Before we get into this chapter, I would like to say that nothing I write here is my personal opinion of how homosexuals are interpreted my me and myself. I am all for love of the same gender, be you Gay, Lesbian, Trans, Asexual, Genderfluid, Genderqueer, WHATEVER! I believe LOVE KNOWS NO GENDER, and that people should be free to be and/or love whoever they want to. This is coming from a person straight as a fucking ruler, y'all.

I know I didn't list this in the summary beforehand but this is a Superboy/Natsu pairing.

That being said…

I want absolutely NO rapping on the LGBTQ community on my story from any Anons or any actual account users. We are all human beings on this planet, and if someone doesn't 'fit' into the 'mold' you need to get the fuck off of this rock and find a new one to inhabit- like freaking PLUTO. I'm not lez, gay, or any of what I listed, but I support all who are. I've seen reviews of other stories from Anon reviewers about them being nasty, the writers being a fag/bitch lesbian, that they should go die, whatever slurs they use here on by the trolls, but that shouldn't stop them OR me.

If you wanna leave a review like that, I have this to say:

Kindly.

Fuck.

Off.

And go contemplate your life that seems to revolve around hurting others. There are eight other fucking planets in this solar system (and YES Pluto is a planet pry that belief outta my cold dead hands when you bury me), and if you have a problem with me or ANYONE writing something like this, or people out there feeling genuine romantic love for someone of the same gender or genderfluid or trans or WHATEVER, pick one of the other eight rocks/gas giants and go there. NO ONE is forcing you to read or enjoy these stories, so put your brains to use. We were named Homo Sapiens, Wise Man for a reason, so how about we live up to that title, Hmm~?

I have a friend posting this on AO3, so if you want to see the tags there that pertain to this story, go ahead and type in the same name as this story into the search bar there.

With that said, let's get back into it, and sorry for the long-ass authors note!

~~~~*/|\*~~~~

Bereft

~~~~*\|/*~~~~

Mismatched eyes fluttered open, glowing in the night under the moon. What the hell… last I remember I was patrolling with The Bat and Robin in Gotham. Where… am I? Salamander stood and shook off the sand and dust from his scales, wings, and clothes. He raised his nose to the air and took a deep whiff before growling in annoyance. No one around. He began moving his limbs, checking for any damage and he grit his teeth to hold down a gargled cry when his left wing wouldn't move. Dislocated. Guess I'll have to walk.

Salamander slid down the cool-feeling dune and started to go in a random direction, praying it was the right one. He looked up at the stars and found he was going east, but he frowned when he realized he didn't know some of the constellations in this hemisphere. Before Salamander could freak out even more, something crashed into the sand in front of him. Growls and huffs came from the dust cloud and Salamander felt worry rise in him. the dust cleared and it was a boy.

Not a bad-looking boy either. Icy blue eyes stared into mismatched gold and red. Ruffled sand-filled black hair and a broad strong physique. He had no shirt and was a bit dirty, but Salamander was more concerned about him snarling like a wild animal. Knowing it was a long shot but wanting to try, the Halfling slowly raised his hands to sign. {Hey, you don't look so good…} the other teen stared at the Halfling before letting out a scream and jumping at him. Salamander let out a garbled yelp before reflexively trying to fly away.

Big mistake.

He whined as his wing failed and he smashed back into the sand. I can't fly away, he moves faster than I do running so fighting is the only option! Staggering to his feet Salamander lit his fists ablaze, but the moment his got the rabid teen in his sights, something cut off the flow of his magic. Dodging another leap, the Halfling tried again. No luck, and the guy was up and trying again. Out of options, Salamander ran but the boy tackled him from behind, sending both tumbling down another dune and into a rocky ravine below. Salamander let out yelps and whines every time his wing was hit, but the boy was silent. When their fall came to a stop Salamander blinked his eyes open, blood from a gash 0n his forehead dripping into his eye, to see his attacker standing over him, a snarl on his face and fists clenched. The Halfling's vision was overlaid with images of Achnologia in his human form, same posture and physique, before he slammed his eyes shut and curled away, his one good wing used as a weak shield. Of all the things Acnologia taught him, several of them rang true, especially one in this situation:

A Downed Dragon is a Dead Dragon.

