In the quiet, starlit night of the Kingdom of Stella, Natsu and Lucy found themselves standing side by side on the balcony of their temporary residence. The chaos of the Dragon Cry incident had finally subsided, leaving behind a strange, fragile calm. It was the first time in what felt like ages that they had a moment of peace to themselves, but peace didn't always mean comfort.

Natsu leaned heavily against the railing, his fingers tapping absently on the cold metal. His eyes, usually full of a carefree fire, now held a flicker of something else—something deeper, more turbulent. Lucy stood close beside him, arms wrapped around herself as she gazed at him from the corner of her eye. The concern she'd been trying to suppress gnawed at her. She had witnessed what had happened to him during the battle—how the raw, terrifying power of the Dragon Cry had surged through Natsu, changing him in ways neither of them fully understood yet.

She had seen him turn into something more than just the fiery, determined Dragon Slayer she knew. His form had shifted, his left side becoming covered in red dragon scales, his power surging out of control. Even the great dragon they had fought had recognized him—not as Natsu Dragneel—but as something more ancient, something darker.

E.N.D.

The memory chilled Lucy to her core, but what unsettled her more was how quiet Natsu had been since then. He had sent Erza, Gray, and even Happy back to Magnolia ahead of them, saying he needed to speak with her alone. It was so unlike him to be this serious, and that, more than anything, made her worry.

"Natsu…" Lucy finally broke the silence, her voice gentle yet laced with concern. "Are you okay?"

For a long moment, Natsu said nothing, his eyes fixed on some distant point in the night. The air between them was thick with unspoken thoughts, heavy with the weight of what he had experienced. His hand tightened on the railing, knuckles turning white as if he were trying to keep himself grounded. But then he let out a slow, deliberate breath, loosening his grip.

"I felt something different earlier tonight," he said, his voice rougher than usual, almost strained.

Lucy took a step closer, her brow furrowed as she studied his face. "What does it feel like now?" she asked softly. "I mean… after all of that. Are you really okay?"

Natsu shrugged, but it wasn't his typical carefree gesture. There was a heaviness to the motion, a weight that Lucy didn't miss. "It's like… there's this fire inside me," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Stronger than before. Way stronger. But it's not just that. It's like… I have all this power now, and I don't know if I can control it."

Lucy felt a pang in her chest as she watched him. Vulnerability was rare for Natsu—he was always the one to charge headfirst into battle, fearless and relentless. But this was different. She could see it in his eyes. He had come so close to losing himself, to becoming something far beyond his control.

Without thinking, she reached out and placed her hand gently on his arm. The warmth of her touch seemed to bring him back, grounding him in the present. "You'll figure it out," she said softly, her voice full of quiet confidence. "You always do, Natsu. But you don't have to do it alone."

Natsu turned to look at her, and for the first time that night, his eyes softened. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly. "I know," he said, his voice quiet but sincere. "I'm glad you're here, Lucy."

For a moment, they stood there in silence, the bond between them stronger than ever. The weight of everything they had faced, and everything they would face, seemed to lift in that instant. The stars above sparkled in the clear night sky, but neither of them were paying much attention to the heavens. They only had eyes for each other.

Then, Natsu broke the silence with a more familiar lightness in his voice. "Guess I'm even more of a handful now, huh?"

Lucy laughed, the sound breaking through the tension like sunlight through clouds. "You've always been a handful, Natsu," she teased, her eyes shining with affection. "But I wouldn't change that for the world."

Natsu grinned at her, a flicker of his old self returning. But even as they joked, Lucy couldn't shake the image from her mind—the way Natsu had looked, half-man, half-dragon, engulfed in flames that seemed to burn with more than just power. She remembered how the great dragon they had fought had called him by another name, a name she had heard once before but had refused to let take root in her heart.

E.N.D.

She knew what it meant, what Natsu was. But it didn't matter to her. It never would. Because no matter what he became, no matter how powerful or dangerous, she knew one thing for certain—she loved him. And nothing could change that.

Her heart swelled with emotion as she watched him, standing there with the stars reflected in his eyes, still the boy she had met so long ago.

Still Natsu.

He didn't know what she had seen in him, didn't know the depth of her feelings. But Lucy knew. And she would stay by his side, through fire and flame, no matter what came next.

