Title: His name should not be what comes out from her lips

But it was the name she called out anyway.

"Naaatsu!" She screamed as she fell towards a flaming pit of lava, she could not help calling out his name. Ark had been trying to hold her hand to keep her from falling. He would have fallen with her too had Gajeel not held him back. But as it was, Lucy lost her grip as the villain who had taken hold of her foot pulled her down with him.

But before she could fall into the flames, she was enveloped by strong arms who held her tightly in his embrace. Unlike Ark, no one was able to hold Natsu back as he jumped after Lucy.

Lucy clung to Natsu's shoulders as he landed on lava as if it was just normal ground and then jumped high up to land on the safer side of the pit where no lava was flowing. Then he started running to get Lucy away from the heat.

Lucy stared up at Natsu as he ran. Natsu would always save her, no matter what danger she was in, he would always show up to save her. There was a warm fuzzy feeling in her heart whenever she thought about it.

When finally there were in the clear Natsu glanced down at the girl in his arms and grinned at her. "I told you I would fish you out even in the pitts of hell."

Lucy giggled. It was a wonder that Natsu can smile and joke in this kind of situation. Had it been Ark, he would have been so angry that she had placed herself in danger and he would be yelling at her right now.

She understood why he would do that of course. She acted the same way every time Natsu rushes into harms way. Unlike Natsu who seemed to be able to fix any kind of situation, she and Ark were alike in the sense that they felt less capable of protecting the people they loved. And thus, they tend to worry more about them.

"You're more like the demon." She teased Natsu as his face was filled with soot from his last fight. Then she laid back her head on his shoulder and fell asleep from exhaustion.

In just a few minutes, the rest of the team came running towards them with worry. The team this time was composed of Natsu, Lucy, Gajeel, Levy and Ark. Being carried by Levy was a fainted Happy. In fact, every single one of them looked like they were in bad shape. They were completely exhausted and mostly out of magic. The last fight had taken its toll on them.

"Lucy!" Ark exclaimed as they got within earshot. He went to stand in front of Natsu looking Lucy over. And seeing as she was unconscious, fear rose up from his heart. "What is wrong with her?" He asked in a trembling voice.

Levy stood beside Ark to look over at Lucy as well. She leaned in to hear her breathing. "She seems to be merely asleep. I think she will be fine." She concluded.

"Yes, she is fine." Natsu agreed. His good sense of hearing enabled him to hear the steady pounding of Lucy's heart so he knew she was not in any danger.

Ark closed his eyes in relief. Then he held out his arms to Natsu. "I'll take her."

But instead of handing her over, Natsu's arms tightened over Lucy. "It's fine. I can carry her." He said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Ark stood his ground. "You don't have to." His arms was still stretched out, and he moved them towards Natsu to reinstate his intentions.

Natsu became annoyed. "I am perfectly capable of carrying Lucy." Then he started moving forward. "We should start heading back so she can get a proper sleep."

"Ah Nat..." Gajeel started to protest Natsu's actions but then he met Levy's eyes and stopped himself as Levy shook her head.

"Give Lucy back to me!" Ark's roaring command made both Gajeel and Levy look at him in surprise. Ark had always been a really nice guy. He was always respectful to Natsu and did his best to be friendly with him.

He was also very romantic, bringing Lucy flowers and setting up candle lit dates. It was no wonder Lucy was so enamored with him. And still, he was so understanding about Lucy and Natsu's relationship and never complained about Natsu breaking in to Lucy's apartment.

Levy and Gajeel's eyes met again, both showing their unease at the situation. It seemed the friendly understanding between the two had finally ended.

Natsu stopped on his tracks. "Why? You can't even protect her. You allowed her to be placed in danger and you couldn't even keep her safe." He turned back to face Ark and his eyes glittered dangerously. "So why should I listen to you?"

