Natsu banged his head against the invisible wall surrounding Lucy. How had it come to this? Maybe if he found and beat the shit out of Freed he could try to talk to her again? Thinking about it though he realized she was clever and would find some other way to just ignore him.
When he had caught up to her she hadn't gotten far but she had this look like she was ready for battle. He always liked that look in her eye not to mention the stance she would take. If he was honest with himself it was really kind of a turn on. That wasn't what was important though. What was important was the fact that she was giving him that look.
Confused and slightly scared he attempted again to talk to her. However before he could finish her name she dipped a key into the river calling out that sea beast Aquarius. You would have never guessed just how protective of her master that witch could be considering how mean she was most days to Lucy. Sadly for Natsu, today happened to be one of those days she was ready to help her master no questions asked. Lucy didn't even have to say anything before he found himself being flushed down the street along with a few unfortunate passersby and part of a bridge. Great now Gramps would be mad about damages and he was pretty sure he'd be getting yelled at for it.
By the time he caught up to her again he burst through the guild doors, literally, flaming pissed. Not only was he drenched and needed to dry off but his anger was spilling over. Once again though, she was a step ahead of him. Apparently before Freed had left on his mission with the Raijinshū, she had talked him into helping her out with some runes. Now every time he touched, talked, or threw something at the one foot space around Lucy he got the same stupid message.
"Those within these runes shall be allowed to move with their protection. All within shall not be physically touched, directly or indirectly by one named Natsu Dragneel. All within shall not hear any noise, vocal or otherwise made by one named Natsu Dragneel. All within these runes voice shall not be heard by one named Natsu Dragneel. These runes shall not disperse until those within speak their wish for them to do so."
Sighing in defeat Natsu hit his head against the rune wall one last time before whimpering out, "Luuuccyyy," tiredly. Glancing forlornly at the mentioned woman, and glaring at the mocking words glowing across the rune wall, he slumped onto a bench at one of the tables still within view of the blond and slammed his head on its surface not moving any further.
At first no one bothered to try and talk to Natsu. The only knowledge on the situation they had gotten was from a distraught Happy shortly before Lucy had burst through the guild doors yelling for Freed. From what they gathered Happy had wanted fish or something, Natsu had said something to Lucy making her think he hated her, and Lucy now hated both of them. later with arder than need since it now had a dent in it butp and comfy like last night, and nued to stomp around to the windowIt was hard to make out through the sobs and snot.
Grey was the first to take pity on the dragon slayer. By pity he meant distraction, and by that he meant starting a fight. "Oi, flaming fruit…" stripping off his shirt he continued, "what the hell happened to make Lucy like that," he finished by pointing at the brooding woman at the bar. No one had dared to attempt to go near her after she spoke to Freed and stormed to the bar. As an afterthought Grey realized someone should have asked Freed what was going on before the man left. Surely he would know since Lucy actually spoke to him?
Natsu didn't even look up to address the icy prick. He was so incredibly sad it hurt. Never in all his life had he felt so defeated and alone. He was pretty sure this hurt as much and maybe more than the morning he woke up to find Igneel missing. He hadn't even bothered to talk to Happy yet guessing that if he couldn't make up with Lucy, Happy, for once, would be siding with her. For the first time ever he cursed the attachment Happy had on Lucy.
Grey stood there waiting for a reply that never came. Finally taking a seat across from the downtrodden man he sighed heavily himself. He had never seen the guy look so terrible. His previous thoughts on beating on him forgotten he decided to be a good friend and get to the bottom of all this. Not for the flame eating idiot's sake but for Lucy's, or so he told himself. "Look I'm trying to help here. What happened? Just start from the beginning fire breath." Of course he couldn't be too nice to the guy, after all they were rivals but nakama none the less.
Natsu stiffened slightly realizing the popsicle stripper wouldn't be going away anytime soon. Of anyone in the guild he really didn't want to talk about this with him of all people, but it seemed that the ice queen was the only one willing to hear his side of things. Maybe Lucy had talked to him? That or maybe he actually would help and relay a message or something for him? Sighing once more he lifted his head and looked the frosted pervert in the eye, "You really want to help princess frostbite?" he asked wearily. Noticing that the jeer was over looked and that the snowflake in front of him nodded he relented.
"I really don't know how it got like this," Natsu sighed out as he buried his face in his hands. "The three of us woke up all happy this morning and she was in a great mood. Hell she didn't even kick me out of bed or make me let go of her or nothing."
Grey cut him off, "Wait! You were in bed with her? Like holding onto her and shit? Slept all night together? Seriously?!"
"Yeh so what? That's not the point here! You want me to go on or not ice tard?" Natsu growled mad at himself for the admittance but even more pissed the queen of frost fairies interrupted him. Seeing the idiot in front of him wave his hands to continue he did, "Anyway like I said she was in a great mood. Even cooked breakfast. I mean she seemed fine. Kept kind of getting embarrassed by random stuff but… Whatever not the point." He stated drastically waving his hands as if to swat at flies.
