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"Love is a feel-good feeling, like feeling a cat's fur while my hair is on fire and my grandpa is reciting the pledge of allegiance while staring at my star-spangle-bannered boxers. "

― Jarod Kintz, My love can only occupy one person at a time

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Ignite

Chapter #2: Smoke

(:)A(:)

Natsu's nose picked up on a lot more than he let his guild mates know. It wasn't so much that he was embarrassed about it, but he had come to realize that certain things were sometimes better left unsaid. Besides, he had grown up with his heightened sense of smell, so really it was just a normal thing for him to be able to smell the slight changes that anyone else would be immune to.

He could tell what was being served at the guild before he even came within a few blocks of the building. And it was only a matter of a quick sniff to tell if that sneeze the person to his left had just emitted was due to dust or the start of a nasty cold. A single drop of blood could be spilled in a sea of people and Natsu would be able to not only smell it, but also recognize whose it was. And he knew, like second nature, to heed the warning in a women's scent when their bodies were preparing for that time.

Erza and Lucy would no doubt maim and murder him if they found out exactly how much he knew about their bodies, but it really wasn't his fault. Telling him not to smell was like telling a normal person not to see.

It hadn't been a problem before, really. He tried to use the information to his advantage (though he admittedly forgot sometimes). When the warning came in Erza's scent he tried to steer as far away from her as possible. If that wasn't an option then he made a valiant effort not to do, or say, or even breath anything that might set her off. When her 'rage stage' (as he so fondly called it) was over and he could sense her discomfort he would try to nudge Mira into getting the volatile mage something sweet. It didn't usually take much - Mira was pretty observant like that. A simple, "Man, Erza sure seems like she's in a mood today" or "Wow, I really wouldn't want to be that fork right now" usually did the trick.

With Lucy it was a bit easier. At least the influx of hormones didn't bring out any homicidal or destructive tendencies. She got more sensitive than anything else. Things that she would usually brush off seemed to make her flinch and sometimes his and Happy's goofy antics would bring an annoyed scowl to her face instead of a smile. Every now and then he would forget and do something to push her too far and was given one of her infamous 'Lucy kicks' for his trouble. Overall though, Lucy was mostly herself. Heaven help the man (Jellal if the universe had any sense of justice) that ended up with Erza.

Of course, it wasn't so much the 'rage stage' that had been giving him problems lately.

He was avoiding Lucy.

Not outright mind you, but just for those few days out of the month when her scent spiked and being around her did dangerous things to his self control. He wasn't really sure what the occurrence was called in human standards. Maybe there wasn't even a word for it, but in animals he had heard it being referred to as 'in heat'. Natsu thought that term made perfect sense considering that being around Lucy around that time had the nasty habit of sending his body temperature through the roof.

Lucy had always smelled good. He had noticed that little fact the moment he had met her. When she didn't douse herself in that confusing concoction of floral perfumes her scent was sweet with just the right amount of smoky spice to make it interesting. It fit her and he enjoyed it even if she didn't seem to. The days she actually smelled like herself were few and far between thanks to that stupid perfume she always wore. Those few days a month though - she could probably bath in the sickly sweet substance and he would still be able to smell her. It overwhelmed everything, including him.

It happened with all the girls - the spike that is. But it had never really bothered him before. It was just like seeing an advertisement or a flyer on a passing building. You noticed it and then you moved on. No big deal. Except ever since Lucy had ran her fingers down his back and lit this thing inside him, her scent was less like a flyer and more like the whole damn building - complete with large flashing arrows and a welcome sign that said 'Come On In'.

Outside it was tolerable, more muted, as long as he kept a safe distance. But indoors, even in large open spaces like the guild hall, there was no escaping it. It made his pulse jump and his hands go clammy, sometimes he could even feel his face flush. It lured him with its warmth and filled his mind with fragmented images that he was sure Lucy would not approve of. He didn't really approve of them either. They were best friends - partners. Wondering what her skin might feel like, might taste like, seemed more than a little awkward. And something deep in his gut told him that if he ever acted on these urges -these curiosities - then everything they had together would be gone for good.

But damn if she didn't make it hard for him.

In those moments when he couldn't escape he found himself fighting the impulse to reach out and touch her. Sometimes it was just the innocent holding of her hand that he craved. Other times (most of the time) he felt the crazy need to touch every last inch of her skin and cover her in his own scent. Which was stupid and so backwards that it made the compulsion even more irritating. Why would he want to make her smell like him when he enjoyed the smell of Lucy? It was annoying enough whenever someone else touched her and left behind their signature scent, why the hell would he want to be one of them?

Stupid. It was all so damn embarrassingly stupid.

"Natsu!"

Crap.

His body froze mid step, but his head was already turning to find her. She looked ... nice. Then again he wasn't sure there was ever a time Lucy didn't. He swallowed thickly, forcing his eyes to stay on her face and not evaluate how much of her thighs her shorts were showing off or how low that scoop necked t-shirt was on her breasts.

"H-hey Lucy!" He tried not to flinch when he stuttered. Fairy Tail women, while lacking his sense of smell, seemed to have the innate ability to sense his fear. On the bright side, at least they were alone in the entry of the guild hall. On the not so bright side ... well, he was alone with Lucy in the guild hall.

