"Are you sure?"

"Yes Natsu, I'm sure. You said the reason my plant hated me was because there was a very angry sprite that lived in it and choose me for some reason."

"But Lushiiiiiiii, she's scary. She smells like fish but she's not one and it's confusing!"

Happy's loud wail made Natsu and Lucy share a look, Natsu agreeing with Happy and Lucy telling him that if he agreed with his cat there would be no more kissing today. Which Natsu could not live with.

"I'm sure it'll be fine buddy. Somehow..." Natsu tried to placate, but his own unease was noticeable in his voice and Lucy rolled her eyes at the two.

"Ok, so how exactly do I... summon her? I guess?" Lucy asked, looking questioningly between the two. Lucy and Natsu were sitting on the sofa, Lucy sinking into the space made by Natsu's legs as he sat cross legged in the center. Happy flew around their heads anxiously, unable to sit still, or maybe staying ready for a speedy getaway. Either way Natsu couldn't blame him. He eyed the plant warily again, the glass bowl sitting harmlessly on the coffee table in front of them.

"Just ask her to come out. She will, if she wants to that is," Natsu explained in her ear, resting his chin on the shoulder that her braided hair didn't fall over. He nuzzled the soft wool on her shoulder as she took a deep breath, a soft grin cracking his worry-pinched lips as Lucy mumbled about his dramatics. She settled more into his lap, and Natsu gave her an encouraging squeeze to her hips as way of support.

"Okay... Aquarius, would you please come out?" Lucy asked, voice wavering slightly from her nerves. She had taken the news that her plant housed an other worldly sprite surprisingly well, but Natsu guessed that even Lucy had her limits, amazing as she was. A soft gasp made Natsu pull away from his fawning over the girl snuggled in his lap, her already large brown eyes growing wider as she stared at the flower before them.

A bloom of golden light was rising from the center of the flower, sparkling transparent petals unfurling until a soft burst of light similar to Happy's wings disappearing rained golden sparkles that dissolved into the air around the glass bowl. But the shower of magic dust was only barely noticed, as Lucy was left gaping at the figure floating before her. The image of a mermaid with a blue tail and aquamarine hair floated in the air, finned tail twitching in annoyance as Lucy continued to stare at her.

Natsu had only seen her the one time before, but nothing about the sprite had changed during the months that had passed. Three gold rings descended along her tail below her waist, made of the same material that banded around her upper arms and formed the back of her circlet, delicate silver weaving and a purple garnet resting in the center of her forehead. Moonstone earrings stood out against the bright blue of her hair, as did the leather wrist bands and belt that hung against her pale blue fin surrounding where her tail met her creamy skin. Her upper was bare other than a thick dark blue choker and thin bikini top, same colour of the choker bordered by white wave designs. A black tattoo of the celestial sign of Aquarius stood prominently along her collarbone, mark stretching from shoulder to shoulder. Aquarius sighed irritably and used her tail to splash some of the plant's water at Lucy, causing the blonde to sputter and lean back into Natsu.

"God, and I thought you were annoying when you didn't know I existed," the spirte snapped, blue eyes narrowed as she glared at her master. "I mean really, I would rather you go back to whining to that computer friend of yours than you sitting here looking at me like an idiot. 'Does he like me?', 'He keeps giving me presents,', 'He's so cute!','I want to lick his ab-'," Aquarius mimicked in a high pitched voice, transferring a large ceramic pot from one hip to the other as she mocked Lucy. Lucy for her part turned a bright red and made a loud sound over top of Aquarius' speaking, arms flailing and avoiding Natsu's raised eyebrows and impish grin. What had that last part been?

"And really do you need to eat that midday piece of chocolate? You should be watching your weight, I can see the rolls on your back when you walk around here naked. No man's going to date you like that," Aquarius continued on, one hand lifting to half hide her snigger as she finished, cruel glint in her eyes. Lucy turned an even deeper shade of red, one hand reaching between her and Natsu to feel the bare skin on her back revealed by her crop top.

"I don't have rolls," she mumbled, face pinched in concentration. Natsu stared blankly at Lucy, that had been the part she was concentrating on?

"You walk around here naked?" Natsu asked, voice cracking on the final word. Lucy bashfully looked away from him again, redness spreading to the tops of her breasts visible through a large hole in her sweater.

"Well it is my place," she mumbled. "And it was only when you were busy with a client or project," she defended more intensely. Natsu held her gaze as he felt his ear tips burn.

"Sometimes Happy was here," he said softly, watching as agitated confusion grew in her eyes.

"Yeah? He's just a cat..." Lucy retorted, confusion disappearing into horror as her eyes flew to follow the blue cat still circling them lazily in the air. " Oh my god Happy was there ," she whispered, more to herself. The small cat snickered as he finally settled on Natsu's head, wings disappearing with a soft glimmer of sparkles.

