notes: even though i haven't been getting a lot of reviews or feedback on this story, i was eager to start writing the second chapter because i really need to write before all this inspiration is gone. so enjoy!

"Really?" Lucy sounded surprised as well as she ran her fingers through the hair of her lover while the two had a long chat about their day. "How did Prince Gajeel find out?"

"I don't know!" The pink-haired Prince threw his hands up in anger and frustration, the look of annoyance stretched across his face. "That fucker is probably trying to sabotage my entire life!" He frowned deeply. "Just when I thought things were going in a good direction..."

"Hey," Lucy stopped to make him look up at her. "don't say that," she pressed her palm against the side of his face. "don't worry so much into it... we just have to be more careful."

"Are we not careful right now?" He asked making her shrug.

"I don't know but if Prince Gajeel knows, I'm sure he's not the only one who does."

"So... what does this mean?"

"It means," she let out a sigh as she smiled slightly. "we might have to stop meeting every day."

At this, Natsu sat up so quickly that it startled Lucy, the blonde clutching her chest in her palms as she looked at the Prince who gave her the look of bewilderment.

"Natsu—?"

"Are you crazy?" Natsu almost shouted. "I can't even go couple of hours without feeling all jittery and you expect me to stop seeing you every day?" He had the look of anger and disbelief decorating his handsome face. "Absolutely not."

"But Natsu—"

"I said no, Lucy." He laid back down, the look of anger still mirroring his face making Lucy sigh and look at him.

She felt happy that Natsu was acting so angry about the thought of not seeing each other every day but she was worried. She didn't want Natsu to get in trouble for seeing her, a commoner, and she absolutely did not want to get in trouble, either. But whatever she thought of was a terrible idea.

She, too, didn't like the idea of not seeing her Prince for more than a couple of hours and she knew that it would be harder for them if they did go with that idea.

But what else could she do? If Prince Gajeel found out, someone else is bound to find out. And then they would be screwed.

"I made a friend, today." Lucy tried to brighten the mood up by changing the subject. "Her name is Levy and she works at the library down the corner."

"We have a library?" He asked in pure surprise making Lucy roll her eyes.

"And that leads to my next statement: you have to read the requests about the library."

"Again, we have a library?"

Nudging her boyfriend in the shoulder, Natsu's expression softened as he started to smile.

"If the Prince of the country doesn't even know about his stores in his town, how is he going to be a great ruler one day?" Lucy teased making him scoff.

"I am a fantastic ruler," he smirked as he turned around to wrap his arms around her waist to snuggle up against her. "and just because I don't know we had a library doesn't mean I won't make a great ruler."

Rolling her eyes, the blonde placed her hand on his arm as she traced her fingernail against his skin leaving a trail of goose bumps. "Anyways, as I was saying... you should really do something about it. It's small, the books are really old and dirty, and nobody comes in. I mean, you don't even know about it which shows something." She looked at the Prince who looked like he was in thought. "So, would you please look into it?"

"Fine, fine," he sighed. "I'll look into it for you."

Squealing in excitement, Natsu cringed slightly as Lucy wrapped her arms around her boyfriend to give him a large bear-hug. "Thank you so much! Thank you, thank you! Levy will be so happy!"

"Anything for you, my beloved." He joked making her laugh, his arms tight around her small figure. "Oh yeah, how did that job interview go?"

"Oh, the job interview! It wasn't even a job interview, I literally walked inside, told them I was there for one, and then they just gave it to me right on the spot!" She spoke, her eyes wide with excitement and surprise as Natsu watched with love in his eyes. He had a grin on his face as he watched her talk. "And then they told me to come back tomorrow for my first day and I just couldn't believe how easy it was to grab a job." She looked at her boyfriend who looked so smug making her stop talking to stare at him for a moment. Natsu quirked a brow at her making her furrow hers. "Wait..." she stared at his expression even more making him break out into a smile.

"What?"

"Don't tell me you..."

"What?" His smile grew even more making her gasp and pull away from him.

"You—I—You!" She cried out. "You went there and told them to give me the job, didn't you?!"

"Well—"

"Natsu!" The blonde whined, punching him on the shoulder which barely hurt the Prince. "How could you?! Why would you?!"

