"This is it." Gray announced as the group stopped outside the manor.
The rest of the team readied themselves, each entering their offensive position.
Too close.
Natsu's eyebrow twitched in disapproval at the sight before him; Kyle with his arm draped around Lucy's shoulder to situate a knife at her throat while the other was on her waist. It unnerved him in more ways than one.
"Ya gotta be quick; push the arm away to the side from his blind side as soon as he talks." Kyle explained, showing Lucy how to disarm a blade to her throat, "And don't just push it, move yer head to the back else the blade's gonna nick ya."
Lucy nodded, a little unsure of herself.
It was the third day since she arrived at the mansion and the second since Natsu arrived. Things were finally picking up as Lucy and Kyle found some time to themselves for a lesson or two. Well, almost to themselves. A few feet from where they stood was Natsu, glaring in the most vicious gaze he could manage without tipping Lucy over her patience. Lucy and Kyle had no trouble sensing the open hostility and every spike of it when Kyle makes contact with her.
"Like this?" Lucy asks, slowly pushing Kyle's wielding arm by the elbow while moving her head back.
Another twitch.
"Exactly. Now, we're gonna do 'at again but this time, I wan' ya ta move yer other hand too. Slower than the pushin' arm but fast enough ta grab the guy's hands as soon as it's outta yer face."
"Like this?" Lucy did the same motion slightly faster this time and the fingers of her other hand laced itself over Kyle's armed hand to make sure she'd be able to pry it open later.
Another twitch.
"Yeah. Make sure 'at the guy can't shake off yer grip, 'kay?"
Lucy nodded.
"Now, with yer pushin' arm, elbow the guy in the gut to make 'im loosen his hold on ya."
"Okay…"
Lucy mimicked the motion, causing the both of them to bend forward.
Another twitch.
"An' duck to turn an' face 'im while twistin' the hand yer holdin'."
And Lucy did, finally getting out of Kyle's grip and disarming him. At the same moment, Natsu rose from where he was and exclaimed.
"Well! I guess that's that huh?!"
Lucy winced at his outburst while Kyle just deadpanned.
"C'mon Lucy, let's go grab a bite!" Natsu suggested, putting his arm around her to drag her off but she ducked out of his grip just in time.
"Natsu! We just ate an hour ago!"
"So?"
Lucy frowned. She didn't like it when Natsu pretends to be an idiot, granted, there are some cases where he wasn't pretending but this was an exception.
"Natsu…" Lucy breathed. "Here I am with a chance to better myself and you're not helping. Why?"
"There's no need for this kind of training! You're a celestial mage!"
"Natsu! You know very well no one can ever be strong enough, and I'm gonna need to keep getting stronger if I want to continue to fight beside you, Loke and everyone else in FairyTail! If this is what it takes to get me there, I'll take it!"
"You don't have to do this there are plenty of other ways to get stronger! And if not, I'll be there to keep you safe!"
"NATSU!" Lucy finally snapped. "I don't want to be the damsel in distress, I don't want you to keep saving me! I want to be more than that!"
"What do you want to be then?" Natsu asked, his tone in a rare serious note.
Your equal.
"Go eat. I'll join you when I'm done." Lucy turned to return to Kyle.
Natsu shifted his gaze to the ground, realising what he had just said.
What have I done?
"I don't want you to keep saving me!"
He winced. It had hurt him more than it should have.
"FairyTail was it?"
"Huh?" The group questioned in unity.
Cain's eyes narrowed at the sight of their tattoos. Confirming that they were indeed from FairyTail, he proceed to signal for the gate to open, splitting the word 'Burma' in two.
"Come in, Miss Heartfilia is waiting for you."
The sight had taken Wendy and Levy's breath away when they stepped into the mansion, well, it would've taken anyone's breath away save for the fact that the others were more occupied with the man in front of them.
Is he a threat? Was the question ricocheting through their minds.
Meanwhile, as the group reached a crossroad, Wendy's eyes that were roaming across the halls in admiration caught sight of a familiar pink not too far down the other path.
"NATSU!" Wendy cried out in relief.
The said boy stopped walking and turn, surprised to see the gang in the mansion.