"Don't worry Lucy, all humans look weird to me," the small cat comforted, ignoring Lucy's strangled noise that caught in her throat. "Although," he said, eyes narrowing in thought as he tilted his head, "it's weird how you don't have fur anywhere but your head." Lucy made another high pitched noise of distress, Natsu choking on his spit at what Happy's words implied. Now he was the one avoiding Lucy's eyesight.

" Anyway ," Lucy said forcefully after coughing into her hand, Natsu's mind still reeling from the new information Happy and Aquarius had shared with him. Natsu pulled her tighter against his chest, her arm leaving the space and her hand resting on his bare forearm. The only thing Natsu was currently wearing being a black tank top and his grey sweats, scarf moved from forehead to neck before calling Aquarius. Natsu had finished sketching out a design for an ash painting a woman had ordered, Natsu deciding the horizon of a forest being the best for the enviro freak. At least he knew she tipped well, so he liked to put more thought into her pieces than a random persons, and had been just about to start grinding the needed leaves and plants for burning when Lucy had burst in, saying she was done living in fear of her flower.

Turned out three days had been long enough for Lucy to start talking about her demon plant again.

Natsu almost just went back to grinding his plants, but his girlfriend had grabbed him by the scarf and dragged him back to her apartment, Happy following while asking if they needed 'Adult Time' which distracted Natsu enough for Lucy to gain the upper hand and shove him through her doorway. So here they were, Lucy curled up on Natsu's lap -partially because they couldn't go for more than an hour without some sort of physical contact while in the same room and partially to act as weight to pin Natsu down- and staring down at what Natsu could only assume was anger incarnate.

"I just wanted to ask you, Miss Aquarius," Lucy said cautiously, having reigned in her embarrassment from before. "Did I do something to offend or upset you?" Aquarius looked over Lucy haughtily before letting out an exhausted sigh, glaring up at the blonde. Natsu was just thankful he had somehow blended into the furniture.

"Honestly you're just as whiny and stupid as you used to be, I mean the signs were all there and it took you three months to figure it out?" the sprite huffed, irritation slowly melting off of her as she swam around the air above her bowl. "Although I guess a normal person would have taken much longer, if ever," Aquarius sniffed, finally coming to float in one place.

"What do you mean 'normal'?" Lucy asked, Natsu shrinking into his seat a little and chin resting heavier on her shoulder. He had forgotten all about that, desperate as he was to catch up on the orders he had been neglecting in favour of figuring out what was going on with his magic. Aside from puberty -which he had already gone through, thank you very much- there was no explanation to be found, even after scouring through forums and forums on witching websites. Natsu had stopped looking after the eleventh recruitment message. So he had not gone looking with Lucy like he had told Erza, in fact he hadn't even mentioned his fucked up magic to her. Whoops.

"Do you really think I'd allow just anyone to hold my Tether?" Aquarius scoffed, Lucy's nose scrunching like it did when she was confused. She was so adorable. Natsu was ripped away from sighing blissfully as he stared at Lucy when Aquarius turned her glare on him. "Have you told her nothing?" she seethed. Grumbling under her breath Aquarius started her agitated motions once more, "Fucking hopeless, the both of them."

"Umm, Miss Aquarius?" Lucy called out, flinching when the mermaid sprite turned to her sharply. Her blue eyes looked over her master for a few seconds before the tension drained from her shoulders and her face took on a less murderous expression.

"Just Aquarius is fine, brat," she sighed, cold tone betrayed by the gentle curve of her lips. "I guess I should explain what I am to you, considering the idiot of a boy you've decided to link with," the sprite ignored Natsu's 'oi' of complaint, focusing on Lucy as she spoke. "I am a sprite. I exist above this realm, but my kind has been coming and going from this world for eons. We need an object to act as a bridge, most choose shells or stones, trees even. Something immovable or easily carried but not destroyed. These are called Tethers, and are chosen by the sprite." Natsu was fully focused, his dad had never explained more than the basics about sprites to him as Natsu had never cared before, and Igneel probably had been more focused on fire magic himself. "Sometimes we choose a master, sometimes we don't, it depends on if the sprite deems someone worthy of controlling their magic" Lucy nodded, finger tapping on her lower lip in concentration.

"So you're a being of pure magic," Lucy started, looking at Aquarius for confirmation. When the mermaid gave a tiny nod Lucy continued on, "And you come from a different realm but are connected through a tether, which I'm assuming is the flower right now?"

"Tether," Aquarius corrected, cutting off Lucy. "It is more than a simple connection, the object holds part of our essence in order for us to use it." Natsu's eyes widened as he took in the delicate looking flower, set on a slow rotation in the bowl from the sprite's movements before. Something that flimsy held part of her soul?

"Tether," Lucy repeated, nodding to herself again. "And you choose a master, someone of magical ability I guess... So is Natsu your master then?" Lucy asked, looking between Natsu and Aquarius. Natsu snorted in denial, Aquarius' short bark of laughter making him narrow his eyes.

"Like I'd let that flame maniac near my flower," she half chuckled, rude tone making Natsu bite his inner cheek. Fuck did he hate this sprite.

