Natsu sat at the bar of the Fairy Tail guild, unusually quiet. Lucy's date had been two days ago. She had yet to show up at the guild, and Natsu couldn't help but feel down at the lack of her presence.

"Are you sure you don't want anything to eat or drink, Natsu?" Mira asked.

"No thanks," Natsu answered dryly.

Why was his mood so off today? He had gone days at a time without seeing Lucy, so why was he so put off this time? It had only been a day. Maybe a fight with Gray would make him feel better.

Natsu straightened, his eyes scanning for Gray when he caught a whiff of a familiar scent. His former plan immediately vanished as his head turned to the doors, when sure enough the person he smelled walked through them.

Lucy looked beautiful—uh… normal as ever, her sweet scent making him smile. He heard Mira giggle and looked to see she was laughing at him, but he wasn't sure why. Mira just rolled her eyes at him and continued to wipe down the counter.

She was greeted by Levy and the two began talking, something about books that Natsu tuned out. He sat impatiently as he waited for them to finish so he could walk over and talk to her. What was likely only five minutes felt like an eternity to Natsu, but finally, Levy pointed her thumb at something behind her and waved as she walked away.

He stood, taking quick strides and sitting in the booth on the other end of the table that she was sitting at. Lucy looked surprised to see him for a moment, then smiled.

"Hi, Natsu."

He grinned back at her. "How come you didn't show up at the guild yesterday?"

"Oh? Were you looking for me?" Lucy teased.

"Of course not!" Natsu defended. "I just… didn't smell your scent was all."

"You keep track of everyone that comes in and out of the guild?"

"No but some people's scents I just know better than others."

Lucy's eyebrows slightly raised, whether it was because she was surprised or impressed, Natsu didn't know. He smirked anyway.

"So now that you're free—"

"And you think that because?"

"—now that you're free," Natsu continued. "Does that mean we can go on a job or something?"

Lucy propped her elbows on the table, placing her head in her hands as she stared at him. Now she was the one smirking. He wished he knew why. Instead, Lucy shook her head no, earning a frown from her partner.

"I met a really nice guy yesterday at the library. I don't know much about him but he seemed sweet and he asked if I could go out with him tomorrow night, and I said yes," Lucy said.

"Go out?"

"A date. You know what that is, right?"

Natsu shook his head.

Lucy sighed. "Well I don't want to be the one to explain it to you, so all I'll tell you is that a date is something two people go on to see if they are interested in dating each other."

"But you just went on one!"

"How'd you know that?" Lucy asked with a tilt of her head.

Natsu gulped, tugging awkwardly at his scarf as he looked around the guild, eyes landing on Mira who was watching them with curious eyes.

"Mira talks a lot," Natsu answered.

He mentally sighed in relief when Lucy nodded, an acceptable answer to say the least. He just needed to find out more on what a date meant and why he didn't like the sound of Lucy going on them with other guys.

"Well I'm gonna go talk to Mira and tell her to never set me up on a blind date again, so I'll talk to you later," Lucy said with a small wave.

Natsu didn't have time to say bye. So the guy she went on a date on two nights ago was blind, huh? Maybe that's why it didn't go well. Why would Mira set her up with someone who couldn't see? Natsu didn't know, and he didn't have time to wonder why when someone roughly grabbed his arm and hauled him up and out of his seat.

Expecting to see Gray and give him the what for, Natsu's eyes instead found Erza. Fear spiked within him and he sure sure he'd done something to piss her off. He ran through what he could remember from the past couple weeks, which was a very small amount, and realized he wasn't sure why he'd upset her.

She dragged him outside, and Natsu was skeptical when she didn't beat him to a pulp. Erza wasn't speaking either, just looking at him with a disapproving look. A minute passed by, and still not a word.

"So uh—"

"You must be careful with what you say and how you treat Lucy. Feelings are a delicate matter and I will not stand by and watch you hurt her," Erza glared at him menacingly.

"Okay… first of all—"

"A woman's heart is to be protected at all costs. I know you may not be smart, Natsu, but that is no excuse to be ignorant of the way she feels."

"Now I'm really lost," Natsu said while his mind was scrambled.

"You must know what she thinks of you?" Erza asked.

Natsu's brows knit in confusion, trying to piece together what Erza meant. She looked both disappointed and annoyed at his lack of understanding.

"Can you maybe explain what you're saying a little better?" Natsu asked.

Erza let out a quick breath. "Lucy has been spending time with other people lately, haven't you noticed?"

"Well duh, I noticed!"

"And do you know why she has been?"

"Uh," Natsu said, placing a hand to his chin in thought. "Because she's lonely?" He guessed.

"No, Natsu," Erza said, wiping an annoyed hand down her face, as if his misunderstanding was causing her pain. "Lucy wants to be married one day. Like Bisca and Alzack are. And she is going out with different people to see if they are potential forever partners."

"Forever partners?" Natsu thought.

Wasn't that what they were? Lucy was his partner, and he was hers. Nobody else could replace her and he hoped she thought the same of him. Was she becoming tired of him? Is that why she was looking elsewhere?

"But Lucy and I are partners!" Natsu said.

"Yes, but the person you marry is special. Someone you care about much more than anyone else. I believe Lucy tried to tell you that she was interested in going out with you, but you were too oblivious to know what she meant."

"You mean… she likes me like you like Jellal?"

"W-What?" Erza stammered, her face suddenly red hot. "Well that's completely… I mean—"

Natsu gave her a look, and she paused. Regaining composure, Erza coughed to get her voice back to normal.

"I've already said more than I should have on behalf of Lucy. But you must know that she does have feelings that are reserved for only you, and if you wait too long she will begin to feel that way for someone else. And if she does decide to move on, you will only hurt her more by confusing her on what your motives are."

Natsu stared, dumbfounded at her words. Erza wondered if he even knew what she was trying to tell him.

"Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?"

"I'm not sure. But I think I know enough to figure it out from here. I need a little time alone. Thanks Erza!" Natsu smiled widely at her, giving her a thumbs up before running off.

Erza nodded with a small smile on her face. She hoped he would realize his feelings for Lucy soon. The whole guild knew, but Natsu just needed to understand what the feelings he felt meant.

Not to mention, she made a bet that they would get together soon, and she wanted to be right more than she needed the money. If that meant she had to intervene a bit and make it happen, then so be it.

X

Thank you for reading, my friends ◡̈