Chapter 3: The Salamander

"What's that one there? Natsu pointed up to the sky from his position on the roof. Lucy chuckled as she followed the direction of his pointed hand towards a large cluster of stars, Lucy always loved star gazing, but from her house in the city the stars were never visible, thank Mavis her best friend lived so far removed from the city. So that's how the two of them were spending their Friday night, not at the Christmas dance at school with everyone else, but together staring at the night sky on top of Natsu's house. Lucy had her neck resting on Natsu's outspread arm, they were cheek to cheek.

"Natsu…I already told you what that one is three times, that's the little dipper, nothing special." Lucy burst into a fit of giggles.

"No, not that one! The one under it there, do you see it?!" Natsu exclaimed, directing her to move her eyes south eventually her eyes landed on another constellation and she felt her heart flutter.

"Oh yeah I found it, that's the water bearer star sign." She replied with a smile. She looked over to Natsu to see his face staring back at it perplexed.

"U-ummm are you sure? It doesn't look like a bear." He deadpanned rotating his head in the hopes of seeing a bear in the cluster of stars. Lucy felt like slapping her forehead.

"No Natsu, not a bear….a water bearer it's Aquarius!" Lucy giggled at her best friend's actions.

"Ohhhh, I knew that!" Natsu announced proudly and Lucy couldn't handle it. She broke into a fit of laughter causing her sides to start hurting, Natsu soon joined her. The two laid there laughing until they remembered they needed to breathe and even then, they were still giggling furiously.

"OI! THING ONE AND THING TWO!" A loud voice interrupted their laughing fit, they looked at each other and crawled over to the edge of the roof where Igneel was standing there with his arms crossed looking up at them while tapping his foot. Natsu gulped.

"Oh boy this won't be good.." He whispered in Lucy's ear she nodded her head in agreement.

"Yeah dad?!" Natsu yelled back.

"Do you mind telling me why you two are up on my roof instead of at the school's Christmas party?!"

"Ummmmm we just didn't feel like going." Natsu replied Lucy nodded her head agreeing with him.

"Yeah and besides we couldn't get dates!" Lucy added she saw Igneel roll his eyes while Natsu turned his head from her.

"Oh really…Natsu that's not the story you told me earlier this week." Natsu's face paled at his father's words while Lucy whipped her head in his direction.

"What happened?" She asked instantly and Igneel smirked.

"Oh nothing much he just got asked to the dance by that Elie girl, but he said no…Wanna know why he rejected her Luce?" Natsu's face turned crimson.

"She doesn't want to know dad!" He tried, but Lucy wasn't letting him off the hook.

"No no, please tell me Igneel, why did sweet Natsu reject poor Elie's offer?" She completely ignored the look of betrayal Natsu sent her while Igneel beamed.

"He said that he only wanted to go with his Lucy, because it wouldn't feel right without you by his side!" Igneel revealed and Natsu's face became redder than the crimson jacket he was sporting at the moment. Lucy probably didn't look much different, she slowly looked over to her best friend, but decided to keep the teasing going, because it wasn't everyday Natsu Dragneel was blushing and silent.

"Wait really? Are we sure our Natsu said this? Then how come he never asked me to go?" Natsu's eyes widened as his adopted father responded.

"If I had to guess, it would be that he just chickened out!"

"It's a shame too really, I probably would've said yes, but now who knows." Natsu's eyes instantly narrowed as he looked over to his blonde companion and he shot up to his feet pointing at her.

"I AM NOT A CHICKEN! LUCY HEARTFILIA YOU ARE GOING TO THE DANCE WITH ME!" He shouted out, Lucy chuckled and decided she wasn't done quite yet.

"Am I?" She giggled, but soon Natsu had picked her up and placed his hands on both her shoulders. He ducked down so that they were making eye contact, and Lucy didn't dare to break it. Maybe this was karma for teasing him, she didn't even realize how badly her face had started heating up.

"Lucy, will you, go to the Christmas dance with me?" He didn't look away as he spoke the sentence which just caused Lucy's blush to deepen. Igneel smirked up as he watched the scene unfold.

"U-umm, I-I m-mean i-it's l-like really s-short n-notice i-isn't it?" Lucy stuttered her eyes still not leaving Natsu's, but Natsu's flickered with a hint of sadness for a split second.

"You're right, I'm sor…"

"But yes, I'd love to!" Lucy interrupted using what courage she could muster to fight away the stutter that almost came out. Natsu's face brightened and morphed into a large grin.

"R-really?!"

"Yes, really Natsu, I only wanted one person to ask me and that was you silly! What took you so long?"