"Well I wanted to make sure you got the job so I just told them to give you more thought but I didn't think they would just give it to you right there," he guarded himself as Lucy grabbed her pillow to beat him with it. "hey! Why are you so angry?! Didn't you want the job?" He laughed as Lucy continued to angrily beat him with her fluffy pink pillow.

"Yes, I did! But I don't want my Prince boyfriend to get it for me! I wanted to get it myself but you just had to go and say something you little—this is why Prince Gajeel found out! You're doing stuff like this for me!"

"Oh come on!" He grabbed the pillow from her to stop the beating. "This is nothing! Nobody will know anything!"

"But still!" She groaned out in frustration and anger as the male watched in amusement. "Now I can't work there."

"Why not?"

"Because I didn't want a job that involved my stupid boyfriend," she threw yet another pillow at him who held out his hand in front of him to catch it. "to get it for me. Thanks a lot," she huffed out in annoyance leaving Natsu to laugh as he grab her by the arm to pull her near.

Lucy didn't fight him as she was pressed against his chest, the blonde feeling his warm lips press against her forehead.

"Hey, I'm sorry," he muttered against her forehead. "I promise I won't get involved ever again."

"You stupid Prince," she muttered under her breath making him break out into a grin. "I hate you."

"You what?" he said, leaning in even closer. "You hate me?"

"I hate you," she looked up at him with those doe brown eyes making him smile even harder. "I never want to see you again." She said as Natsu leaned down to press his lips against her pretty pink ones, sharing a quick and brief kiss.

"You hate me, huh?" He said as he slid his hands up her shirt, his rough calloused hands feelings her smooth skin. "You don't want to see me ever again?" He pressed a kiss against her neck making her shiver. "Are you sure?" He whispered against her skin as he brought his other hand to grab her thigh and press her against him even more. "Are you sure?"

Looking up at her boyfriend with hooded eyes, Lucy only smirked in response. "I don't know, Prince Natsu," she trailed her finger up his chest to his neck. "can you help me decide?"

Staring into the eyes of his lover, Natsu smirked back in return before pressing his lips against her once more, his shirt being thrown somewhere along with the pants of Lucy.

A week later, Lucy returned to the library where she knew her friend, Levy, was waiting for her as the two regularly always met at noon to talk about the newest books or whatever gossip in town. Opening the door to the library, she entered the small place once more as she looked around, noticing that nobody was there but Levy who looked up at her in pure excitement and happiness.

"Lu! Guess what!" She shouted happily, coming around the counter to present the blonde with a letter with gold carving around the piece of paper and sloppy cursive written on. "The royal kingdom agreed to help me rebuild the library! I can finally have the dream library I always wanted!"

Looking down where Natsu's sloppy cursive and signature was written on the piece of paper, Lucy's face broke out into a grin.

"I'm so happy for you, Levy! This is great, I'm so happy you can get your dream library!"

"Me, too!" She cried out happily. "Now, come on, help me design it! The Prince wants this by this week so we can start right away!" She grabbed her hand to pull her behind the counter where she already had a piece of paper out. "Now, I was thinking about two stories unless that's too much?"

"Not at all," she shook her head. "how about we put a balcony?"

—X—

"And I do enjoy a walk in the park time to time," the Princess spoke with a soft voice. "I will bare you a child to rule the kingdom in the future and we will be marvelous rulers, your Royal Highness." A soft smile appeared on her pale face but Natsu could only just stare in disinterest. "I am also a very great painter—"

"Thank you for your time, darling, but I do believe it is time for the next suitor."

"B—but I have just started—?"

"Thank you and I do hope you enjoy your time, please shut the door on your way out," he was quick to dismiss her making the Princess stare in shock and disbelief.

But she only bit down on her lip before standing up, bowing down towards the Prince who wasn't even paying attention.

"Thank you for your time, your Grace. Have a marvelous day." She said before she walked out of the room. As she left the room and shut the door behind her, she started to curse and stomp her feet on the ground in pure anger and embarrassment, her entire face red. "How dare he?! Such a slob! Intolerable! How could one ever love such a heartless soul like him?!" She cried out as she stomped away from the chambers as Happy came to the door.