Shit.

"I've been looking for you!" she exclaimed, sending him an exasperated smile as she stopped in front of him, "Where have you been?"

"Uh," she was way too close, her scent was making him dizzy. Just, maybe if he didn't breath so much. Yeah, good plan. "You know, around."

A confused frown tugged at her lips and she tilted her head as she examined him. "Are you holding your breath?" There was a dangerous edge to her voice that clearly told him that his answer could easily earn him a slap.

Damn, she noticed? He gulped, scratching the back of his neck and awkwardly laughing. "Ah, no. Not at all!" He took a step back and focused breathing through his mouth instead but crap she was still too close. He could taste her scent on his tongue.

Obviously his acting skills needed a little work because her eyes narrowed and her hands perched self righteously on her hips. Those deliciously curved - No. No thinking about her hips. Or her boobs. Even though the way she was leaning angrily towards him gave him the best view of her supple - damn it! "You are! What?! Do I smell or something?"

He blinked. "Well, yeah." Of course she did, what kind of question was that? Everyone had a smell.

She looked taken aback, and suddenly her face was cherry red. "I do?!" she squeaked, taking an embarrassed step away from him before wrapping her arms around herself self consciously (which of course only made a harder for him to keep from staring at her breasts).

Realization hit him like a ton of bricks and, flustered (because damn it he had made her doubt herself), he exclaimed, "Not like that you weirdo!"

He shouldn't have said that. Why did he say that?! He should have just played it off as a joke! She wasn't in 'rage stage' so maybe he would have even gotten away with out her fist slamming into his face.

Blinking, her embarrassment slowly faded until the only evidence that it was ever even there was the rosy flush across the apples of her cheeks. There was a blatant question in her eyes that not even Natsu, in all his habitual cluelessness, could ignore.

"Uh," he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, not surprised to find it hot. His whole stupid face was probably hot enough to cook on. "That is, you always smell. You're just a little smellier today."

Her left eye twitched dangerously and he hastily back tracked. "Uh, no! Still not what I meant!" He brought his hand to his face and groaned, wishing she could just hurry up and summon Virgo to bury him right then and there. When had talking to Lucy become so hard? "You smell ... nice. It's just stronger today," he forced out, the words partially mumbled by his hand.

A moment passed and then, "Oh."

Damn it, if his face heated up anymore his whole freaking head was going to catch on fire. "Yeah."

"What," she paused and Natsu could practically feel her fidgeting in front of him, "What do I smell like?"

Startled, his hand dropped from his face. "Uh, it's kind of hard to explain." It was. It was really hard to explain. Describing scent was like describing color to a person who couldn't see. Maybe a writer like Lucy had that kind of skill with words but he was just Natsu. Words weren't his thing, he spoke a language of actions and even then he wasn't really all that fluent.

Lucy's voice was soft, her fingers reaching up to tuck a lock of golden hair behind her ear. "Oh, ok then. I understand." Was it him or did she seem almost ... disappointed? She gave him a little smile that didn't quite meet her eyes and somehow it made his chest twinge painfully. Yeah, definitely disappointed. "Well, I'll see you later then."

Shit. Shit, shit, shit.

"Honey," he blurted, the single word successfully stopping the celestial mage in her tracks. She turned around, her eyes wide and curious as she regarded him thoughtfully. He had said it without really thinking but ... it fit. She did kind of smell like honey. Honey and something warm, something smoky - "And cinnamon," he added, crossing his arms over his chest and fighting (and failing) to keep the heat from his cheeks. He glared at the floor so he wouldn't have to look at her face as he made a complete and utter fool of himself. "And, you know, other stuff."

For a long moment she was completely silent and Natsu began to feel irritated with himself. What the hell was he thinking? Honey and cinnamon? And other stuff? Crap he was such an idiot. Like she would even understand -

"A campfire."

His head snapped up at her odd response. Was that her weird way of saying she wanted to roast him over a fire or something for being such an idiot? No ... couldn't be. She was smiling at him, a real on this time - the kind that made her eyes look just a little bit warmer. "I've always thought you smelled kinda like a campfire." She leaned back on her heels, her hands crossed behind her as she sent him a teasing wink. "And other stuff."

Maybe she understood more than he thought.

He grinned, the force of it nearly splitting his cheeks. "A really big campfire?"

She laughed, the sound bouncing of the walls and filling his heart with warmth. "The biggest."

AN: I'm hoping Natsu is still seeming in character (please let me know if he isn't). It's a bit a struggle to balance his innocence with the new feelings he's encountering.

Someone has asked where in the series this is taking place, To tell you the truth I'm kinda keeping it vague for my own sanity. I'm on episode 100 of the anime, but I want to keep it vague enough to where I can have the freedom to play off of anything that happens while I continue watching. So, basically, be patient with me!

Thank you for all the kind reviews! They definately pushed me to get this chapter out to you sooner. :)

Please continue to tell me your thoughts! As a new NaLu fanatic I'm pretty much desperate for approval (really, it's kind of embarressing).

(Also, the cover art is my own so if you feel the need to use it please just give credit where credit is due. Please and thank you!)