Heres and update, comment for more please.
Trouble was a nice name for a group of asshole bandits that wanted the mystery item. Natsu figured they were just a couple of bandits. No real threat maybe a bit annoying but no problem. And they would've been just that if they didn't have a secret weapon.
One of the group was telepathic. He could see the way Natsus only goal was protection. And he could see which he cared about more the item or the celestial Mage. After the bandits had that information that simply had to figure which to target first.
Luckily for the bandits natsus care for the celestial Mage far out weighed the dumb treasure so they reasoned that all they needed to die was harm the blonde and he would be so distracted with her he wouldn't protect the item.
It didn't go quite as they planned.
First they tried to attack Natsu to distract him as they capture the girl. Natsu knocked them flat in 3 minutes flat. Just in time to see the guy grab onto Lucy and hold a knife to her neck.
"Make another move and the blonde gets it," the lead bandit said with as much bravado as he could muster. Regardless it was enough to stop Natsu in his tracks and send a fierce glare after the man. As Natsu and the bandit stared off Natsu worked hard to squash the feelings of panic arising in his chest. He didn't know what he'd do if he let Lucy get hurt. "Now," the man continued, "obviously I have the upper hand here so here's what's going to happen. You are going to let me take the treasure and I'll let your little girlfriend here go with out any problems. If you put up any resistance, hmmm well she's quite beautiful so, if you put up any resistance I'll rape her in front of you and then kill her." Natsu laughed. Maybe because that was his breaking point, maybe because he knew he could take the scrawny bandit, maybe because the idea of anybody doing...that... To his Lucy made him crazy with anger.
"HahahaHahaha you think, that there is anyway you as going to be able to touch her without dying. Wow that's rich. Now let her go or I will kill you," he said with a frightening seriousness. This just caused the man to give him a harsh look and proceed and push the knife into her throat enough for a bead of blood to form. That was all the motivation Natsu needed.
In full control Natsu sent two small fireballs at the bandit. One hit his hand causing him to drop the knife and one in his face causing him to fall back with a scream of "what the hell!" Natsu immediately scrambled over and gabbed Lucy.
After confirming that she was okay and setting her in a tree with the instructions to "sit there and let him handle the bastards," he went off and swiftly knocked the shit out of each of them.
As he was sitting there admiring his handiwork he heard an angry call of "NATSUUUUUU" causing him to flinch and turn around.
"Haha yeah Luce," he said as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"How dare you put me up here to not fight. I wanna fight to," she pouted, "we are a team that means we both fight and you put me up here where I can't get down."
"Sorry Lucy but that guy was an ass." He said as he got her down from her spot on the tree, "I didn't want him to hurt you and I could only focus on defeating them if you were safe."
"That may be Natsu," she said softly as she walked over to him, "but we are a team we fight together," she placed her hands on his shoulder and drew his onyx eyes into her honey brown eyes, "or do you not think I'm strong enough."
"Luce of course you're strong enough," he said gently as he pulled her into a hug, "I just couldn't handle it if you got hurt. I'm sorry."
"Awww that's so sweet," a mocking voice interrupted causing Natsu to whip around and sigh. There was another jerk here.
"What do you want?" Natsu growled.
"Oh you know just the treasure," the guy stated as he reached towards the item. Before Natsu was able to beat the shit out of the guy like he wanted Lucy stepped forwards.
Natsus eyes widened as he watched his Lucy, the girl he just put into a tree to protect her, use just her whip to beat the bastard. After she was done the man was unconscious so they decided to just leave him there and continue on their way (at a bit quicker pace). But Natsu was amazed. Lucy was so powerful. He didn't get why people always doubted her strength. She could beat up a man just as well as half the guild at least. Granted she was no Erza but few people were.
Either way it just made him love her more. After Lucy's like speech he decided he definitely did love her and he wanted a chance to ask her but they kept getting interrupted or distracted and he was so annoyed. But now he finally had the chance.
"So Luce. How do you know the guy doesn't like you back?" He started breaking the silence that had been comfortably surrounding them.
"Natsu do we really have to talk about this?" She begged.
"Yes. I'm curious. I just kinda realized that I like this one girl and I wanna know more about what I should do," he admitted as he turned his face to hide his blush.
"Ugh fine. I know because he told me he likes someone okay."
"But did he tell you who he liked?" Natsu didn't get how this guy could be so cold towards Lucy's feelings.
"Well no I guess not," she mumbled, " but it's always been obvious that he liked this one girl. Even though I'm pretty sure he just recently realized him self."
"Oh," was all Natsu could think to respond.
"Hey Natsu. Who is it that you like huh?" Lucy started a bit shyly.
"Uhhh well uhm that's not really important is it?" His cheeks now matched his hair.
"Do I know her?" Lucy said a bit more mischievously. She might as well have fun with this.
"Ah um yeah I think so," dammit why couldn't he lie to Lucy.
"So is she in our guild," the more questions Lucy asked the more evil her face looked.
"Well yes..." Natsu muttered looking anywhere but at the blonde celestial mage. God why did she have to do that.
"Is it Lisanna?" She went for he more direct approach.
Natsu finally looked at her with shock. "What no! Why would you think that. She's like a sister to me! God Luce why do you have to ask such weird questions."
Lucy's eyes widened at his quick dismissal of Lisanna. She was pleased but it left her confused. If he didn't like Lisanna who did he like?