He could only watch in pity as yet another Princess was sent away, the butler knocking on the door to wait for the Prince's approval.

"Come in," he spoke from behind the doors making Happy open the doors and enter. "ah, Happy!" The Prince's entire face lit up seeing his childhood friend and butler in front of him. "You do not know how happy I am to see you," he relaxed into his chair. "I am absolutely beat up from seeing so many uninteresting Princesses and I just want to get out of here."

"Prince Natsu, I believe you should at least try to give a Princess a shot. You do not have much time to fool around as the time for the throne to be passed down is near," Happy looked at Natsu who just rolled his eyes. "a kingdom run just by a King without a Queen is very frowned upon."

"You think I don't know that?" Natsu snapped, the look of annoyance stretched across his handsome face.

"Then why do you not try harder to capture a Princess?"

"Because," he stressed. "I have a Princess."

"Your Majesty, she is just a commoner. She is not qualified to become—"

"I know," he said once more, the Prince running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I know." He muttered, looking away with a frown on his face. "If this thing wasn't something... if I just could... I would have been King with a beautiful Queen by my side by now. I could be ruling Fiore with Lucy," he looked up at his butler who just stared with a straight face one. "but I cannot," he threw his hands up in the air as he stood up. "so, no, I am not going to try harder to find a boring Princess who speaks about her dreams and likes while all I can think about is Lucy, the one I love."

Silently watching the Prince angrily walk around his chambers, Happy could just sigh.

"Prince Natsu," he spoke up making Natsu look over at his butler. "would you... like to go fishing?"

With the sound of that, Natsu's entire face brightened up. "Of course!" He shouted, happily. "Let's go fishing! We haven't gone fishing in a while, let us go!"

"Fishing?!" A new voice joined in making the two turn and see it was Sting popping his head inside the doorway. "I want to go fishing!"

"What do you think you're doing?!" Natsu growled, his happiness being washed away instantly. "Barging into my room and asking to join in something that is clearly not of your forte," he grabbed a vase to throw. "get out!"

"Y—your Royal Highness!" Happy cried out, trying to grab the vase from his hands as Sting came inside all the way, a smirk present on his face. "Please!"

"Get out, Sting!"

"You're angry."

"No shit," the Prince snarled out. "now, what part of get out don't you understand?!"

"This is because of Lucy, ain't it?" He suddenly said making Natsu stop in his tracks, his eyes wide in surprise as he felt his chest throb once before coming to a complete stop. "Aha, I knew it!" He started to grin making Natsu snap out of his trance before he finally threw the vase right at the Prince who just stood in place as the vase exploded right behind the blonde Prince. Water and glass scattered everywhere as a pool of water with flowers laid on the ground right behind Sting, the two Princes having a stare-off.

"What are you talking about?" He said slowly and carefully making Sting just stare with a smile. "How do you know about this?"

"Well it is pretty obvious," Sting shrugged. "I knew something was bound to happen as you danced with her for hours at the night of the ball or when you defended her when we all started to talk poorly of her at dinner the next night. I do believe I saw her in the Kingdom couple days afterwards with you and you were wearing my clothes," he hummed in thought making Natsu just stare. "so, yes, my dear cousin, it is not hard to tell that you have fallen in love with a commoner, I found in the streets."

"So, what? What are you going to do? Tell on me?"

"I believe that our dear Gajeel, knows, as well?"

"Sting," Natsu looked at the blonde with such fury that made it seem like he could burn the male right then and there. "who else knows?"

"Gajeel and I." He shrugged. "But I do believe Gajeel has stronger feelings about this situation."

"What do you want?" Natsu covered his face with his palm as he sighed in frustration. "I will give you whatever you want if you keep your mouth shut along with that metal-head, Gajeel." His voice came out as a hiss as he spoke of the Prince of the Steel district. "So, name your price. Tell me what you want."

Having a innocent smile on his face, Sting walked over the broken glass and water as he started to touch the other vase of flowers that was on the table.

"Sting,"

"What if..." he said, his voice quiet and mischievous. "I tell you I want her?"

"Her?" He echoed before his eyes widened and he realized what he meant. "Lucy? You want Lucy?"

"What if I told you I did?" The blonde Prince barked out in laughter making Natsu's face harden as he clenched his hands into fists.