Salamander waited for the end to come, but instead he heard the rocks and sand crunch under someone's feet, coming closer to him. a warm presence pulled in close to his head and Salamander tensed. Before feeling someone… smell him?

Whot?

Cracking an eye open, Salamander saw the boy leaned in close and sniffing his good wing. The teen blinked, his eyes losing their enraged gleam a little- now he just seemed more of the curious-angry instead of the rip-you-apart-angry. The boy leaned back before frowning and coming forwards again to sniff at Salamander's neck. The Halfling was stiff as he just let it happen, but shook as he fought off the ticklish feeling. Maybe this was how the nomads in whatever desert he was in greeted each other- nah don't be stupid, Salamander. Finally the boy backed away with a scowl, but it wasn't as sharp or harsh as it had been… Salamander's dragon instincts were growling, a low mantra of mine, mine, mine, mine thrumming in his head and deep in his chest in the form of a purr before a dulled pain thumped in his chest.

Ah… that's why he couldn't use his magic against this guy. Salamander was in Season, and by sheer dumb luck, he'd picked this wild boy as his mate. The guy hesitated before leaning forwards once more and nuzzling Salamander's stomach, a low growl like a purr rumbling from his frame as he settled down. Salamander huffed before hesitantly running his clawed fingers through the teen's hair. You're not so scary after all, huh? More like a kitten than a tiger. Salamander's wing throbbed in pain, but he ignored it for now. He had to focus on finding other people and taming this wild kid.

But how could he do that when he was mute?

Ah, well… he'd sleep on it for now- looks like the guy laying on him has the same idea anyways.

=›◊‹=

…He couldn't remember anything, just anger. It burned through Him, making everything hot-tight-red.

A green Female had spoken to Him, called him Superman.

He didn't like that, so He tried to make her stop.

She threw Him and He didn't know where He landed… everything was strange, unknown, not-right. He had to find something right, safe.

He found someone else. A Male with wings, tough-strong-skin and a tail? He looked… familiar, but He couldn't place why. Hands moved- would he attack? Best to keep him from doing so.

Wait, that wing was wrong.

Wrongwrongwrong.

Why was His chest hurting when He looked at the Wrong-Wing? The boy was trying to run away? Why did that make Him hurt? Stop hurting Him! He would catch him and make him stop hurting Him!

Wait…

…This smell… like warm-things and blowing-things… high-up-things… good mouth-water things too?

It smells nice… why does it smell nice? Maybe He could get closer and see…?

Images of a boy with black hair and gold eyes… eyes wide with sparkles and shines and light. Only the eyes were visible, and his hair was changing from black to pink… strange. All this from a smell?

He was playing a thing? Sound? Pretty sounds came from the thing…

A large creature, but He didn't feel threatened- felt safe and… warm-feeling around the large creature. Gold eyes and markings flashed as it blew hot-crackling-golden-yellow at some monstrous creatures, then black-red-crackles and gold turned red-black-more red.

Also felt warm, nice against the cold blowing-feeling on his skin.

this one is good. Safe. Will protect this one. This one Mine.