"So you're masterless?" Lucy pressed, full lips pouting at the mermaid's loud sigh.

"No you dimwit. I've chosen you as my master, but now I'm regretting that. Do you know what it's like to promise your magic to someone and then find out they're a whiny brat?" Lucy's mouth fell open, surprise lighting her chocolate eyes.

"Me?" she squeaked, pointing a finger at herself and ignoring Aquarius' insult. "But I mean, I'm not a witch, or magical?"

"Do you really think I'd let you be my master if you weren't magical you idiot?" the sprite groaned, rage filling her eyes. "Why I even allowed you to pick my flower I'll never know, gut instinct my ass . Maybe I liked the way you mocked Pinky here or maybe it was your likeness to your mother, but damn ," she hissed, a small jet of water sprouting from her jug and striking Lucy in the forehead. Happy hissed loudly and flew away from the water droplets rebounding off of Lucy, both her and Natsu yelping and sputtering as the cold water struck their skin.

"The fuck was that for?" Natsu snarled, bringing one hand up to wipe the water from his face. Lucy stared at Aquarius, too transfixed by her words to do more than absently scrub her face.

"You knew my mother?" she asked breathlessly, attention fully enraptured with the mermaid.

"Yes, but that is a conversation for another time. I must admit, it was pleasant and unexpected to see you after so long. I used to be your favourite, despite you constantly annoying me" the sprite replied, small grin and pride shining her eyes before her mask of contempt fell back over her angular features. Lucy continued to gape at Aquarius, and Natsu rubbed one hand along her upper arm in a soothing motion, encouraging her to let it go for now. If there was one thing he knew about sprites it was that there was no pushing them further than they wanted to go.

"So Luce's a witch?" he asked skeptically, trying to divert the women's attention to a new topic. Aquarius seemed to understand and shot him what he suspected could be interpreted as a thankful look, but Natsu wasn't sure. Her facial expressions ranged from murderous to slightly annoyed.

"No," she said simply, jug switching to her other hip again. Lucy finally seemed to have had her patience worn down enough and spoke in an exasperated tone, her own irritation showing plainly.

"Then what am I?"

"No need to be so rude," the mermaid chastised, eyes narrowing on the blonde. Lucy held her gaze, the sprite floating up so that she was level with Lucy and Natsu's faces. "Boytoy is a witch. You are something much rarer, Lucy," Aquarius' tone became serious, and Natsu noted it was the first time the sprite had used Lucy's name. "You are a Holder."

"You really think so?" Happy chimed, eyes curious as he settled in Lucy's lap. Aquarius rolled her eyes at his question, making the cat flinch when she made a motion with her jug.

"Would I have said it if I didn't, hairball?" she sneered, eyes widening when Lucy defended her friend.

"No need for naming calling Mi-, Aquarius." she said sternly, lip pulling between her teeth and catching Natsu's eyes before she spoke again. "But what is a Holder, anyway? Natsu?"

Natsu shrugged at Lucy's question, just as lost as her. Igneel had never mentioned the term before, and he hadn't seen it in any of his texts or searches.

"Well first," Aquarius said smugly, readying herself for the lecture on magic, "I guess I'll have to explain what magic is, if your tiny brain can focus long enough that is." Lucy pouted at the sprite's rude words, but held her tongue. Something Natsu wouldn't have been able to do. "Not everyone can use magic, only those that are bo-," she said as she raised her nose in the air, air of irritation melting into a condescending one. Natsu, however, had wanted to explain magic to Lucy himself and there was no way in hell he was about to let the bitchiest sprite he had ever met steal that from him.

"Magic's like'a language," Natsu interrupted, victorious glint in his eye as he smirked at the angered mermaid. There was a large possibility she was about to shoot a jet of water at his face, but it was a risk Natsu was willing to live with. "Igneel used to tell me magic itself was neutral, and that the people that used it were the ones who made it good or bad. It can only be spoken by a few of us, and that's why it's so important to always use it for good. 'Cus not everyone can fight back." Lucy had turned in his lap to look at him as he spoke, and her fingers played with his when he had laced his hand with her smaller one. Her large brown eyes looked at him so heart-wrenchingly warmly, and a small smile made her full lips curl up gently. Natsu had been focused on Lucy as he spoke, and he started when Aquarius made a sound of reluctant agreement. Damn annoyance had to ruin the moment.

"I guess that's not too bad," she admitted, "but it makes sense that it came from your old man instead of your brain. There's more chance of blondie here getting a competent boyfriend." Lucy said Aquarius' name in warning, the sprite flipping her hand in dismissal of Lucy's disapproval. "Fine, fine, she could do worse. Happy?" she retorted, gagging when Lucy pecked Natsu on the cheek. "Gross, if I wanted PDA I'd be with more own boyfriend. Who is much hotter and smarter, but not everyone deserves perfection." Natsu rolled his eyes and wound his arm tighter around Lucy's waist. He couldn't wait for this to be over, he was in serious withdrawal of Lucy-snuggles. Or bugging her, or even just joking around with her. Maybe he was just in Lucy withdrawal, period. It was hard to get alone time when his magical cat could apparate in any room at any time.