After a moment, Natsu's smile faded slightly, his expression growing more serious. He turned to leave the balcony, but something stopped him. He paused, glancing back over his shoulder at her.

"Lucy."

She blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in his tone. "Yes, Natsu?"

He hesitated for a heartbeat, his fingers tightening around the railing again. "Nevermind."

He disappeared back into their room. Lucy knew that he needed a moment to himself. After all, it's why he had asked Erza, Gray and Happy to return back to Magnolia. As he wanted to speak to her alone.


The resort was serene, a perfect escape from the chaos of their recent battles. Lucy had spent the last hour soaking in the hot springs, letting the warm water melt away the tension in her muscles. Now, dressed in a soft complimentary robe, she padded quietly back to the shared room she and Natsu had been given for their stay. Her skin still tingled from the heat of the springs, her hair damp as she gently twisted it into a loose bun.

Opening the door softly, Lucy stepped into the dimly lit room. The gentle flicker of candlelight created a peaceful atmosphere, and the large bed at the center of the room looked particularly inviting. But it wasn't just the bed that caught her attention—it was Natsu.

He lay sprawled out on his back, half-naked, his muscular chest rising and falling with the slow rhythm of sleep. The sheet was pulled haphazardly over his lower body, but his upper half was completely bare, his skin glowing faintly in the soft light. His hair was tousled, as always, and a peaceful expression rested on his face—so different from the fiery, intense look he usually wore in battle.

Lucy felt her breath hitch slightly as she took in the sight of him. He looked so calm, so vulnerable. A rare sight, indeed. A small smile tugged at her lips as she tiptoed past the bed, careful not to wake him. She needed a shower before she even thought about joining him.

The bathroom was luxurious, with marble counters and a large glass shower. Lucy shed her robe and stepped into the steaming water, letting it cascade over her as she sighed in contentment. The hot water felt heavenly, washing away the last remnants of exhaustion. She scrubbed her skin, lost in thought—mostly about the man sleeping just outside the door. There was something about seeing Natsu like that, so at peace, that made her heart flutter.

After finishing her shower, she toweled off and slipped into something more comfortable. She had brought along a frilly silk nightgown, something soft and delicate. The fabric clung to her in all the right places, the hem brushing against her thighs as she tied the delicate straps over her shoulders. The silk was cool against her skin, a soothing contrast to the warmth of the water she had just stepped out of.

She took a deep breath and walked back into the room. Natsu hadn't moved, still lost in whatever dreams filled his mind. Lucy smiled softly at the sight of him. His face, so untroubled and relaxed, made her heart ache with affection.

Carefully, she climbed into bed beside him, making sure not to wake him. The mattress shifted slightly under her weight, but Natsu remained undisturbed. She settled herself into the soft sheets, lying on her side as she watched him for a moment longer. His breathing was slow and steady, and she could hear the faintest murmur escape his lips as he dreamed.

Lucy let out a quiet sigh and relaxed into the warmth of the bed, the silk of her nightgown brushing against her skin as she adjusted her position. She was close enough now that she could feel the heat radiating from Natsu's body, a comforting warmth that made her feel safe.

As she closed her eyes, Lucy couldn't help but smile. There was something so peaceful about being here with him, in the quiet of the night, with nothing but the sound of his breathing to keep her company. In this moment, everything was perfect.

Eyes fluttering open, Lucy let out a soft moan as she shifted in the bed, her body instinctively burrowing deeper into the warmth surrounding her. She was enveloped in a comforting heat, her cheek pressed against something firm but soft. As her mind slowly began to clear from the haze of sleep, she realized that she wasn't just wrapped in the covers—she was half draped over Natsu.

Her head rested on his chest, and one of her legs had found its way between his. She felt his chest rise and fall beneath her, steady and reassuring. But what made her pause was the gentle sensation of fingers combing through her hair, the touch soft and careful.

Lucy blinked, her sleep-filled mind catching up to the situation. Natsu was awake. The hand stroking her hair continued its soothing rhythm, and she couldn't help but feel a small flutter in her chest at the tenderness of it. She shifted slightly, lifting her head to look up at him.

"Natsu?" she whispered, her voice soft and laced with drowsiness. "Everything okay?"