Something ran through His hair and He hummed, the warm-feeling in His chest growing. It was nice here… safe… He could rest now- He found what He wanted to- something Right.

~~~~*/|\*~~~~

The next day Salamander woke with a crick in his neck and his wing burning like crazy- he never relocated it. The proper thing to do would have been to relocate it the night before, but he was busy with the guy that was evidently his mate laying on his belly. Taking a breath, Salamander leaned forwards from the rock he was propped against. On three, Natsu… counting down, he barely got to two when a loud CRASH made him jump in shock, smacking against the rock prematurely and popping his wing back in place before three.

Mother of SHITFUCK that HURT!

Turning to glare at the intruder, he paused when he saw his Mate crouched there (and shirtless, gods give him strength), looking at him with a worried scowl. Salamander shook his head with a reassuring smile, trying to convey he was fine, but an almost deadpan glare from the wild boy made him jolt. It's like he knows to call me out on my bullshit...

He stood, propping himself against the rocks beside him and under the watchful eye of his Mate. Rotating his wing to see the range of movement, he could glide for long distances, but that was it. Before the two could even attempt on making a plan of action they heard gunshots in the distance. Salamander narrowed his eyes when he saw something trailing dust, but headed straight for them… Kid Flash?!

Mismatched eyes went wide with surprise- what was KF doing here- wait, did he kidnap a girl? Why was he carrying a girl? Dammit, Wally I thought we talked about this, you can't just kidnap girls whenever you feel like it!

Huffing smoke, Salamander moved to intercept the fleeing speedster when the wild boy growled, standing in front of the downed Halfling as if to shield him. Kid Flash skidded to a stop and let the girl down before bending over. They were far enough away that Salamander couldn't hear them, so he tried to tell the wild child that they should go towards them.

It… didn't go well.

The leaping wild guy slammed into the ground and backhanded Kid Flash into the rocky wall. Salamander raced forwards, trying to get the wild guy to stop. He went after the girl next, not stopping as she fired arrows at him point blank. Salamander felt anger wash over him- she's trying to hurt my mate…that-that… Ugly Wench!

Wait… that name sparked something… a wriggling worm in his mind, trying to make him remember…

A whistling from above was the only warning Salamander had before he lunged to shove his mate out of the way. Instead, they were both caught up in the blast, and Salamander's world was lit up like a firework before he opened his mouth and began to eat.

=›◊‹=

Kid Flash knew the basic range of his friend's abilities. Robin was freaking scary because he knew everything Batman knew, Aqualad had Hydrokinesis and bioelectricity, Natsu was an extreme form of Pyrokineses. But, seeing Natsu EAT fire? That was a whole new ballgame.

He sucked the explosion in and crouched low to the ground with a burp. He looked up with a smirk and Wally did a double take because his eyes were red and gold. Natsu had all-gold eyes. but this kid was undoubtedly Natsu…contact lens?! What was going on?!

=›◊‹=

Sprinting down the dunes on all fours towards the tanks that had dared to attack his mate, Salamander sucked in a breath.

Golden Flame Dragon's ROAAAARRR!

A pillar of fire barreled towards the first tank, the men evacuating just before it exploded. The second one swiveled it's gun to fire at him but his Mate lept and bent the barrel before ripping the lid off. He threw one of the fleeing men away and turned to the final tank, bellowing a challenge. Salamander crouched like a Gargouille on the remains of the tank, arching his back and hissing- proveyourselftoyourmateyouarestrongfastgoodhunterproveit! With a huff he lept off the tank, but a steel wire bola flew in out of nowhere and tangled his tail and wings, jolting the pained one and throwing him off-balance. He yelped before crashing to the ground.

Salamander writhed and hissed, dragon and human fighting for dominance as his Mate fought alone, without anyone to watch his back, without him to watch his back. Salamander grit his teeth when the ropes lashed down on his Mate's arms, holding them out and leaving him vulnerable, and when he fell because of a man in a hood, he saw red.