"So what's a Holder then?" Lucy asked, worry in her tone making Natsu focus on the conversation again.

Aquarius' expression softened, and an almost kind look passed through her eyes before she spoke again, snobby tone prominent as always. "Well what flamer here said about magic is true, if you like that 'magic is a language' idea. A witch can read and speak it, but a Holder is something different. They can only read it, and they have much, much more magical potential than an average witch," Natsu's brow furrowed as the sprite talked. He had never heard of this before, and he wasn't sure how to feel about that fact. "Oh don't look so sad, little lizard," Aquarius said in an over the top comforting voice, "A Holder hasn't been seen in hundreds of years. As rare as they are they are often harder to find as the Holder themselves are not aware of their magic. And with the influx of all you little witches a Holder's large magic can be lost in the crowd unless you're highly trained, and let's be honest, no one these days is highly trained in anything." A conceited smile pulled at her pale lips and made Natsu want to shove her back into her stupid flower by force. "A witch would study the earth for decades and master their talent, us sprites guiding them when needed. Oh, if only you could have seen what is was like before all you humans ruined the world. Trees and streams, my pure lakes and oceans. So untouched and so easy to look after. And to think, I'm letting my third master be this brat," her tone soured, and she swam through the air and circled Lucy's head as she continued to speak.

"Not even my type," she muttered to herself, Natsu fighting the urge to laugh at Lucy as she swerved her head in order to keep an eye on the malicious sprite.

"Your type?" Lucy questioned. Aquarius rolled her eyes, though not as largely as she had done previously. Seemed to Natsu the mermaid was getting tired of pretending to hate Lucy. Natsu couldn't fathom how she had lasted this long, Lucy was impossible to be anything but loved.

"Not all magic is the same. Your current seating cushion for example uses energy magic, particularly fire. There are six main types of magic, and too many subsets to ever try and count. There's energy magic, strength magic, chaos, order, manipulation, and psychic magic. All of these are most displayed in fire, earth, darkness, light, air, and water, which is mine and obviously the best." Natsu pulled at his scarf with one finger, his eyes narrowing on the sprite again. It was close to what Igneel had said, but it was also very different, and Natsu didn't like the idea that Igneel had been wrong.

"Psychic magic?" Lucy questioned, her nose still scrunched when Natsu looked at her. "Like mind control over things?" Aquarius scoffed, sending a short spurt of water at Lucy's temple. The blonde squeaked and shied closer into Natsu's chest to escape the burst of water, Natsu biting his tongue so as not to snicker and draw Aquarius' attention to him. Funny as it was to see Lucy get soaked, Natsu had no desire to be on the receiving end of the mermaid's anger.

"You humans just have to butcher everything, don't you? Psychic can also mean spiritual, or to do with the soul. People who have this magical affinity tend to be extremely emotional, or with an ever changing soul. Like how an ocean can become a stream, and the sea can be still one moment and a hurricane the next." Lucy nodded her head in thought, Natsu too distracted to notice the way she was worrying at her lip and how red the flesh was turning. So Igneel hadn't been wrong, it was about control, or brief control rather. About things ever-changing, like water.

"So then," Lucy said slowly, still working the words over in her head as she spoke, "if psychic magic is yours, then what am I? You said before that I was different from you?" Aquarius looked over her quietly, a satisfied look in her eyes as she answered Lucy's question.

"Looks like you're not as dumb as you let people think when you speak, huh? You're right, my speciality is water, and your's...," she trailed off, her expression becoming blank and the irises fading from her eyes. Lucy made a noise of panic and reached out to the mermaid, but Natsu caught her wrist and pulled her arm back, placing it gently on her lap. He shook his head when she looked at him, his heart clenching at the worry in her eyes for her new sprite. She really was too caring.

Aquarius gave her head a short shake as she returned from her stupor, irises returning and eyes deglazing. "You," she said bluntly, "are chalk full of light energy. It's like staring at a fucking star," she mumbled, rubbing at one eye in agitation. Natsu let out a low whistle as Lucy looked blankly between them. Aura looking was hard enough, but if someone's overwhelmed you it would be a while before the inner eye would be able to see again. And that wasn't even Soul looking.

"So I have order magic?" Lucy pressed, obvious displeasure at not knowing what had happened making it through. Aquarius sent another blast of cold water at Lucy, the blonde quickly apologizing.

"Don't use that tone with me you brat. And no, you're not order magic. You are very much energy, in fact, you have it's most base form. That is very rare, you understand girl? Base magic is extremely powerful, and even more reactive. No wonder you linked so quickly with his."