His eyes met hers in the moonlight, and there was a softness there, but also something deeper—something that hinted at guilt, maybe even sadness. The corners of his lips quirked up in a faint, almost forced smile, but the usual fire in his eyes seemed dimmer than usual.

"Yeah," he replied quietly, his voice low, barely more than a murmur. "I just... couldn't sleep."

Lucy propped herself up a little more, concern beginning to gnaw at her. "What's wrong?"

Natsu hesitated, his hand momentarily pausing in her hair before resuming its slow, soothing strokes. "I... I'm sorry, Lucy," he said, his voice heavy with emotion.

Her brows furrowed in confusion. "Sorry? For what?"

"For what happened back there," he said, his gaze dropping to where their hands rested on the bed. "When I attacked you... I didn't know what I was doing. I wasn't myself. And I could've hurt you, or worse."

The memory of that moment flashed in Lucy's mind—how he had been taken control of. She remembered the fear, not for herself, but for him. She remembered the clash, the heat, and how Gray had stepped in to pull her away just in time.

Lucy's heart clenched as she saw the torment in Natsu's eyes, the way he was struggling with the guilt of what he had done, even though she knew it wasn't truly his fault.

"Natsu," she said softly, reaching up to cup his cheek. "You weren't yourself. It wasn't your fault."

He shook his head, his jaw clenching slightly. "But it was still me, Lucy. I could've hurt you—"

"But you didn't," she interrupted, her thumb brushing gently against his cheek. "Gray stepped in, and we stopped you before anything could happen. And I'm still here. I'm okay."

Natsu let out a slow breath, his eyes closing for a moment as if he were trying to let her words sink in, to truly believe them. His hand loosened slightly on the railing, but the tension remained in his shoulders, a weight he couldn't yet shake off. "You always trust me too much," he muttered, his voice low and laced with a self-reproach Lucy wasn't used to hearing from him.

Lucy, never one to back down, especially when it came to Natsu. Her gaze never wavered, her tone firm yet filled with tenderness. "Because I know you, Natsu," she said softly, but with conviction that made the words land heavier than he'd expected. "I've had faith in you since the day we met, and nothing will ever change that. No matter what you go through, no matter how you change… my feelings won't waver."

Her words hung in the air between them, a quiet affirmation of everything she felt — and everything he was. For a moment, the tension in Natsu's face softened, his breath catching slightly as he processed the depth of her trust in him. Something stirred in his chest, a warmth that was different from the usual fire that raged inside.

It was calmer, deeper.

He opened his eyes and met her gaze fully this time. There was something there, something unspoken but undeniable, flickering behind the usual defiance and determination. It was a softness she rarely saw in him, an emotion too complex for Natsu to put into words. It was affection, deep and devoted.

Before Lucy could say anything more, before he could second-guess himself, Natsu acted on impulse — something he had always done, but this time it was different. He closed the space between them in a heartbeat, his lips pressing against hers with an intensity that caught her off guard. It wasn't a hesitant kiss. It was hard, warm, filled with all the feelings he couldn't express with words.

Lucy froze for a moment, her breath catching in her throat, but the shock melted away almost as quickly as it came. She leaned into him, her body responding to the raw emotion he poured into the kiss. His arms slid around her waist, pulling her closer, as if he couldn't bear the thought of letting her go.

The world around them seemed to disappear. The distant sounds of the Kingdom of Stella faded into the background, and all that mattered was the warmth of their embrace, the shared breath between them. For all the battles they had fought together, all the near-death experiences, nothing felt as powerful as this moment. It was as if all the unspoken feelings they had held back over the years came rushing to the surface at once, and neither of them could hold it in any longer.

When they finally pulled away, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting against each other as they tried to steady their racing hearts. Natsu's hands were still on her waist, his grip gentle now, as if afraid that if he let go, the moment would disappear.

"I…" Natsu started, his voice rougher than usual, still catching his breath. He wasn't sure what to say, his mind racing to find words that would make sense of the whirlwind of emotions inside him. Words had never been his strength, but the feelings he carried for Lucy were as clear as day. "I didn't mean to… I just—"

Before he could fumble any further, Lucy gently placed a finger against his lips, silencing the anxious tumble of words. Her touch was soft, calming, like a gentle breeze that steadied the fire raging within him. A tender smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she gazed into his eyes, her expression full of warmth and understanding. "We share the same feelings," she whispered, her voice like a soothing melody. "You don't have to explain. I understand, Natsu. I've always understood."