That's it.

Salamander shifted, red and black lightning with red flames writhing and hissing over his scales, his scales took on a more jagged appearance at the wings, his tail-spear turned more blade-like and jagged, and his markings gained red and extra black along with the gold. He thrashed in the bola before he broke free and roared, sending some soldiers screaming while others opened fire on the rampaging dragon-boy. Salamander's tail smashed in the sand, sending shockwaves out and dust clouds flying and the appendage whipping everywhere and knocking men off their feet.

"Take control of it!"

Salamander's massive head swung towards the man who spoke, but saw the same one with a hood who took down his mate. "The boy is nothing short of a feral beast at this point. There's not much to control right now." Salamander growled, fire curling from his jowls before roaring and charging the man.

Psimon smirked before lifting his hand. "Enough. Psimon says… Sleep."

The rampaging dragon-boy flopped to the ground, digging a trench in the dirt before coming to a complete stop just at Psimon's feet. "Put him with the other one. His power is… interesting, not to mention he and his mentor have been a thorn in my side for a long time."

=›◊‹=

Artemis, Robin, Miss Martian, and KF opened their eyes after receiving their memories of the last six months again. "So, Aqualad is still unaccounted for." Kid Flash said. "The guy has gills, and wandering the desert for over 24 hours… he'll be in trouble." "Not to mention Salamander is still with Superboy… he was acting weird when they fought off the tanks- like he couldn't let Teen-of-Steel out of his sight." Robin shifted, something Kid Flash caught. "You know something?"

He gave the speedster a look. "You know how he is around this time of year, especially since Superboy came." The redhead's eyes widened. " Ooooh… yeah, those two are as safe as they can be then." The girls shared a confused look. "what-?"

"For lack of better words… Salamander's in heat." Artemis blinked before huffing. "That makes so much sense now..." Robin nodded as he looked at his gauntlet computer. "Aqualad's close, but stationary. Let's go."

Miss Martian hung back in the group, her gaze hidden by her red hair. The realization of what was going on between her two friends dawning in her. Deep in her mind, she felt a twinge of disgust.

Two males?

Together?

It could never work, not to mention she never even heard of something like that happening, not even on Mars. It didn't seem- no, it wasn't right! Boys were supposed to be with girls and girls with boys, as it has always been. The martian looked up and frowned at the horizon. Maybe her friends were just confused, or… broken? Could people even get broken?

…maybe she could fix them?

=›◊‹=

Salamander hissed and snarled as he strained against the shackles and muzzle keeping him from getting to his mate. Electricity buzzed as the wild teen got zapped again and again, and a spherical ball across from then screeched as it was given the same treatment.

Psimon sniffed in disdain as he stood just outside Salamander's range. "Really, I thought he would have regained his senses by now… well, I've been wrong before… up the dosage on the purified Skink's Hair. Let's see how long it takes him to break~."

The foul mist hissed from the vents in his muzzle and Salamander's growls turned into whimpers. He reared back, shaking his head as pain coursed through his body. It was like needles working through his bloodstream, like his father dislocating his wings as punishment. Everything hurt, but whatever he felt, the dragon-boy had no doubt that his Mate felt even worse. He didn't have the sudden strange immunity to electricity and lightning Salamander did. The dragon-boy's legs failed him and he flopped to his side, reaching out a foreleg feebly towards his screaming partner, shudders wracking his frame as he listened to his pain. Tears filled mismatched eyes at how weak he was, he was a Halfling! Part dragon! He should be stronger!

=›◊‹=

Miss Martian had left her team behind in search for the clone and the Superboy. She could hear them, she was close. 'Hold on, boys!'

Finding the tent she saw Salamander's dragon form lying in a heap near Superboy's vertical table. The dragon-boy was twitching, drool oozing from the sides of his muzzle as he was forced to inhale his weakness of Skink's Hair, the substance invading his senses like the poison it was.

