"Natsu, come inside."
He didn't answer her, merely huffing as he accidentally knocked over a tree.
Lucy sighed as she watched her husband in the backyard. Scorch marks lined the ground and the forest in which they lived.
"Natsu, it's the middle of the night."
"I don't care. I've gotta get stronger."
"Natsu-"
"I've gotten weak, Lucy! That guy never should've been able to get in!"
Lucy gave a stressed sigh again.
Earlier that night, someone - a wizard assassin from a dark guild - had broken in, and very nearly took the life of their daughter. He'd been sent to kill the family. Team Natsu had gotten in the way of many dastardly plans, but all they could assume was that this assassin's employer wouldn't accept defeat. He'd wanted his revenge.
"Natsu, you need sleep."
"I could've lost you!"
"But you didn't!" Lucy urged. "You didn't lose Layla and you didn't lose me!"
"He shouldn't have even gotten close to her!" Natsu yelled, the heat coming off his body enough to burn the vegetation at his feet to cinders as he moved.
"Natsu, we were sleeping! What more could you have done!?" Lucy cried.
"I- There's a lot I could do from now on!"
"Oh, don't tell me you're planning on staying up all night, every night to keep guard!"
Natsu was silent, indicating that that was exactly his plan.
"Natsu, that's ridiculous!"
"How is that ridiculous, Lucy!? I've got to keep you safe! It's like you don't realize how close he was to Layla! Aren't you worried!? Aren't you scared!? Someone else might get sent!"
Lucy had tears in her eyes as her husband accused her of not caring about their toddler's dangerous encounter. "Of course I'm scared, Natsu! I'd be stupid not to be! We'll have Layla sleep in our bedroom until this gets sorted out. But you have to realize that it's not your fault he got in!"
"I should've heard and smelt him far before I did!"
"How many times do I have to remind you that you were sleeping!?" Lucy wept. They shouldn't be fighting after such a thing. They should be holding each other, comforting each other. "As soon as you did wake up and realized something was wrong, you burst in there! The guy ran off in the blink of an eye when he saw you! I didn't even realize what was happening until the aftermath! You are far strong enough to protect your family!"
Lucy stood up off their back porch to approach him. She'd been hesitating, as she could feel the heat of his anger even from there, but at this point she didn't care. She just wanted to feel him. Lucy wrapped her arms around Natsu's back. He was searing to the touch, but Lucy could tell he was cooling down with her presence.
Natsu finally stopped his punches and willed his fire away. "I just…" he started.
"I know."
Lucy moved to his front and reached her hand up to wipe the tears from Natsu's eyes. "It's okay, Natsu. We're safe. I trust you. Your instincts and senses aren't getting weaker."
Natsu shook slightly as he sighed. "I just don't want anything happening to you two."
"I know."
"I love you," he continued.
"I love you, too."
"I'm sorry," he urged.
"Let's go to sleep, Natsu. We'll figure out what to do about this in the morning."
Natsu responded with a nod.