"I knew I recognized it!" Happy mewled, chiming voice finally entering the conversation again. He curled up in Lucy's lap, large yawn revealing his bright white teeth. "Lushiii I'm bored now," he whined, conversation suddenly switching. "Can we make fish?"

"Whaddya mean you 'recognized it'?" Natsu cried out, his left eyebrow twitching as he tried to control himself. How much did Happy know?

"Calm down, Natsu," the small cat hummed, stretching out and rolling onto his back in Lucy's lap, white coated paw batting at the end of her braid. "I couldn't remember where I had seen two magics interact like that, I just thought it was your souls. Soulmates are much more common than Bonded." Happy purred while Lucy ran a hand through the fur on his stomach. "It's been over a century since I've seen a connection like yours, and even then I've never seen the two combined. Not my fault," the cat explained away easily, pushing his head into Lucy's hand when it froze.

"'Over a century'?" Lucy repeated in a low whisper, shock widening her eyes. Natsu was too busy focusing on the part where Happy had implied he and Lucy were Soulmates .

"That blue thing there is a familiar," Aquarius cut in, Happy content with no longer talking. "He is also a being of magic, though not as highly regarded as a sprite. He just took the form of a cat," she sneered, obviously displeased with Happy's chosen form. Happy mewled when Lucy twitched his ears, Natsu grinning at how cute he and Lucy were. His little family.

"That's because when I'm a cat I get fish. Fish is the most amazing thing," he sighed, tail flicking in pleasure as he thought of his favourite food. He sighed dramatically when Lucy continued to look at him, wide eyes resting on Natsu before he rolled over and kneaded at Lucy's thigh.

"I'm not Happy's first charge," he explained, hand rubbing soothing circles into the skin at Lucy's waist. Natsu almost became too distracted by it's softness to finish his thought, but the curiosity in her eyes egged him on. "He's a familiar, like she said. A familiar is something that helps along a witch, with knowledge or encouragement. Not everyone gets a familiar, in fact I only know a few people who do," Natsu said, voice trailing off as he mentally listed the people he knew with familiars. Five? No, six. Six people, including him.

"We're only drawn to very strong magic," Happy purred, nuzzling into Natsu's side and proceeding to climb his arm and nestle into his scarf. "Like sprites."

Lucy hummed in thought, finger tapping against her lip again. Natsu scratched at Happy's head, gentle smile at his friend's compliment growing larger as he watched Lucy think. "So what's so special about being Bonded?" she asked Aquarius, head tilting a little to the side as she looked at the sprite.

"Using the language analogy, if a Holder can only read alone, and a witch can read and speak, then together, Bonded can sing . Their power is increased, and they don't need runes or spells in order to activate their magic. It just flows naturally, sometimes without thought on behalf of the user. It allows the Holder to use magic as well, while giving a giant boost to the witch. Because of this is it is highly sought after by those who are aware of it, though it can never be forced," Aquarius explained, this time looking between Natsu and Lucy. After she saw what Natsu hoped was understanding she let out a heavy sigh, examining her nails.

"I'm done here now," she stated bluntly, returning to above her flower. "I expect that you'll leave me alone for a while, I have a date to go on with my amazing boyfriend. Oh, and put me in your office. I want to by Layla's magic, and the flower doesn't need sunlight," she commanded before her form was surrounded by golden petals, the soft light scattering as they fell and struck any surface, golden sparkles left and dissolving into the air.

"Well that was fun," Natsu said dryly. Lucy bit at her lip as she continued to watch the bowl and flower, Natsu lifting a hand and tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. A light blush dusted her cheeks and a warm smile released her teeth from her lip as she looked at Natsu from the corner of her eye, his fingertips brushing idly on the flush skin of her cheek to her jaw.

"I'm getting fish from the apartment," Happy announced suddenly, launching from Natsu's shoulder and flying around the room. "You two don't be gross while I'm gone," Happy called as light surrounded him, a low pop and silver bubbles left in the room where he had been as he apparated into Natsu's apartment. Natsu blushed hard and avoided Lucy's gaze, not that it was difficult as she was also looking in the opposite direction too. Little blue fucker.

"What do you think he means by gross?" Lucy asked in a husky voice, Natsu swallowing hard as he looked down at her in time to watch her bat her eyelashes at him. He cupped her face with both hands, bringing her lips to his slowly, and speaking softly before claiming her mouth.

"He always makes a face when we kiss."

Lucy hummed into his mouth, lips parting quickly when Natsu pushed against the seams. He chuckled to himself at her eagerness and wound one arm around her back, pulling her closer. Her tongue played with his, soon pushing into his own mouth and exploring. Natsu let his hands ghost over her body as she shifted to straddle one of his thighs, palms settling on her ass afterwards. One slim hand pulled at his hair, pink strands falling free of their low ponytail and tickling the side of his face. "He definitely doesn't like it when we sit like this," Lucy purred into his ear, heavy pants falling from his open mouth as her teeth pulled roughly at his piercings. That was going to turn into a thing for him if Lucy didn't watch out.