Feeling something grab her mental probe, she was ordered to do one thing.

'Psimon says… Forget.'

=›◊‹=

He saw something, but at the same time didn't. He could sense something there with Small-Turned-Large-Black-Warm-One and Himself. He knew the Not-Seen and Small-Turned-Large-Black-Warm-One needed help.

…Breaking free was a given. Suddenly being with Not-Seen and realizing Not-Seen was the Green Female from before confused Him, but not that badly.

She was doing something- pictures with sound and color once again like with Small-Turned-Large-Black-Warm-One, only something more.

Horned creatures- Gen0morphs, His brothers, people trying to help Him, telling Him it was His decision, that He lives.

Superman ignores him, but no matter- he will ignore him as well, even if it Hurts- itches Bubbles inside- no, that's Anger. Even if it makes him Angry, that's alright. He has the team, but it would be nice to be acknowledged.

His name, His purpose- Superboy, to replace Superman if he ever strayed from the Light… no, His purpose was to help people, alongside His team, alongside… Natsu?

The Small-Turned-Large-Black-Warm-One was Natsu. His name, yes, that's it- happy, sad, sassy Natsu, wait, the Warm feeling… Wrong? Maybe-yes-maybe-not, but… But, red, gold, black form… evil? Scary? Dangerous, yes that was the word, dangerous. But he knew that wasn't true… still, best to be on guard?

Fix…?

What was there to-?

Green Female… Megan. She's nice, if a bit prone to mistakes. She brings a slightly warm feeling too. Maybe-.

Wait…

Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Artemis, Megan, Natsu. All of them…

Superboy remembered.

=›◊‹=

Salamander felt images flooding his mind and strength rapidly rush into his body as the muzzle pumping Skink's Hair into his body was ripped off of him. The combination of his two elements active in his body burnt through the toxin faster than Wally eating an average non-metahuman lunch at a school cafeteria and his mind cleared, memories restored. Mismatched eyes flew open and he slammed a claw to the ground, sending a small tremor out and distracting Psimon from his mental attack. "Hey, you alright?" Mat- Superboy's voice pulled the Halfling's attention and Salamander nodded. 'Yeah- I'm all fired up. Let's roast these suckers!'

Salamander reared back his head and roared, shaking the ground and giving them more of an edge against the soldiers rapidly approaching their location. The dragon-boy lept, keeping n mind his power had to be dialed down a bit because these weren't normal Metahumans or even aliens- they were human and much more fragile; nothing against the human race whatsoever, though. As fists wreathed in flame and jumps that could crack the earth echoed around the battle field, a sudden wind whipped up, spinning anything with wings or the average human into the air. 'Superboy, go help Miss M!' Salamander shifted back to his normal form, leaping from soldier to soldier and using the current to his advantage to travel, knocking them out as he went.

Superboy vanished into the green twister and Salamander had to duck when the screeching spherical ball that was being experimented on nearly beaned him in the head. along with it several of the soldiers he'd knocked out tried to fly at him. Think, Natsu! How can you gather them all up?! He remembered the lightning netting Abracadabra used to trap his friends and that gave him an idea, making him grin and bear his fangs at the danger and insanity of what he wanted to do- this went way beyond trying to assimilate black lightning into his golden flames, this could probably damage his Etherveins or worse, but he couldn't see another option. Using his tail, Salamander grabbed onto the sphere and their combined weight gradually brought them back to the ground. The Halfling crouched on his heels and focused, the familiar pose helping him tap into his more primal side, which in turn focused him even more.

I need to cut off myself from fire, use only lightning. Make sure it won't hurt anyone- no burns, no scratches, not one. Be precise, be fast, and be accurate…

Accurate and fast… be just like…

Salamander narrowed his eyes before he widened them sharply, a red glow emitting from his right eye and slowly began overtaking his gold marks as the secondary element flared within him, shoving his primary down temporarily.

Yeah… be just like lightning!