Any wizard lesser than the likes of Gajeel, Erza, or Laxus would have probably cowered in fear at that look. But Ark was too angry to be afraid. "Right, because you are so great and mighty." Ark was exhausted as well and he was at the end of his rope. "Well, not everyone is some godly dragon with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of energy."

"Do not get me wrong." He continued. "I am grateful you saved Lucy. For that I owe you even my life! But that doesn't mean that you can just..."

Natsu stopped listening the moment Ark mentioned owing Natsu his life. He didn't understand why, but it grated at his nerves so much he wanted to explode. "Owe me your life?" He hissed as he interrupted Ark's tirade. "And why would you owe me your life? I saved Lucy, she owes me her life. Not you."

In the back of Natsu's mind he knew he was being unreasonable. Of course Lucy would never owe him her life. He would save Lucy even if he had to go down to the depths of hell and still Lucy would never owe him a thing. But he was so angry at what Ark said and what it implied that words he never meant burst out from his lips.

Ark was incensed. He laughed sarcastically at Natsu's words. "If any life here is owed, it is yours to hers!" Ark was just getting started. "How many times have she risked life and limb to save you from your own madness?" He was getting angrier at the second. "You think that as the person who loves Lucy I found your behavior exemplary? You think I enjoyed seeing her run all over the place making sure you are unharmed and trying to keep you from going berserk? But I endured all of it because I love her and she cares about her friend." He placed great emphasis on the word friend.

Then he stepped closer to Natsu and glared right back at him. "But let us make something clear here Natsu. Lucy is mine."

Lucy is mine.

The words whirled round and round in Natsu's mind and filled him with blind rage. How dare another person claim Lucy as his. So, he was Lucy's boyfriend, so what? What were boyfriends for anyway? Candidates for marriage? And what was marriage for? One never needed one to form a family, that Natsu knew for sure. The guild showed him that. To make kids? Was something of that purpose comparable to the bond he shared with Lucy? No it wasn't. What he had with Lucy was more than some... some... what exactly did she have with Ark?

His anger burned more as he thought about it. How long had Ark actually known Lucy? Six months? Did he actually think he had a stronger bond with Lucy? How dare he claimed Lucy as his.

"Say that again?" Natsu's words was filled with so much menace that even the angry Ark thought twice of provoking him further.

Gajeel and Levy decided it was time to intervene. Natsu didn't look like he was in control anymore, he seemed to be falling deeper into anger. Not that anyone can actually stop him if he decided to go berserk at this point. Gajeel was out of magic and so was Levy.

So they decided to go with reason. "Nats..."

"Natsu?" Lucy chose that time to wake up and Levy was filled with relief. If anyone can stop Natsu it was Lucy. It always was Lucy.

"What's wrong?" Lucy could feel that Natsu's emotions were in turmoil and she started to get worried. Did enemies they didn't know about show up?

The moment Natsu heard Lucy's voice he started calming down. "Nothing's wrong Lucy. We just need to get you a proper place to rest." He was back to his own self again.

As relief washed over her, Lucy saw Ark and she suddenly felt awkward being held in Natsu's arms. "Natsu, you can place me down now."

"No." Natsu declined stubbornly. But it wasn't in the same tone he used with Ark. Instead it sounded teasing and playful.

"I said put me down." Lucy commanded more aggressively as she wiggled out of his arms.

Natsu released her so abruptly that she almost fell face flat on the ground. But she managed to fall on her feet and she glared at Natsu who tried to look at her innocently.

She rolled her eyes as she went to Ark's side. "Are you okay?" Ark asked in concern as he smoothed over Lucy's hair.

Lucy blushed at the gesture. "I'm fine. I'm healthy as a cow." Then she blushed some more at her words.

Ark laughed deeply, caught at her charms and completely forgetting about his argument with Natsu. But as the couple walked by Natsu, Ark couldn't help but give him a smug look. He didn't mean to gloat but Natsu's behavior had really annoyed him.

But instead of being angry or jealous as Ark expected, Natsu just shrugged.

Then he smiled at Ark.

"It was still my name she called."