"Absolutely not!" Natsu shouted in pure anger, his face growing red. "How dare you even suggest that to me?!"

"So are you saying that I should tell everyone about your love affair, then?" Sting cocked his head to the side to watch his cousin's reaction making Natsu's entire body shake in anger before he lunged out to grab the blonde, the two boys tumbling to the ground in a fight. Natsu got on top of his cousin and threw the first punch, Happy crying out in alarm as he realized that this was not just a verbal fight but a brawl between the two Princes.

He opened the door and shouted for assistance as the two Princes on the ground continued to shout and throw punches at each other, soon, three knights running into the chamber of the Dragneel to pull them apart.

"Let go of me!" Natsu roared, thrashing in the hold of the knights who had a difficult time holding back the Prince. "I demand you let go of me, now!"

"You punch like a little bitch, Natsu!" Sting said as he wiped the blood off his lip, a smirk present on his busted lip making Natsu summon all the strength he had to jerk the knights off. He lunged for the blonde once more to throw another punch, the sound of skin against skin echoing through the chamber as Sting tumbled backwards where the other knight grabbed ahold of him before he fell.

Grabbing the pink-haired Prince who was about to continue his fight, the knights made sure they had a stronger grip on the Prince.

"Get the Royal Highness Sting out of here and to the nurse, right this instant!" Happy shouted out orders to the knights as they pulled a laughing Sting out. "And you," he pointed at one of the knights. "bring someone in here to tend to Prince Natsu's wounds!"

Jerking out of the grasps of the knights, Natsu wiped the blood off his mouth, the look of death being thrown right at the knights who immediately backed away. "No," Natsu snarled. "I do not want a nurse. I am leaving."

"L—leaving?! Where are you headed to?!" Happy shouted in alarm as Natsu grabbed his jacket from the door while he started to stomp away, the butler rushing to block the door with his body. "Your Highness, you need to get your face checked out before it starts to swell and leaves nasty marks!"

"Fuck that," he pushed Happy away. "my face is already swollen." He stepped forward to step on shattered glass making a crunching sound appear underneath his weight. Natsu paused to stare at the water and glass on the floor before he clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Clean this mess up." He said before he slammed the door shut behind him and walked down the halls of his Kingdom, ignoring everyone around him.

He pulled the jacket over him and pulled his hood up to hide his face, the Prince walked out into the streets where he made sure to keep hidden.

His face pulsed and he felt the warm blood drip out of his wounds but he couldn't care less as he walked down the familiar street to where he knew his girlfriend would be to take care of his wounds. His head throbbed and his hand stung as he continued to think about Sting and Lucy and Gajeel and everyone in his kingdom.

Gajeel found out somehow and now Sting knew about his little affair—does this mean that others knew, too?

This was going in a direction he hoped he never would have faced and if his father found out... if the entire world found out, he would most definitely be screwed.

Aggressively opening the door to the apartment, Natsu practically slammed the door shut and lock the door behind him as he heard the creak of the bed and tiny footsteps emerge from the bedroom. He watched as Lucy peeked her head out to see who it was and when she realized it was him, she came out clad in one of her stupid pattern pajama pants and a tank top.

"Natsu?" Her sweet voice was enough to calm him down, slightly. "What are you doing here?" She approached him to gasp. "Natsu? Oh my... what happened?" Her eyes widened as she looked at the bruises and cuts on his face. "Were you in a fight?" She pulled the hood off to gasp even louder. "Were you jumped or something?! Oh my god, quick, come here!" She grabbed his hand to pull him inside but he only pulled her back making her turn and look at the male. "Natsu, what are you—?" She tried to say but she was interrupted when a pair of lips pressed against hers.

His hands grabbed her and held her tightly against him as she tasted blood, the two pulling away to have Lucy gasping for air. "Natsu—" she whimpered as he started to bite on her neck, leaving a trail of kisses down her throat. "Natsu, wait—"she squirmed in his grasp but he held her tight leaving her still. "Natsu!" She had to shout as she pushed him away. "What is wrong with you?" She pulled the strap of her tanktop up her shoulders. "Natsu—"

"I love you," his voice trembled, his voice hoarse. "I love you so fucking much."