His right eye pulsed red and he bore his teeth as the secondary element flooded his Etherveins and made his muscles twitch with pain, not used to being denied their normal fire for a more sharp and precise element like lightning.

Salamander's gold markings suddenly and violently dyed themselves full-on red, a ripple pattern forming in his red eye as a small trail of lightning arched from the ocular orb. He fell forwards on all fours, spines forming in his back and creating a lightning-laced ridge that buzzed, almost like it was collecting the electrons in the air. Steam hissed from his mouth as he snarled at the new volatile power he now had, it's name ringing in his mind as easily as it did with his first new form.

Black Lightningstorm Mode.

The air hummed as Salamander tensed, pulling up more power to bring his idea into fruitarian.

'Art of the Black Lightningstorm Dragon- Catching Thunder!'

Branches of electricity in black and red shot from his slightly more jagged wings, claw tips, new spines, and tail, forming a sort of safety net that safely gathered the wildly flailing soldiers several of them had regained consciousness and were shouting in panic when Salamander had rounded them up. The Halfling's muscles bulged as he fought against the psychic winds, planting his feet, claws, and tail into the earth as he growled and huffed. 'Don't worry!' He called to the men over him. 'I got you! I'll get you out of there!'

With a massive heave Salamander yanked them down to earth, bringing in the lightning-construct like a fisherman would a fishing net at sea. When the men were only two meters from the ground, the winds instantly cut off and they all toppled to the ground. Salamander panted as if he were an oxygen starved man drowning in the ocean, sweat dripping from his shoulders and chin as he realized what he just pulled off.

'Oh, gods… oh- oh, GODS I DID IT! HAHAHAAAAA~!' Salamander screamed and giggled in glee at what he just succeeded in doing- he separated his elements without any side effe-!

*Buzz*

The Halfling winced as something in him seemed to burn like a bee sting. That is, of the bee were about the size of a mouse. The pain went away as fast as it came and the Halfling realized he wasn't alone. He turned to his larger friend (not mate why would he try for that now?! He'd tell him after the mission.) and moved to run over to them, grinning ecstatically. 'Supe-!'

The world actually seemed to stop and tunnel, the dragon side of the Halfling went unusually quiet and cold… no, it felt betrayed, empty, abandoned, lost. For several seconds, Salamander- no, Natsu, was doused in cold and numbness.

Thump-thud!

Miss Martian and Superboy…

Thump-thud!

Lips of opposing colors centimeters away.

Thump-thud!

Copper brown and sky blue only for each other, shining with a relief too intense to be just relief.

Thump-thu-

*Crack!*

The Halfling's joy whooshed out of him about as fast as the tornado suddenly vanished and he froze on his feet in the sand. The one he chose… his mate… Superboy…

He'd picked someone, but…

But it wasn't Natsu.

Copper eyes flitted over to Salamander and the two righted themselves, shooting the frozen Halfling awkward if relieved smiles. "I'm glad you're okay, Salamander." Miss Martian said, her voice showing the bare almost non-detectable hint of hesitancy. Natsu's unnerving gaze snapped to her, the red eye with a ripple pattern seeming to peer into her very mind before he grit his teeth…

And smiled.

'I was worried about you two! Took ya long enough!'

The martian girl could see right through him, and she felt… she felt dirty all of a sudden, because that smile was painfully fake, too big, too many teeth, and the eyes had suddenly lost a part that made Natsu… Natsu. What she did…well, she felt it was right, she fixed them, didn't she?

But if that were true…

Then why why why does she feel like she's made a grave decision?

Why did she feel so dirty?

A squealing sound came from the sphere Salamander and Superboy rescued (or it had rescued them… hard to say) as it rolled up to the two alien-blooded teens and snapped the girl out of her thoughts, making her squash them into a box and stow it in the farthest reaches of her mind where no one could get to them (or her for that matter). Superboy glanced at Miss Martian and Salamander before looking back at the girl. His eyes looked hopeful as he asked the fateful question to the viridian-skinned extraterrestrial.

"Can I keep it?"