"Or when you get too loud," Natsu growled, squeezing roughly at her ass with one hand and nipping at her barely exposed collarbone. His fingertips dipped under the bottom of her shorts, rough pads caressing the smooth skin they found there. He was rewarded by a gentle moan from Lucy, but it wasn't enough. "Louder, I think," he encouraged as he sucked on her earlobe, his other hand fisting in her hair and yanking her head back.

"You're not too quiet yourself," she shot back before she ground her hips down into his, a low hiss escaping through Natsu's teeth. He stole whatever she was about to say from her mouth as he roughly slated his lips over hers, both trying to hungrily claim the other for their own. Lucy pulled back suddenly, Natsu chasing after her mouth and pouting at her when she placed a finger on his lips.

"Dinner," she said breathlessly, Natsu letting his eyes crawl along the red flush of her chest and her disheveled hair and kiss swollen lips. He nipped at her finger, grinning wolfishly when her eyes clouded over in lust as he pulled her finger into his mouth.

"What do you think I was tryin' to do?" he asked roughly before he released her finger and quickly covered her mouth with his own again. Lucy kissed him back roughly, pushing him backwards so he was leaned completely against the couch, her chest pushing firmly into his. Hands tangled in his hair again as Lucy dragged her tongue over his sharpened canine, and Natsu swallowed her moan as he guided her hips against his with one hand. She broke from the kiss again, pushing her forehead into his shoulder and hands gripping his biceps tightly.

"Dinner first. Date," she panted, gentle shives trailing her body as Natsu let his hands explore her back. He let out a whine of complaint, he would much rather eat Lucy than any other food. But Lucy was set on an order of things so he let it be, placing a gentle kiss on her temple.

"Fine," he groaned, 'but Happy's staying at my place tonight."

Lucy pulled back, letting her hands splay on his chest as she looked down at him with hooded eyes.

"Good."

Natsu nearly pulled her back down to him at the sultry look she gave him, heat making his ear tops and face burn, whatever blood not heating his face rushing south. God fucking dammit did he want her. He strained against his jeans, eyes narrowing at Lucy's playful expression as she gently rocked on his lap. She was making it really difficult for Natsu not to pin her to the couch right here, right now.

"Luce," he groaned as his eyes slid shut and his head tipped backwards, fingers digging into her waist and sinking into the soft flesh exposed by her pink crop top. Natsu knew he had no idea about fashion, but the idea of a turtle neck crop top with what was essentially a boob window and full sleeves made no sense, even to him. But damn did he like it when Lucy wore it, and a part of him glowed with pride because she was his . In fact all of her outfits were provocative, Natsu still unsure of why -other than spite for her previous life- as Lucy became flustered whenever anyone tried to flirt with her, and that was only when she caught on. Lucy would definitely kick him if she ever found out how many guys he had scared away with a simple look when he noticed them ogling her, even before the started dating. He had told himself it was because she deserved better than some guy who looked at her like a piece of meat, but he knew it was a lie. Happy singing it while Natsu worked on a piece over the last few months had not helped.

Natsu hummed and leaned into her touch, the nonsense patterns she was tracing on his jawline gently making his magic ebb and flow under his skin. If Natsu thought about it, he would start blushing at the intimacy of being Bonded. He was connected to Lucy in a way no one else could ever be. And they were soulmates. He had talked to Igneel about them before, when his father had tried to give him 'the birds and the bees' talk. Everyone had multiple soulmates, people that made your soul glow and intertwine with, but it was still a connection that should be treasured. Natsu wondered if someone could be bonded to more than one person. Honestly, he really hoped not.

His face turned and he chased Lucy's lips as they gently brushed across his cheek before she pulled away. His lower lip jutted out in a pout and he cracked an eye open, trying to convince Lucy to keep kissing at least for a little while longer. She giggled at his sad look before flicking his nose.

"You're going to be even more cranky if you don't eat and you know it. Not to mention you always slip up on not starving yourself when you're working," Lucy chastised, teasing grin softening as she climbed off his lap. Natsu let out a sad groan to let Lucy knew he understood but wasn't happy, the blonde breaking into full laughter at his noise. He let his eyes travel up and down her figure as she walked to the kitchen, eyes lingering on the pale skin revealed along her midriff and the slip not covered between her brown shorts and black thighhigh socks. Somehow the cloth made her legs even longer, and the image of slowly rolling them off and revealing her skin to him made Natsu wet his lips. Oh god, now he had another fucking kink, and it was all Lucy's fault. He'd have to thank her, somehow.

Feeling bored and oddly cold without Lucy on him, Natsu stood from the couch and made his way into the kitchen, feigning a limp when he caught Lucy's eye. She held up a fork she had been using to mix the vegetables in the sauce, eyes sharpening on his face splitting grin. "One insinuation about my weight and Happy won't be the only one not coming back into this apartment tonight," she warned, tone deadly.