"You gu–"
"DON'T GO RUNNING OFF BY YOURSELF!" Erza had yelled before he could even finish and knocked him in the head, sending him crashing to the ground.
Cain sighed, the guild was indeed as rowdy as the rumours said.
"Okay, let's take a break." Kyle announced, although Lucy had long complied without it.
Chest heaving, Lucy decided it would do them some good to talk to Natsu. He had seemed more on edge than usual and she'd like to know why. Picking herself up, she proceeded to grab a towel to dry herself before searching for the pinkette.
"LUCY!"
She had only turned in time to catch a glimpse of blue before she was tackled to the cold hard ground.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!" The blue fur ball interrogated in a mess of tears.
"Happy?! What are you doing here?!"
"The same could be asked about you." Gray questioned back, though his face held more relief than anger.
It wasn't just him, the rest of the gang were the same, and although they were all brimming with questions, she could tell that they were holding it in for later. Her eyes glistened, glad to finally see her team and guild mates again, but the sight was sorely out of place when she realised that the blob of pink was hiding behind the group instead of being in front of them. Smiling in understanding, she called out to him.
"Natsu, let's talk."
"I'm sorry…" Natsu had apologised first-hand the moment they were alone.
Lucy blinked. She didn't expect him to apologise so readily.
"Um… I'm sorry too…" Lucy replied, hands scratching her head, "For lashing out like I did."
Natsu let out a sad smile, knowing that she was forcing herself.
"Okay, so maybe I'm not, but what was that about?"
"I don't know… I was just… really annoyed."
"With what?" Lucy questioned brows raised with a genuine curiosity.
Natsu gave a wordless reply when his eyes darkened considerably.
"At Kyle?" She asked incredulously.
"Yeah! I don't like how he acts all high and mighty and stuff!" Natsu finally burst out, "Telling you to do this and that when he had hurt you so badly before!"
Lucy sighed, glad to finally realise the root of his anger.
"Natsu, I know he had hurt me before but as weird as this may sound, I'm glad he did. Because for the first time since I had entered FairyTail I actually understood what it meant to be alone and helpless."
"But–"
"And the sense of pride and accomplishment when I was able to save myself."
Natsu considered her words for a moment. Was that why she wanted to get stronger? So that she didn't need to rely on anyone? To become independent?
"I'll be lonely…" He had blurt without thinking.
Lucy blinked, her breath caught in her throat. She hadn't thought about it that way. Natsu had always found himself rescuing her, be it with conscious effort or not, due to her being considerably weaker than her teammates –or her teammates being arguably strong– and that was how they formed their bond. Was that why he was upset? Because he thought that if she got stronger, to the point where she would no longer need Natsu's help on the battlefield, then he would've lost her company? The idea actually made her blood boil.
"Natsu."
The said boy raised his gaze to match hers, surprised when both her hands cupped his cheeks.
"Just because I'm getting stronger, it doesn't mean I won't rely on you anymore."
His eyes widened.
"As a matter of fact I don't think I would ever not need your support."
A small smile.
"Besides, if I'm not with you, who'll keep you in line?"
With that, Natsu's signature big grin was out and Lucy couldn't help but follow suit, returning him the smile.
That's right, as much as Natsu was great on the battlefield, he was a mess when it came to everything else and thus needing Lucy to pick up his slack. That's how they complimented each other. It doesn't matter if she got stronger, there would never be a day where she wouldn't need Natsu nor will Natsu ever not need her.
With the serious atmosphere cleared, Lucy finally found it in her to question something that had been bugging her since the beginning of their talk.
"Natsu?"
"Yeah?" His smile still as wide as ever.
"Why on Earthland are we discussing this in the kitchen?"
The chefs around them had been wandering on with their business while giving them quizzical gazes whenever they could.
"Haha! It's 'cause I'm famished!" Natsu replied as though it was the most normal thing on Earth and Lucy couldn't agree more when it came to Natsu.
Sighing, she followed the pinkette deeper into the food haven.
"Really, what'll I do with you?"
A/N: Oh Natsu, we all know that's not the only reason you were pissed at Kyle. But hey, please tell me what you guys think about the story and my writing style cause I would appreciate it. Cheers =)