The guild hall remained eerily quiet after Irene's departure, the air thick with the weight of what had just transpired. Natsu stood at the center, fists clenched, feeling the burn of every gaze fixed on him—especially Erza's. Her back was still turned, but he could feel the tension radiating off her, the silence between them heavier than words could express.
Gray was the first to shatter the silence, his voice low but full of fury. "Natsu... what the hell were you thinking? Irene? Of all people? She's Erza's mother—how could you do that to her?"
Natsu's flames flickered weakly, betraying the turmoil inside him. "It's not like I planned any of this, alright? Things just... happened." He was frustrated, but he knew how hollow his defense sounded.
Gray narrowed his eyes, disbelief written all over his face. "Things just happened? You're talking about Irene Belserion, Natsu! One of the most dangerous mages to ever live. This isn't just some casual thing you can shrug off."
"I'm not shrugging it off!" Natsu snapped, his fists igniting briefly before the flames died down again. "I know what she's done. I know how all of you feel. But there's more to this than you understand."
Mirajane stepped forward, her voice soft yet concerned. "Natsu... we know you wouldn't do this lightly, but this isn't just about you. Erza has been through more pain because of Irene than you can imagine."
At the mention of her name, Erza finally turned around. Her eyes blazed with a storm of emotions—rage, betrayal, and something deeper, something raw and vulnerable. "Pain doesn't even begin to cover it," she muttered. She stepped closer to Natsu, her voice tight with barely contained fury. "You weren't there. You don't know what she did to me."
Natsu's heart sank. He looked into Erza's eyes and saw the depths of her hurt. He knew he couldn't fully understand the suffering Irene had caused her, but that didn't change how he felt. "Erza, I know what she did was unforgivable... but she's different now."
"Different?" Erza scoffed, her eyes narrowing in disbelief. "People like her don't just change, Natsu. Not after everything. She tried to kill me, her own daughter! Do you know what it feels like to be nothing but a tool to your own mother?"
Her words hit Natsu like a punch. He had no real answer. He had never experienced that kind of betrayal. But he knew Irene had changed—at least for him.
"I'm not saying what she did was right," Natsu said, his voice soft, almost pleading. "But there's something between us... I didn't expect it, but it's real."
Erza's expression darkened. She took another step forward, her voice cold and cutting. "So, what? You're just going to throw everything away because you feel some 'connection' to her?"
Natsu's eyes widened, shocked by the accusation. "Throw everything away? No! That's not what I'm doing!"
"Isn't it?" Erza's voice was quieter now, but the pain in it was unmistakable. "By choosing her, you've already chosen to put the guild—and me—second."
Natsu felt as if the air had been knocked out of him. "That's not true! I would never turn my back on you or the guild!"
Erza's gaze softened for just a moment, a flicker of something more vulnerable beneath her anger. "Then why does it feel like you already have?"
The words hit Natsu harder than any physical blow. He could see the hurt in her eyes, and it tore him apart. He hadn't meant for things to turn out this way, but now he was trapped—no matter what he said, he knew he was going to lose something precious.
Erza took a shaky breath, her hands balling into fists at her sides. "Natsu... you need to make a choice. Her, or us. Because I can't... I won't stand by and watch you betray everything we've fought for."
Natsu felt the weight of her words press down on him like a boulder. He glanced around at the guild, at the faces of his friends, all of them watching him, waiting for his answer. Gray's eyes burned with anger and disbelief, while Mirajane looked torn between worry and empathy.
His gaze landed back on Erza, and his heart twisted painfully. He could see how much this was hurting her. Everything they had been through together—years of friendship, battles, trust—it was all on the line.
"I... I don't want to choose," Natsu muttered, his voice weak. "I care about both of you."
"That's not an option," Erza replied, her tone hardening again. "If you want to stay with this guild, if you want to stay in my life... you have to let her go."
Natsu's mind raced. He didn't know what to do. How could he possibly choose? The bond he shared with Irene felt undeniable, like something that went beyond just feelings. But the bond he shared with Erza, with the guild, was just as real.
"I don't know if I can," Natsu whispered, his voice barely audible.
Erza's face hardened, though her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Then you've already made your choice."
Without another word, she turned and walked away, the sound of her armor echoing softly as she disappeared into the shadows of the guild.
The silence that followed was suffocating. Natsu stood there, rooted in place, feeling as though the ground had crumbled beneath his feet. He had hurt one of the most important people in his life, and there was nothing he could do to take it back.
Gray's voice was quiet but firm as he stepped forward. "You really screwed up this time, Natsu."
Natsu didn't respond. He couldn't. He just stood there, watching as the rest of the guild members began to leave one by one. Even Mirajane, who always tried to see the good in everyone, couldn't hide the disappointment in her eyes as she retreated behind the counter.
"Natsu," she said gently, "you didn't mean for this to happen, but... Erza's pain is real. You need to understand that."
Natsu clenched his fists, flames sputtering weakly around them. "I never wanted to hurt her. I didn't expect any of this."
Mirajane sighed, leaning against the counter. "Feelings are complicated, Natsu. But Irene isn't just any enemy to Erza—she's her mother. That kind of pain... it doesn't just go away."
"I know..." Natsu whispered, his voice cracking slightly. "But something about Irene... I feel connected to her in a way I can't explain."
Mirajane nodded slowly, her eyes full of sympathy. "But Natsu, you need to figure out what's most important to you. You can't keep running from this. Sooner or later, you'll have to make a choice."
Later that night, Natsu sat on the roof of the guild, staring up at the stars, his thoughts a tangled mess. Erza's ultimatum replayed in his mind over and over, the pain in her voice echoing in his ears.
He didn't hear Irene until she was right beside him, her presence as warm as the air around them.
"I never thought I'd see you so conflicted," she said softly, sitting down next to him.
Natsu stiffened, though he didn't move away. "You shouldn't be here. They're already mad enough."
Irene chuckled, looking up at the stars. "Let them be angry. They don't understand what we are."
Natsu's gaze shifted to her. "What we are?"
"Yes," Irene replied, turning her emerald eyes toward him. "We're dragons. Our bond is something deeper, something primal. You feel it, don't you?"
He did. But that didn't make things easier.
"I don't know what to do," Natsu admitted, his voice low. "Erza's hurting... because of this. Because of us."
Irene's expression softened, and for the first time, Natsu saw genuine emotion in her eyes. "I never wanted to hurt her. But you... you've awakened something in me I thought was long gone."
Natsu's heart skipped a beat as her hand brushed his, sending a shiver through him. He knew this was wrong—knew he should pull away—but the connection between them was undeniable.
"I can't just abandon them," Natsu whispered, though the words felt hollow.
Irene leaned in closer, her voice soft, almost a whisper. "I'm not asking you to. But you can't deny what we have."
Before he could protest, her lips were on his, fierce yet gentle. Natsu's body reacted instinctively, pulling her closer as the fire between them roared to life.
For a moment, the world disappeared, leaving only the heat and the undeniable pull between them. But when they finally pulled apart, reality crashed back down on Natsu, the weight of everything pressing in.
"We'll figure it out," Irene whispered. "My adorable little dragon."
But as Natsu sat there, his heart torn in two, he couldn't shake the feeling that no matter what he chose, something would be lost forever. Unbeknownst to him, a figure watched from the shadows, their face contorted with pain and betrayal at the sight before them.
Yeah idk lmao. This is getting heavy asf xD I will update more when I can. Let me know thoughts (if anyone even cares about FT fanfics anymore LOL)