"But Lushiiiii," Natsu whined, standing straight and walking normally the rest of the way towards her. Lucy pushed him back with a finger, ignoring his hurt look as he let her push him away. At least she hadn't used the fork.

"Nuh uh, every time you're in here something burns," she complained, eyes rolling as he darted past her and stole a piece of half cooked zucchini from the pot. The two continued to argue with their eyes, Natsu extremely pleased with himself as he chewed on his still warm contraband, Lucy's fists sitting on her hips. He rolled his eyes in defeat, hands lifting in submission. Lucy gave him a nod and returned to in front of the stove top, effectively turning her back on Natsu. Never a smart idea, and an evil grin pulled at his lips. It soon disappeared as he considered what his punishment would be if he tickled her and their dinner spilt on the ground, or worse, on Lucy. No it would be better to wait until she wasn't holding a weapon in her hands to attack. But the opportunity was so tempting...

Settling on a compromise Natsu gave a sharp squeeze to her butt before heading to gather plates to set the table, her high squeak making him cackle.

"Excuse you!"

Natsu looked at her over his shoulder, roguish smirk revealing his teeth. Deep red coated her cheeks and she was doing her flustered pout -almost as cute as her angry pout-. "What was that?" she demanded, voice high still and weight falling onto one hip. Natsu felt his grin falter, and he shrugged.

"I felt like it?" he said, sudden wave of unconfidence making it sound more like a question. Lucy's lip pulled into her mouth, white teeth made more obvious as her lips d

arkened from the abuse. She placed the fork on the counter, arms crossing in front of her. "We touch all the time," Natsu defended, increasingly feeling worried he had overstepped some boundary he hadn't known about. Lucy raised an eyebrow, Natsu too nervous to notice the twitch in her lips.

"Like that ?" she asked incredulously, red slowly fading from her cheeks until it was a soft pink. Natsu turned to face her fully, hands shoving into the pockets in his pants.

"Well, yeah . I do everytime we kiss," he mumbled, eyes growing wide as Lucy walked towards him slowly. He officially had no idea what was going on. "Did, did I do somethin' wrong?" he asked softly as she stopped inches from his chest. Lucy hummed in thought, both hands coming to play with his scarf.

"You said you grab my ass everytime we kiss," Lucy stated, looking at him through her lashes and allowing a sly smile to appear on her face. "So I think you cheated me a little there, don't you?" Natsu's eyes widened as relief crashed through his stomach, arms winding around Lucy and hugging her to him.

"You can't tease me like that," Natsu growled as he bumped her nose with his own. Lucy licked her lips hungrily, whispering a soft 'sorry' while looking extremely unapologetic and very pleased with herself as her arms wrapped around his neck. Lucy's mouth pushed against his already parted lips, her tongue gliding into the heat past them. He nipped at her exploring, keeping her from pulling back as he gripped her ass again. The large curves just fit so perfectly in his hands, the heavy weight satisfying to squeeze and massage. Natsu leaned into her space, twisting their bodies so Lucy was pinned between him and the countertop, One hand wandered up and tugged at the tie at the end of her braid. Lucy's eyes fluttered open and Natsu pulled back to watch his hand run through her golden hair, strands soft and curling around his fingers, framing her flushed face. Gently she lead his face back down to hers, Natsu letting Lucy lead the slow but passionate kisses. Without warning Natsu gripped her waist and lifted her to sit on the counter, her legs instantly spreading and her arms pulling Natsu between them. Natsu groaned into her mouth as she pulled his hips closer with one leg, the other heel digging into the back of his thigh and rubbing against him.

"Na-Natsu," Lucy panted as he ran one hand up and down her thigh, fingers hooking and slowly dragging down the black material. Natsu nipped at her jaw, watching from the corner of his eye as the milky skin was slowly exposed as he pulled down her sock. Fingers guided his chin back up, Lucy nibbling on his pulse point beneath his jaw and up to silver earrings as Natsu wrapped his hand under the now bare skin of her middle thigh. His hips jerked forward when Natsu felt cautious fingertips explore his stomach under his shirt, when had she even lifted the dark material up anyway? Lucy moaned into his hair at the pressure from his movement, and Natsu repeated it while lifting his free hand to grope at her large chest. He panted into the air and closed his eyes as Lucy continued to tease his ear, rolling her breast in his hand. Lucy's head tipped back fully as he pushed at her hardening nipple with his thumb through her clothes. Lucy tore at his scarf, Natsu letting the scaled material fall to the floor as Lucy left a string of marks down his neck. Natsu gave a rough roll timed with a deep grind in return, Lucy mewling and clutching as his shoulders. Lucy was suddenly pulling at the hem of her sweater, Natsu using both hands to help her. He flung the pink material somewhere behind him, letting his eyes roam over her now exposed skin.