"He chickened out." Igneel stated, but had a large, proud fatherly smile on his face.

"N-no I didn't! I just didn't think you'd want to go with me!" Natsu argued, Lucy glared at him before smacking his arm.

"Idiot, of course I wanted to go with you!"

"Owww, hey I didn't know that cut me some slack."

"NO! Do you know that the dance started already, I don't even have enough time to put makeup on or do my hair!"

"I SAID I WAS SORRY!"

"THIS WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM IF YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED ME EARLIER!"

"WE STILL WOULD'VE BEEN LATE WITH HOW LONG IT TAKES YOU TO DO YOUR MAKEUP!"

"WHAT WAS THAT!"

"BESIDES I ALWAYS THINK YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL!"

"Wait what?"

"AND I JUST ASSUMED THAT YOU WANTED TO GO WITH SOMEONE BETTER THAN ME!"

"Natsu…"

"AND SO I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO BE MAD AT ME!"

"Natsu…"

"AND…"

"NATSU DRAGNEEL!" Lucy finally interrupted his rant.

"WHAT?!"

"Calm down…."

"I AM CALM!"

"Ooookayyyyy…anyway, I wouldn't have been mad at you for asking me to the dance Natsu…I would have been happy like I am now, I don't want one of those preppy assholes that go to our school and have a new girl around their waste. I want you, my goofball with pink hair." She flushed at her own words, but nonetheless continued looking into his eyes, his face flipped into the largest grin.

"You mean it?" He asked her. She nodded her head.

"Of course, Natsu." He let out a sigh and pulled her into a hug. She hugged him back. Igneel coughed. The two suddenly remembered he had been watching them, they looked down where he was holding up his phone obviously recording everything.

"Are you two done? You need to hurry and get ready, Lucy I stopped at your father's house to grab a dress!" He lowered his phone revealing the large grin.

"Wait, you two were working together? That's cold!" Lucy snapped Igneel just laughed.

"Of course we did! I already sent him the video! Now hurry up and get ready Tweedledee and Tweedledumb!" And with that he walked into the house leaving Natsu and Lucy to scramble down in unison saying.

"You're Tweedledumb!"

Lucy sighed from where she laid in her bed, that night had ended up being one of the best of her and Natsu's lives, she looked down at her phone where her wallpaper was her and Natsu's infamous kiss that night that Levy oh so quietly had captured for the rest of time. Four days had passed since then, four days since she last saw Igneel and Natsu so happy and carefree. To say she was in denial is an understatement, she couldn't begin to wrap her head around the fact that he was truly gone. She was tired, but couldn't sleep, every time she closed her eyes worry about her best friend overtook her, and sadness for the loss of someone she loved as if he raised her. Igneel played a key part in her life, he helped her almost as much as Natsu did when her mother passed away four years ago, he even took her in after she ran away from her dad. If she was having this reaction towards his passing, then Natsu was going to have it a million times worse. Igneel was all he had. Natsu never knew his parents, all he knew was that he was found in the woods next to Igneel's house, and Igneel took him in, that's all he ever had in terms of family. Igneel. He would always tell her that it didn't bother him and that he had all he ever needed, but she still sees the way his eyes land on a family eating happily at restaurants, she stills sees the brief flash of sadness, and now. Now he didn't have anyone. Except her. Sighing Lucy stared out the window into the snowy night wondering where Natsu had taken off to. She didn't have to wait long for her answer, because soon her bedroom door creaked, and she heard a pitiful meow. She followed the sounds and saw Natsu walking into the bedroom holding Happy bundled in a scarf. He was slightly shivering and his skin was turning blue in places, Lucy instantly sprung up to her feet to meet him.

"Natsu!" She whispered as she approached him, he stood still except for the involuntary shaking he was doing due to the cold weather. Happy once more let out a sad meow.

"Oh, L-Luce! Why a-are you still a-awake…" Natsu shivered. Lucy quickly grabbed a blanket from the closet and threw it around his shoulders.

"Because I was worried about you! Here follow me." Lucy whispered back, she grasped his hand and pulled him out of the bedroom, Happy meowing in protest at the sudden movement. Lucy closed the door behind them. She dragged him through the hallway until they reached the large staircase, she hurried him into the living room and plopped him next to the fireplace. She grabbed the box of matches and attempted to ignite it, but she was having no success and broke a couple of them. She let out a couple of swears, Natsu eventually stood and handed the blue cat bundled in the scarf to the blonde.

"Here. I can get it." He took the box of matches and on his first attempt a roaring fire had started in the fireplace. He placed the matches on top of the mantle and held out his hands to warm himself up. Lucy trudged over holding several pillows and blankets. She threw them on the ground still cradling Happy in her arms. She took a seat on the floor, Natsu soon sat next to her, his arms still held out towards the fire as he tucked himself under a blanket.

