all knowing Levy.
"You'll be fine. Besides, that small magical bond between you now will only increase the pleasure."
"So the bond is real?"
"Definitely. Can't you feel it?" Lucy thought for a moment, as she moved towards the table set for them.
"No, not really. What should I be feeling?"
"It's hard to explain. To me it feels like a tug to the heart. Some other presence there in your chest. You can't communicate through it, but it can let you feel strong emotions and some legends even say that in dire times the bond can be used to help a dragon slayer or his mate find one another."
"Oh." Lucy said, sitting at the table, just as Natsu took his seat. Lucy noticed that he pushed his chair as close to hers as possible. She smiled up at him, as he made sure that their legs were touching under the table and the night's festivities began. There was drinking and dancing, Lucy and Natsu doing both. She'd been delighted when Natsu had actually asked her to dance, but she had a feeling it was because he'd sensed her desire to and was making sure none of the other guys even got a chance.
Towards the end of the evening, Gajeel and Gray found themselves near one another as they watched Natsu and Lucy talk up at the head table. The crowd was quieting because Natsu was preparing to give Lucy his mark. Gajeel and Levy had chosen to do this part privately, but Natsu was determined to shout to the world that this woman was his. However, Gajeel could tell that Natsu was about to have enough of the party. He was ready to have his mate all to himself and Gajeel smirked, throwing a glance towards Levy. Yeah, he'd remembered how he'd whisked Levy away as quickly as he could that night.
"He looks happy," Gray commented next to him.
"He is. There is nothing that makes a dragon slayer happier than to have his mate there by his side."
"I don't like it. Usually I'm trying to make Natsu unhappy, or at least annoyed. Allowing him to be so happy just feels wrong."
Gajeel snorted and threw a glare towards Gray. "You have some serious issues ice princess. I mean, I thought you guys were friends."
"We are. I'm just saying it's weird."
"You're just jealous because Natsu has his mate now and you aren't even dating anyone."
"I don't like Lucy like that!"
"I never said you did! Besides, you're a dead man if you even tried it now."
"Yeah, that would make him angry wouldn't it?" Gajeel heard the thinking tone in Gray's voice and he shook his head.
"Oh no, frozen heart, don't try that. It may be fun for a second, but you'd just hurt some people in the process."
"Sounds like my kind of challenge." Gray stood and approached Lucy and Natsu. He waited to the side of the stage as Natsu held up Lucy's wrist. He took a breath concentrating for a moment before there was a bright, fiery light. When people's eyes cleared, a mark like twirling flames branded her wrist and Natsu held up his matching mark. A cheer arose from the crowd. Gray waited for the crowd's cheers to subside before he step up onto the stage. Natsu saw him coming and smiled.
"Hey man, yah here to congratulate me?"
"Naw, I'm here to congratulate Lucy." He picked up Lucy's hand, and to her eternal shock and horror, he kissed her hand.
"Hey!" Natsu leap over the table and shoved Gray away.
"Natsu! Gray! Stop it!" Lucy cried, running around the table.
"Hey yourself, fire breather!"
"You want to fight!"
"Yeah, let's do this!" Gray ripped off his shirt and Natsu got into his stance, hands blazing, when Lucy stepped in between them.
"Stop! This is my reception too! I want it to be peaceful, is that understood!" Natsu immediately stood and let his hands turn back to normal. He nodded, but kept his burning gaze on Gray as Lucy stepped towards him.
Gray wasn't entirely sure what happened next. He wanted to fight Natsu more than he'd ever wanted to fight him before. Something inside him was aching. He wasn't sure what, but he needed Natsu to fight him and he needed to fight Natsu. The alternative hurt too much. Some part of him would later admit that he was probably upset at the fact that he was, in a way, losing his two best friends. Nothing would ever be the same and if he were going to hurt over it, well so were they.
So Gray, to his forever shame, grabbed Lucy and kissed her on the lips. Lucy gasped and stepped back, truly horrified. Gray got a good look at that just as she slapped him harder than she'd ever hit him before and Natsu slammed him with his fire fists. Gray fell off the platform with Natsu on top of him. As soon as they landed, Natsu punched him over and over again. He was deadly serious this time and Gray was actually beginning to fear for his well-being. Thankfully, two pairs of hands grabbed him under his arms and hauled him up. There was a great commotion as Gray was led from the hall and dropped into the pool by Gajeel and Elfman.
"That's enough Gray!" Elfman roared.
"Yeah man, whatever is eating you, just lay off. I don't think you realize what kind of damage you've just done in there." Gajeel growled. Finally able to think, Gray thought back to Lucy's look of horror just before she slapped him and Natsu's look of actual hatred. It became startling clear that he'd just ruined his best friendships, at least for a little while. They'd both forgive him in time he knew, but he still felt like a jerk. He paddled over to the edge of the pool, leaning against the side, watching as Elfman and Gajeel reentered the party. He already felt terrible, but as the doors closed, he saw something that actually felt like it fractured his heart. Juvia was standing there watching him as she listened to the music of the last dance, which he'd promised to dance with her. He saw un-shed tears in her heart-shattered eyes. The doors closed on the scene and Gray wished he could die. More importantly, he wished he could stop himself from realizing that for once Natsu had been the bigger man.
Without Gray's presence, the party went back to normal, except now Natsu was practically growling as the other men moved around them. He wouldn't be able to stand them near her until the bond was complete. The only ones he allowed near Lucy, even begrudgingly, were Master Makarov and Gajeel. Since Gajeel was mated and wouldn't try anything on Lucy and Master Makarov was just too plain old.
Sensing that he was at his breaking point, Lucy decided to leave with Natsu. She needed to get him home soon or he was going to snap. What was wrong with Gray?! He'd ruined a perfectly wonderful evening. Finally making it through the crowd, Lucy sighed as she felt the fresh air on her face.
"I hate that guy! Let me kill him, Lucy!"
"No, you don't hate him Natsu. He just made you mad."
"But he kissed you!" Lucy spun and kissed Natsu, as passionately as she could, which seemed to distract him from his rage. Natsu kissed her back with great gusto. Lucy found herself forgetting all about Gray, as Natsu pushed her up against the wall. Things heated up very quickly and Lucy found herself in a world of sensory overload. She'd never thought in a million years that she could feel this way from just kissing someone. When Natsu moved his lips from hers to her neck, she finally realized that if they didn't leave for her apartment then and there, Natsu and her might finish the bond on the entrance of Fairy Tail.
"Natsu, I'd much rather a bed for such activities." He growled low in his chest and he looked up at her.
"So then, you'll let me mate you, for real?" Lucy smiled and took Natsu's hand, leading him to her apartment.
"Yes, I might even let you come back and pummel Gray into the ground after we're done."
Natsu laughed and started dragging her instead. He turned back towards her and smiled. "Trust me Lucy, once I get you into that bed, I'm not leaving." She smiled back and they raced together.
As they ran through the streets, a dark figure watched from the top of a building. She watched them turn a corner and then cast a spell that showed her two other dark figures standing in Lucy's apartment. "They're almost there. Be ready. That ice fool already has the Salamander riled up. He may be harder to subdue than we were hoping."
"We'll take care of him, don't worry," one of them answered and the spell ended.