White lace cut across pale skin, low cups offering little support and leaving her breasts threatening to spill over the fragile material. Natsu licked his suddenly dry lips, raising his gaze to Lucy's shy one as he gently cupped her with one hand, flesh warm and heavy through the thin material. He watched as she sighed breathily when he palmed at her nipple, eyes concentrating on her dark lashes and full lips and he repeated the motion with a rougher grip. His mouth stopped her third moan and he pushed his tongue between her lips and toyed with her own, wet heat making his mind blank except for the tanginess of Lucy's mouth. Lucy pushed back on his intruding muscle, and she gave his tongue a rough suck when he pinched at her through the white material. Natsu's hand slipped from under her thigh and ran along her ribs, fingers trailing up and down her exposed side before he cupped her other breast. Lucy clawed at his scalp, lips falling open as she mewled when Natsu groped her chest harshly, soft skin spilling between his fingers above the bra. Natsu pushed his tongue dominantly into her mouth, exploring it as Lucy dragged her hand down his back, nails leaving marks where his shirt had ridden up. One hand gripped at his while he massaged her breast again, feeling the weight push into his hand when he played with them.

"Nah~ nggh," Lucy cried, her head tilting back and fully exposing her neck to Natsu, eyes cracking open to look down at him as he made his way along her throat with his mouth and finding himself in the valley of her breasts.

"Fuck Luce," Natsu growled, hips jerking as Lucy rolled hers against the hardness Natsu was pressing into her thigh. "What happened to dinner?" he teased darkly, lips ghosting over the swells of her flushed breasts.

"Fuck dinner," was all Lucy replied, one hand sinking to grab his ass. Natsu chuckled against her skin, mouth opening to suck on the creamy flesh above the lace. She whimpered as Natsu left trails of red marks along the border of her bra, nose pushing in between her chest and allowing Natsu to inhale her scent deeply. Vanilla filled his senses and he exhaled through his mouth, tongue flicking out to trail the seam of her bra and other breast. Lucy arched into his mouth, Natsu grinning as he pulled a nipple between his lips, lacey bra and all. He sucked on it, one hand moving to support her back as she twitched under his ministrations. Her hips ground against his, Natsu pushing further against her body. Sweat slicked their bodies and made Lucy pant harder, Natsu not even trying to control the heat radiating from him as he lost himself to her sounds and her scent and her hands.

Blood pounded in his ears as Lucy let out a strangled wail, Natsu's teeth teasing at her through the thin fabric. Lucy yanked at his hair, dislodging Natsu from her chest and glaring at him with flushed cheeks and lust clouded eyes. "Now who's teasing," she hissed, tongue flicking out and swiping across her lower lip. Natsu's eyes followed the motion, head leaning forward to nip and pull at her lower lip with his canines, pressing a soothing closed lip kiss to the flesh before he pulled back.

"Sorry," Natsu said cheekily, head falling down to return to the wet spot he had left. He was able to suck and push it against the top row of his teeth while he rolled the other one between his forefinger and thumb before Lucy yanked his head up fully. She panted heavily, taking one hand and guiding his to the back of her bra. Natsu grinned lazily as he let his fingers trace the clasp there, Lucy returning her hand to run through his hair.

"You sure?" he asked, voice thick and low, Lucy's breath hitching at his tone. She nodded jerkily, warm smile pulling at her lips as she leaned into his chest and gently pressed her lips to his before pulling away. "What?" Natsu asked, hand releasing her breast and skimming along her bare back, other resting on the clasp of her bra.

"Nothing," Lucy giggled, fingers cupping his jaw on both sides and her eyes flitting across his face aimlessly. "Just... happy," she sighed, Natsu beaming at her and pressing a kiss to her nose before resting his forehead against her sweaty one.

"Me too," he whispered, Lucy's legs tightening around his waist as he lifted his other hand to try and unhook her bra. Natsu almost had it too -and he would have had it sooner if Lucy had stopped distracting him with sweet kisses- when horror made him freeze.

"Natsu?" a low voice said in warning and sounding from behind him. He squeezed his eyes shut, head falling into the joint between Lucy's neck and shoulder as she gasped and her limbs locked around him.

He knew that voice.

That voice should not be here.

He would be dead in five minutes if that voice was truly there.

Lucy, however, did not live by Natsu's 'pretend it's not happening and it will go away' strategy, quiet voice a mixture of disbelief and fear.

"Erza?"


A/N; ITS POSTED ON TIME. Seriously folks, there was a like 80% chance this wasn't going to happen, so be thankful of a 5 hour sit down at Timmy's for this word dump.

Interactions! Plot! Smut! Kinda anyway, lol, but ah yes, the story is picking up. Poor Natsu, you didn't think I'd let him get any action just yet, did you? Muhahaha. Purity marks are in because clothing is removed, and I don't want to risk anyone being, offended, I guess? So innocents, I warn you. It gets worse. And for you sinners, it gets better.

Aquarius appears, finally! What does this mean for the other spirits? And her connection to Layla? Who the fuck knows I mean guess you'll have to wait to see :D

As always, the gem meanings are as accurate as I can get them and I love seeing your guys' reviews! Don't be a stranger, I am needy lol.