Authors Note: I'm back babes and I figured out how to get this back on track! I missed this story.

Natsu couldn't stop the rage that shook him. He'd forgotten about those fucking keys of hers! He'd forgotten all about the possibility of Lucy asking about them. He couldn't focus on cleaving Lucy to himself if he was constantly battling those nosy guardians of hers. Those annoying spirits that thought they could keep Lucy from him. He couldn't have her realizing her power before he'd tied her to him and was more secure in their relationship. He wouldn't risk her getting away from him.

"ENOUGH," slipped out on a panicked roar. The pink haired dragon didn't give a shit about scaring the blue haired witch but felt a slight pang of annoyance at Lucy's flinch and startled look. It stung enough that she had told him to drop her arm, he didn't need to feel her contempt; it made him want to force her to submit to him, to show her he didn't take orders, not even from her but he refrained. He wanted to earn her trust which meant he had to listen to her and not the sick depraved thoughts that made his dick hard. Natsu had to remind himself that he was in it for the long-term pleasure of having her wrapped around him of her own accord and not the in the moment pleasure from taking her how and when he wanted. He wanted her to want him. "Your arm is hurting you Luce, let me see it." Natsu managed to say evenly, he had an overwhelming need to touch Lucy. When she hesitated, he felt his temper flare but stomped it down. Patience. "Luce, I just want to make you feel better."

"You'll let go if I ask?" Natsu just grunted. He didn't trust himself to lie so he opted to stay quiet. He counted the seconds before she wearily held out her right hand for his inspection. It took everything he had not to yank her to him, his touch was firm but gentle on her bruised flesh. He studied the mottled surface and felt a perverse thrill at the damage she caused herself by being anxiously confused about their standing as familiars. Negative emotions between bonded pairs could cause emotional wounds to become physical.

"Sorry Luce," Natsu mumbled while pressing his lips to the back of her hand, right in the middle of her bruised flesh. He couldn't tell if he was sorry about her hurting or that her feelings about him where strong enough to cause a reaction. Didn't matter to him anyway now that he could brush his mouth across her soft skin, his flesh heating at the feel. He missed touching her, wanted to rip her clothes off right here and show her how he felt about her. Patience. He had to remember to stay patient.

"I need to go back Lucy!" Levy's nervous exclamation broke the quiet. Natsu chose to ignore her in favor of kissing heat into Lucy's injured hand.

"Back?"

"I need to go back, back to my house and to Gajeel." the short witches voice broke in the middle of her mate's name and Natsu sighed.

"You just got here. I told you he'll come get you when you're ready to leave."

"I'm ready to leave now," Levy's lower lip trembled as she said that. Natsu didn't give two shits about her tears but they obviously affected Lucy.

"You haven't had a chance to catch up with Luce, she missed you." The pinket tried to smooth over. "You can leave then." More like she would leave when Gajeel healed enough to attempt to retrieve her.

"Take me back!" Levy shrieked, tears streaming down her reddening cheeks, "Lucy get him to take me back! please…I need to go back." Her sobbing made the end of her pleading run together.

"I.." Lucy stuttered, her eyes flicking over to Natsu before she gently extracted her hand from his grip. It irritated Natsu with how wary she was but he let go. "I can't make him do anything Levy," the blonde finished lowly, "I wish I could help you. Want to talk about it?"

"I don't know what I'll do if he dies," Levy sobbed, "He forced me to leave him! I left him!" The crying got louder and Lucy carefully helped the blue haired witch up from the ground and directed her to the couch.

"Let me grab tea and then we can talk."

oOo

Natsu hovered along the fringes of the conversation the two were having. He paid little attention to the words passing between the two women, finding he'd rather watch the expressions chase their way across Lucy's face. His eyes riveted to the pursing of her lips. He didn't understand how they could be so soft looking, inviting. The longer he stared, the hotter he started to feel. Natsu reluctantly prowled into the kitchen, opening the fridge to help cool himself down.

"She cried herself to sleep," Lucy's soft voice brought Natsu back to the present. He tried to push the fantasy about her mouth on his cock and focus on her; he felt a little ashamed that it was as difficult as it was. "I want you to take her back. For me." The drake studied the stubborn jut of her chin but he didn't miss the tremble of her lips. He went back to lazily staring at the fridge contents before shutting the door and capturing Lucy's bruised hand.

"For you?" Natsu teased, gently suck her middle finger into his mouth, "sure. It's going to cost you though." He couldn't stop himself from chuckling at her tensing. He twirled his tongue along her finger before pulling it from his mouth and placing a kiss to her palm. "I just want to be your bodyguard, Luce. Relax."

"My bodyguard?"

"Yeah, let me come to work with ya. I'll just watch from the sidelines and protect you from harm. You've been showing up in the paper a lot more and I know it stresses you out. If you agree, I'll take Levy back. Deal?" Natsu watched her plush lips pout.

"You cannot touch me as you please." Lucy stipulated, "I mean it. Do not touch me."

"Promise, now is it a deal?" The demon half of him was smirking, he wouldn't touch her unless he needed to but did she have to know he'd use any excuse?

"Deal," his blonde murmured, a look of unease skating across her features.

"So easy to read Luce," Natsu rumbled lowly, placing another kiss to her palm. He was excited to play with her; may the strongest win.