"Natsu….."

"Yeah Luce?"

"I'm so sorry….I can't begin to wrap my head around everything….'

"It's okay…"

"Is it actually?" Lucy gave him a look to reassure him that it would be okay to tell her the truth.

"….no…" Natsu curled himself up into a ball leading Lucy to wrap her free arm around him. He rested his head on her shoulder. He made a silent promise to himself to not cry anymore, but it was so hard. A few stray tears fell from his eyes onto Lucy's shoulder.

"Oh Natsu…" Lucy tightened her grip on him.

"I just can't believe he's gone…It doesn't feel real."

"I know what you mean..." Lucy sympathized remembering when she lost her mother.

"I don't understand why someone would do this...I should have stayed. It's my fault he is gone…"

"What are you talking about? No it's not!"

"Yes, it is…I knew something was off, but I left anyway…if I would have stayed, he might still be here…"

"Or you would've been killed too…Natsu, it's not your fault I promise…"

"I still have a hard time believing that…I just miss him…"

"I know…come here…" She dropped Happy into the middle of them and wrapped her other arm around him pulling him closer. Natsu wrapped his arms around her in response. No tears fell, but he still sobbed quietly into her shoulder.

"Shhh, you're okay, I'm right here…" Lucy spoke softly to soothe him while she rubbed his back. She laid a soft kiss onto the top of his head.

"I'm so confused, and angry…and lost. I just can't believe he's gone."

"I know Natsu. I know." And so, they sat there bundled up in blankets, Natsu holding Happy, and Lucy holding Natsu. They stayed like that for the remainder of the night, and despite both being tired neither one of them went to sleep, they just couldn't fall asleep. The events of the day are still very fresh in their minds. Soon the sun shone through the curtains and Lucy's alarm went off on her phone. Without either one of them getting a minute of sleep they begrudgingly had to get ready for school. Natsu arguing that it's what Igneel would have wanted him to the two wondered upstairs where they found the others were also starting to wake. Natsu dropped Happy onto the bed while Lucy set out a bowl of water and a small scoop of cat food, she had left over from that one time she had to cat sit Happy for a weekend. She also found some of Natsu's clothes he left from one of their previous sleep overs. He got dressed and looked at his father's scarf, he felt a twinge of sadness as he wrapped it around his neck. Once everyone was dressed and ready they found themselves in the driveway as Jude's butler Caprico pulled up to them in a van, they all got in Lucy sitting next to Natsu allowing him to lay his head on her shoulder the entire trip. The car ride between Lucy's house and the school only took about fifteen minutes and they all thanked Caprico as they got out. Stopping in front of the doors to Magnolia High Levy and Gray turned to face Natsu who was holding Lucy's hand now.

"Natsu, are you sure you feel up to this?" Levy asked.

"Yeah man if you want Caprico is still right there, nobody will blame you for not wanting to go." Gray agreed with the petite bluenette.

"Y-yeah I'm sure." Natsu replied, Lucy gave his hand a reassuring squeeze and with one last nod Levy and Gray opened the double doors and Natsu with Lucy by his side walked into the school the rest of the gang following behind. They were greeted by the normal loud chaos, but as soon as Natsu had walked into the hall, complete silence took over. Never had a school that could house over a thousand kids been so quiet, and all the student's stares were fixated on one person. Natsu. He received another squeeze from his best friend and walked forward. Almost immediately the whispers started.

"Why is he here?!"

"I can't believe it….poor guy."

"I heard it was murder."

"His house also burnt down!"

"I wish I was there to comfort him instead of that bimbo."

"He must be so strong, I wouldn't be here if that happened to me!"

"I thought the police arrested him?"

"I can't believe him, he probably just wants the attention!"

"If having my dad get murdered is what it takes to get a broad like that then shitttt I'd kill my own dad as well!" This last one caught Lucy's ear and she immediately stopped and looked around for the person who had said it, luckily Gray had already found the culprit and was holding them against the lockers by his collar.

"How. Dare. You." Gray snapped at the teen who was now sporting a swollen blue bruise by his eye that matched his blue and gold varsity jacket.

"Gray….He's not worth it…." Natsu spoke softly, continuing walking through the tunnel of gawkers leaving Lucy and the others behind. Once he rounded the corner the guy Gray had a hold of decided to open his mouth again.