"What? Natsu—"

"And I promise I won't let anything happen to you. You are mine," he stepped forward to grab her again. "and mine, alone." He said before he pressed her lips against hers once more, the two sharing a quick kiss before Lucy pushed him off, again.

"Natsu, please," she begged. "let me take care of your wounds, first. Then let's talk, yeah?"

Staring down at the blonde who stared up at him with the look of fear and worry, Natsu let his grip loosen as he allowed to her pull away. Hesitantly backing away, Lucy continued to watch his expression as she turned around and ran off somewhere, coming back minutes later with her first-aid box.

"Come," she grabbed his hand to pull him to the couches. "sit." she pointed right at the loveseat making the Prince sit down and wait for the blonde to start. "Now, talk." She said as she opened the box and pulled out a bunch of things she needed to clean and cover the wounds up.

Natsu just sat there in silence as he watched her open packages and peel open things, his hands trembling with anger.

"He knows," he whispered making her look up at him. "Sting," he clarified. "he knows."

"How does he—?"

"I don't know," he watched her pour rubbing alcohol onto a pad before grabbing his hand. "but he knows. He came into my room and started talking about it and he... fucking..." he took in a deep breath, closing his eyes. "he fucking asks... for you."

"For me?" She echoed in surprise as she looked up from her work, her brown orbs locking with his dark ones. "He wants me?"

Slowly nodding his head, Lucy could only stare at the Prince before she went back to disinfecting the open wound on his knuckles. Natsu winced time to time over the sting but he allowed her to silently work on his hand before working up to his face.

"So, this is why you're all beat up..." she soon spoke up. "you got angry that he wanted me."

"I'm angry that he has the nerve to suggest such a thing," he growled, his hands clenching into fists once more. "how dare he..."

"I can't imagine how beat up Sting must look," Lucy laughed lightly as she peeled a band-aid and pressed it against his forehead where his fresh cut was disinfected. "you must have put a number on him."

"I would have killed him if the knights didn't stop the fight," Natsu clicked his tongue in disapproval as he hissed in pain, the feeling of rubbing alcohol stinging his nose. "it hurts," he whined as Lucy sighed.

"Of course it does," she said as she peeled open yet another band-aid to put it on the bridge of his nose. "it's going to hurt for a bit."

Getting up to throw the scraps away, Lucy left the living room for a moment before returning with a ice-pack wrapped in paper. She handed the ice-pack to the male and sat down right beside him, watching how he winced in pain when he pressed the pool pack against his busted lip.

"Next time I see him, I'm going to kill him."

"Natsu," the blonde tried to reason but he only shook his head.

"The biggest mistake he does is ask me to give you up to him," he scoffed. "does he not have a brain at all? I'll fucking kill him."

Staring at the side of his face, Lucy could only sigh as millions of thoughts ran inside her head. She couldn't bare to see him like this and now that he actually got hurt, she wanted to curl up into a ball and cry about everything. She didn't mean for this to happen and seeing her beloved Natsu hurt, it hurt her.

"What are you staring at me for, weirdo?" Natsu's voice brought her out of her daze as they looked at each other. "Come here," he opened his arms for her making her come to his side and snuggle up against him. "I love you."

"I love you, too." She mumbled against his chest, the blonde enjoying the warmth of her lover. "I love you, too..."

—X—

Walking down the halls of the very large and clean castle, the tap of the shoes were the only thing heard down the corridor. The smokey smell of the Redfox, the Prince opened the door to where the treasurer, messenger, and the Court of House all sat. The entire room went into a hushed silence as they realized the Prince was in the room, the black-haired Prince from the Steel district taking a seat all the way down at the end of the table.

Everyone waited for him to speak as the Prince cleared his throat and wicked grin spread across his face.

"Starting from today, I, Prince Gajeel, declare the banishment of Lucy Heartfillia from Fiore."

notes: i told ya i would have the next chapter up by tomorrow. my imagination is running wild! oh lord! i have so much more in-store!
notes2: i caught a cold, guys :c stay safe and warm!
notes3: leave me a lovely review, y'all. when nobody reviews, i feel like people lost interest in the story and it leaves me sad and wondering so reviewww!