~~~~*/|\*~~~~

Superboy frowned as he watched Natsu fly outside the window, opting to take Wally and Robin with him this time under the claim that they hadn't flown in forever and had a hella lotta bromance to catch up on. Kaldur narrowed his eyes at the two who seemed to have some one-sided tension between them- normally Natsu would demand Superboy fly with him, so this blatant avoidance of his normal flight partner was hugely unusual, but understandable. When the initial hype of the mission had died down and Kaldur got his memories back, realizing Natsu had a new form and seeing Natsu's new form for the first time was a shock, but more so was his new… demeanor. Kaldur instantly saw the slouch in Salamander's form, the empty look in his eyes, how his tail fought to carry itself like it would when he was happy or content but would pull lower and lower to the ground until it touched the dirt before snapping back up, and the looks he threw Superboy and Megan.

Kaldur felt his heart grow heave with sadness for his younger team mate- he'd been down this road, he knew what was going on better than anyone.

After all, the Atlantian wasn't blind…

He knew what heartbreak looked like.

=›◊‹=

"Natsu come on… talk to us, man." Wally shared a worried look with Robin when the large form carrying them gave no verbal response.

Instead, impressions, feelings, colors, blurry images, and sadness so bad that Wally and Robin gasped.

The two shared sad glances before they leaned forwards and pressed their hands to Natsu's scales.

After all, the Speedster and the Robin weren't blind…

They knew what weakness and never being enough felt like.

Back at the Mountain

Mission debriefing was swift, but for Natsu it dragged on forever. He just wanted to disappear.

"Salamander, stay here for a moment." Looking up with mismatched eyes Natsu saw Kaldur, Wally, and Robin looking at him with worried eyes. as everyone else left for their rooms or home, the four original members of the 'Squad' stayed with Batman in the main room.

"You told him you're-?"

'No.'

Kaldur frowned in concern. "Then what happened?" Natsu hid his eyes under his bangs, a mantra of worthless, weak, making your nest worry, pathetic dragon thumping in his head, and Kaldur's eyes widened in understanding. Fear gripped the Atlantian's heart and he reached out in a rare display of comfort to hug the younger male, but Natsu stepped away, merely giving a wobbly tight smile to his two friends. 'Look… I just want to be left alone. It'll pass with-with time…' Robin clenched his fists. "Natsu you've told us about what could happen if one doesn't have a positive reciprocation, or if they never had a chance to begin with… you could-!"

'that's a worse-case scenario, Baby Harpy- for all I know, it'll take hundreds or thousands of years for me to get that far. I still have things I wanna do in the world. Dun' worry- I'll pull through'

The Halfling turned and walked away, the worried and concerned gaze of four people that were important to him drilling into his back.

=›◊‹=

Natsu ran his claws reverently along the black wood of the grand piano Black Canary had set up in his room. It was going to be vital for him in the coming weeks, along with his flute, violin, and guitar.

A piercing jar from his hand slamming onto the piano keys knocked him from his sudden descent. He was terrified of when the time came for him to Rampage, but he was slightly worried that he was okay with Repose… he chuckled, a mirthless sound filled with cracking masks and shattering glass as his vision blurred and his heart ached like Superman's fist was crushing it bit by bit.

What now, mother?

He sank onto the piano bench and hiding his face in his clawed hands. He then lifted his face to the ceiling, letting the room bear witness to his tears as they rolled down his face, fat, wet, but useless to heal him. The Halfling turned to the guitar, a black color with gentle gold splatters like embers over the worn wood. He remembered when Acnologia told him of dragon mates- though in contempt, the Halfling had sensed a sort of longing in the chaos dragon. Pulling his knees to his chest, Natsu buried his face into the scales and recalled what his father said would happen to him as his days wore on.


When a dragon is rejected, or his Chosen picks their partner before he or she finishes the courtship, a progression of three things will happen:

1) Regress. The dragon becomes either idle or restless and depressed. It can retreat to it's den for a wide range in periods of time. Varying from one element or specialty of dragon to another, the regression can last anywhere from five days to five hundred years- in rare cases, the period can extend well into the thousand years.

2) Rampage. Overcome by anger and sadness after their retreat, the dragon rejected reverts to baser instincts, becoming nothing more than a mere animal. They will seek solitude and lose all sense of self they had obtained over their lives.

3) Repose. The dragon will regain it's sense of self once more, but what made it want to live did not choose it to begin with. Therefore, as dragons only choose and mate once in their lifetime, the rejected will fade into oblivion and die.

Natsu's shoulders shook and fear gripped his heart. He was on borrowed time- the Halfling had no idea how long a Flame-Base dragon's Regression Period would be. He didn't want to be seen as an animal, a creature meant to be put down, again…

He didn't want to die.