Back in Magnolia 2 days ago

Lucy ran frantically away from Laxus, her neck was still throbbing from him biting her and not all the sensation had come back to her body yet but it was enough. She was running with everything she had to get as much distance as possible and found herself running back in the direction of the Guild. Tears had started streaming down her face, from fear? From relief of getting away? Probably both if she was being honest.

She turned another corner and froze, not 10 feet from her was Natsu with Happy flying overhead both running in her direction, "LUUUUCYYYYY" Happy came racing towards her slamming straight in to her chest, Natsu stopped a few feet from her. "What happened Lucy? Natsu thought he heard you screaming for Plue and so we came to look for you?"

"Yeah you alright Luce? And where is Plue, did something happen to him?!?" Natsu's head started swinging violently back and forth trying to find the strange shaky fellow normally glued to Lucy's side. Lucy opened her mouth to say something, to try to tell them what happened but her wall finally broke and those silent tears turned to loud sobs as she hugged Happy tight to her chest and dropped down on her knees her legs falling out to the side.

"Luuuccccyyyyyyyyy...too tight...can't breathe...", Natsu started walking towards the pair to try to free his little buddy, it was evident Lucy was too hysterical to think clearly about letting Happy go, just as he was within arms reach of them though his entire body was racked with lightning he stumbled back crying out in agony, falling to his hands and knees head dropping forwards. "NATSUUU! What...happ...woahhhhhh", Happy was still trying to wriggle free of Lucy and had managed to turn towards Natsu's scream but his jaw dropped as he saw a giant bubble around him and Lucy, and it seemed to be crackling lightning.

Natsu had just recovered enough, the shocks running through him had pretty much gone now and he looked up to see what had Happy freaking out so much. "Uhhhhh Luce...what's with the bubble? Oh cool did your sprits get a new power or something? Ooooo cool I wonder who it could be, I'll bet it's that horse guy right? Yeahhhh he seems the kind that would be able to...no wait, what's that on your shoulder Luce? That better not be what I think it is", Lucy however seemed to lost to be reached by his question, still sobbing with Happy in her arms, Natsu stood up slowing with a frown working it's way across his face. "Hey Happy, can you reach Lucy's hair and move it outta the way of her shoulder, no not that one the other side! Oh shit. That lightning asshole has really stepped the line now".

Anger flashed through Natsu, anger and some other emotion he couldn't quite place. He was suddenly alight with flames and started sniffing around trying to pick up Laxus' scent, only then did he realise how much Lucy smelt like him and his nose crinkled at the thought of her scent being melded with Laxus'. Stepping around Lucy he managed to pick up another scent line from the direction Lucy came from, "Hey Happy, keep an eye on Lucy for me would ya. I got some butts to go kick" a quick glance and an 'Aye Sir!' from Happy and he was off darting around the streets following the scent.

He rounded a corner a few streets away, an alley just off the side of the river right by Lucy's apartment. It was here, their scents were all over this alley. Natsu sniffed around the alley and the Main Street with the river but the only trail of Laxus he could find was down the path to where they'd found Lucy. Damn, he'll have to get the spark plug another day. He scooted back through the streets to Lucy and Happy as fast as he could, he may not be able to find Laxus and give him the ass kicking he deserved but he wasn't going to leave his friend in the state she was, no doubt confused at what had happened.

He found them exactly where he'd left them, Lucy was still sprawled on the floor but her sobbing had stopped, well at least that was something. She turned to look at him, and he could see her eyes still brimmed with tears but she'd managed to stop the flood gates, Happy was still in her arms but she had him in less of a death grip now so he wasn't struggling for air. "Natsu?" Her voice was quiet, oh so quiet and that in itself was enough to scare Natsu, "what happened Natsu? Happy said something that you got shocked or something and then you ran off? Are you ok?"

Natsu huffed out a sigh, of course Lucy would be concerned about him and not her even with what she'd just been through. Just so Lucy. He sat down on the ground a few feet away, he was definitely making sure to keep his distance now he knew what was going on. He brought his eyes up to meet Lucy's big chocolate ones, he knew now she'd stopped crying from when she'd been concerned for him though he doubted the tears lapse would last long when he explained what just happened to her. "I'm fine Lucy. What about you though? What do you remember happening tonight?"

"Oh, uhh nothing really" she darted her eyes quickly away from his, bright red blush filling her face and she started shaking slightly again.

He paused for a moment and sighed - of course she didn't know what happened and was no doubt just embarrassed about what happened. "Lucy", his voice serious pulled Lucy back to look at him, "tell me. Tell me what Laxus did". At the mention of Laxus though Lucy's head started glancing from side to side looking for him, her face lit up with excitement trying to find him. Then it was like the lightbulb went on in Lucy's head, her hand slowly came up to touch at the mark on her neck flinching away when she did, Happy reached out on her lap to stroke her in comfort and she looked from the blue cat slowly up to Natsu a fresh wall of tears filling and then free flowing from her eyes again, eyes filled with fear.

"Now Luce, can you tell me and Happy what you remember?" He didn't really want to hear, but he had to know just how far Laxus had pushed Lucy, maybe there was still a way to save her, he waited patiently on his best friend to compose herself enough and hoped that there was still a lifeline there to save her...

Sorry for the delay. Hope you enjoy this chapter :)

Copperreign12 glad to hear you're enjoying the story so far!