"What's the big idea?! Everyone knows that he's the only suspect. As far as I'm concerned, he kil-" He didn't finish Gray's fist connecting into his face interrupted him. Erza walked up behind Gray and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Gray. Allow me to take care of him." And with that a swift knee was sent into the guy's gut, he bent over hacking.

"ANYBODY ELSE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH NATSU?!" Lucy yelled out, Juvia and Levy stood behind her with their arms crossed and glares on their faces, all the onlookers turned their head saying stuff like:

"No ma'am." Or,

"Of course not!"

Natsu power walked to an exit and stormed out. It was a mistake going here, the wound was still too fresh. He couldn't handle it. He didn't know where he was walking to, he just knew he had to get out of there. The snow crunched beneath his feet as he walked through the city. Passing by buildings that all looked the same, across the bridge that hung over a frozen river, he didn't stop, he just kept going forward.

"SOMEONE HELPPPP!" Natsu froze in his tracks upon hearing the cry. He looked around for the sound. He didn't need to wait too long before the same voice let out an ear throbbing scream. Natsu turned in the direction it came from and without thinking rushed over. He sprinted over to a nearby alleyway where he saw three large figures surrounding a small boy who stood over another boy who was knocked out cold on the ground.

"HEY WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?!" Natsu yelled out, catching the attention of the four figures, the three large men turned with disgusting grins on their faces.

"Nothing to ya squirt, now scram and forget you saw anything!" The burliest man in the middle snapped, Natsu clenched his fists and didn't budge.

"Ah a stubborn one huh?"

"Or maybe just deaf! Either way maybe we need to teach him a lesson for messing with Eisenwald!" The three men in unison stepped forward cracking their necks and fists. Natsu gulped. He took a fighting stance, sure Igneel was a several time martial arts champion and sure he trained Natsu, but still he had never been in a fight before, his heart pounded in his ears as the three men walked closer. Adrenaline coursing through his body and before he knew what was happening, he had rushed forward at them, dodging a large fist and flipping over a kick. He ducked a clothesline that came thrusting at him, it probably would have taken his head clean off if it had connected.

"You're a fast little punk aren't you?!"

"Fast or not I will still pulverize you!" The two smaller ones charged forward from both sides, Natsu sidestepped them and let their fists connected into the other's jaws sending them crumbling to the ground.

"TAKE THIS YOU PEST!" The largest one charged and Natsu readied himself and he ducked the large man's punch and sent a strong uppercut to his chin. He stumbled back as his buddies slowly got back to his feet. Natsu's heart started beating faster and faster. More and more adrenaline pumping in his veins, and his body started to grow hotter…and hotter. The three towering figures walked towards him but stopped in their tracks. A warm glow was eliminating the formerly dark alley. Natsu looked down as he noticed his hands were warmer than normal, his eyes widened. His fists were surrounded in fire. His fists were on fire. He smirked, this just got interesting. While they were taken aback Natsu surged forward. He sent a strong punch to one of their cheeks sending him into the wall knocking him out cold. The other two recovered from their shock and attacked. Natsu weaved and dodged, feeling the warmth flow into his feet he jumped up and kicked one of them hard in the chest sending him flying back. Soon only one remained and Natsu caught his punch and offered his own spicy knuckle sandwich. The guy couldn't handle it and fell over unconscious. The flames soon died out and the three large men were left knocked out on the ground, Natsu looked around for the two boys, but they must have fled during the fight. He just shrugged before.

"YOU THERE, FREEZE!" Natsu's eyes widened as he turned to face a gun pointed at him and a police officer was holding it while standing in front of the two young cowering boys, Natsu's arms immediately shot up.

"I can explain!"

"I'm sure you can bud, just keep your hands where I can see them you Pyro!" The policeman walked forward and fished out a pair of handcuffs, Natsu panicked and did the first thing that came to mind. Push and run. He sprinted away as the police officer fell onto his butt yelling.

"GET BACK HERE!"

Natsu ran for a while and hid on a nearby fire escape. He stayed there for a few hours staring down at his hands until it was nearly time for school to let out, he figured that it would be safe to come out, so he jumped down. He decided to walk back to Lucy's house and so that's what he did, but he soon passed a electronic shop with televisions in the front display, they were all playing the same news report.

BREAKING NEWS: NEW SUSPECT IN IGNEEL DRAGNEEL CASE DUBBED AS THE SALAMANDER!

Chapter 4: Public Enemy Number One

A/N: Response to DraconicHeart's review: The way I see it people just view powers and abilities as a freak of nature, so they definitely do fear it, so they maybe aren't as widely accepted as one would hope.

Uchida Akira: Thank you very much, I'm glad you like it!

Amanny: What can I say except you are awesome! Thank you so much for all the positive feedback!