Huffing he continued, "So she makes breakfast, next thing I know Happy suggest we go fishing. Lucy always complains about going fishing, so when she said ok all cheery and shit I was shocked. I asked her about it too. That's when shit hit the fan. She gets up, shuts herself in the bathroom, Happy freaks out on me and leaves crying, and then when she finally comes out she starts yelling for me to get out and shit until she gets pissed enough and leaves. I tried to follow her but she called that crazy ass sea devil Aquarius on me." Natsu almost had to laugh seeing that even the stripping icicle cringed at that. "After that, well you were here so you know already."
Grey sat silently for a moment taking in everything. For the most part Happy's outburst made more sense now. There were still a few questions though. He really wanted to know how the ash for brains got to stay in Lucy's bed of all people, but he supposed that could wait until the pair were in better moods and he could tease both of them over it. Thinking about what he heard he started his interrogation, "Ok inflamed asshole, I still don't get how you managed to sleep next to Lucy, but I'll drop that for now. What I want to know is what exactly did you say when she agreed to go fishing?"
"Ugggghhhh, I already told you what I said you prissy ice cube!"
"Listen matchstick, I'm trying to help here! From the looks of it I'm the only one too. Whatever set her off happened after Happy asked to go fishing, right? So it had to be something said by someone. Since she seems only pissed at you, given what those runes say, it must have been what you said. Maybe she misheard you or something? I don't know unless you tell me what the fuck you said!" Damn this moron frustrated him. Reaching in his pants pocket Grey pulled out a cigarette. Seemed he only needed them anymore when he was irritable, and right now he was!
"Fine…" Natsu groaned out. This was all in the name of getting Lucy to be his friend, at the least, again! He had to keep reminding himself about this in order to keep this up. "She had told Happy that going fishing was a great idea. I was kind of shocked, like I said, since she always tries to get out of going so I asked her if she was serious. When she said yeh and asked why she wouldn't be I told her it was because she never wanted to go. Then she said something like she always went with us when we asked. I knew she did, it was just we usually had to convince her to. So I said she only agreed after she whined bitched and complained about it, and something about her never just outright wanting to go with us without fighting over it. Then I asked her why she just agreed like that because it seriously didn't make sense. That's basically how it went I think. After all that was when she stood up and told me if I hadn't wanted her to go I should have said so. She never gave me a chance to ask her what the fuck she was talking about before she told me to take all the shit I've ever left at her house and get out and then locked herself in the bathroom forever. After that Happy yelled at me and left."
Natsu paused for a moment slamming his head on the table once more. "I tried to get her to come out and talk to me but she wouldn't even answer me. Finally when she did come out she kept cutting me off. I couldn't even get out like three fucking words. Every time I opened my mouth she just yelled at me to get out. Then next thing I know she shoves a big pile of all my and Happy's shit into my arms and yelled for me to leave again. When I didn't she stormed out the door. I tried to follow her and like I said she called out that water baring hell spawn before I could even get her name out."
Grey leaned back and whistled through his teeth. This was far more then he could handle and he knew it. Even if someone tried to talk on fire crotch's behalf, Lucy would probably not listen to them. For once the guy was on his own. "Damn… You know you're lucky Erza is out of town right? That and Mira hasn't heard what happened yet." Seeing the lump across from him do what seemed to be a nod of agreement he huffed. "I can tell you what I think she is thinking. Or at least knowing Lucy and her fucked up imagination what I think she's thinking. From the sounds of it, questioning her like that might have made her think you didn't want her to tag along with you and Happy."
Natsu's head snapped up, "WHAT!?" he bellowed earning a few looks from the guild. Waving them off and glaring to tell them to mind their business he turned back to the snow cone, "So what the hell do I do? She won't even talk to me. Hell she can't even hear me!"
Grey shook his head solemnly to the negative. "Honestly? You got to figure out a way to talk to her. Maybe write it down or something? But she won't listen to anyone talking for you at this rate. Just man up and tell her what the hell was going on in that fire engulfed pea size brain of yours."
Glaring once more across from him, Natsu growled out, "How the hell do you expect me to do that you half naked frosted flake? Anything I touch doesn't even get past those damn runes. Fucking clever ass woman thought of everything."
"Fuck I don't know man. Get someone to write it all for you. Just don't touch the paper or pen or nothing."
For the first time in hours Natsu brightened. Standing up he said excitedly, "Holy fuck! You might actually be worth something you frozen piece of dog shit!" Scanning the guild he found the perfect person to help him. Starting to walk away he thought of something, "Hey Grey?"
"Yeh," the man replied without thought at his name being called. Wait did the flamer of all people just…
"Thanks." Was all Natsu said as he walked off.
Grey smirked, "I did it for Lucy's sake not yours, Natsu." Grey had to laugh as he watched the direction his nakama walked off to. Whatever that walking forest fire had to say he definitely didn't want it getting around considering his choice for further help.