Natsu froze, staring into her eyes, searching for any sign of doubt, any flicker of uncertainty. But there was none. All he saw was the same unwavering trust she had always shown him — a trust so deep, so genuine, that it shook him to his core. It left him speechless. For the first time in a long while, he didn't feel the need to fight, to struggle, or to prove anything.

In this moment, with Lucy, he just was. And for him, that was more than enough.

The vulnerability he felt, the emotions he'd never fully understood until now, were overwhelming. But with Lucy, it didn't feel frightening. It felt right. His heart pounded in his chest, and before he could second-guess his next move, Natsu acted on pure instinct — the same instinct that had driven him through countless battles, but this time, it was driven by something far deeper.

With a gentle yet firm grasp, Natsu cupped Lucy's face in his hands, his thumbs brushing against the softness of her cheeks as he brought her closer. His breath mingled with hers, and for a fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still. The world around them vanished, leaving only the two of them suspended in that single, perfect heartbeat.

Then, without another thought, their lips met.

The kiss was fervent, filled with all the emotion Natsu had kept bottled up, all the affection he had never known how to express until now. It wasn't tentative or cautious — it was passionate, raw, an outpouring of everything he felt for her. His lips pressed against hers with an intensity that spoke volumes, communicating the words he couldn't quite say out loud.

Lucy melted into his arms, her hands finding their way to his chest as she clutched the fabric of his shirt, anchoring herself to him. Her response was just as intense, just as full of emotion, as if she, too, had been waiting for this moment — waiting for him to finally realize what had been there between them all along.

The kiss deepened, and for a moment, they were lost in each other. Natsu's hands slid from her face to her waist, pulling her closer, holding her as though he never wanted to let her go. The warmth of her body against his felt grounding, like a flame that burned gently but steadily, keeping the more uncontrollable fires inside him at bay. In her embrace, he found balance, a sense of calm that he had been missing for so long.

Lucy's fingers curled into his shirt, and she pressed closer, giving herself over to the kiss with the same intensity Natsu offered. It was a silent acknowledgment, an affirmation of everything unspoken between them — the trust, the loyalty, the love. Every moment they had shared, every battle fought side by side, had led to this.

When they finally pulled away, their foreheads rested together, their breathing heavy and ragged, but neither of them moved. Natsu's hands stayed at her waist, holding her securely as if afraid the moment might slip away if he let go.

Lucy's eyes fluttered open, and she gazed up at him with a soft, radiant smile that made his heart skip a beat. "I've always known, Natsu," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile beauty of the moment. "I've always felt this."

Natsu's throat tightened, but this time it wasn't from uncertainty or fear. It was from the sheer weight of the emotions coursing through him — emotions he had always struggled to comprehend, let alone express. But with Lucy, he didn't need to understand everything.

He didn't need the right words.

With her, just being was enough.

She sat up.

Luce is beautiful in his eyes. She had always been beautiful to him. But she never looked more beautiful then she did now as she straddled him, dressed in one of her frilly sheer scrap of fabric that she called a nightgown.

He felt his control slipping, just as it did before. However this time, it was different as he felt lust and longing rather than rage and violence. Sitting up, he grasped her by the back of her neck and kissed her. Harm, warm and feverish.

As he withdrew to plant a kiss on her neck, Lucy groaned into his mouth and arched her back. Natsu moaned as she pressed her hips against his, his neck tightening around her as he kissed her pulse. She trembled beneath his tongue and withdrew, giving him a powerful kiss that forced him into the bed.

He shook as she began to kiss down his throat, her open mouth kisses leaving a warm feeling. He groaned as she slipped her fingers under his waistband to pull them down, feeling her slide down and kiss his tummy. Natsu chuckled at her little gasp as she looked at him as he lifted his lips to strip himself out of the sweatpants he had worn.

He ripped the scrap of fabric off of her, surprised she didn't hit him for destroying her things like she usually did. If anything, judging by the way her arousal peaked, she found it a turn on.

He was mesmerized by the way her perky nipples welcomed him, he planted a kiss down her throat. She arched her back, and he was fast to latch on. She meowed as he toyed with her neglected breast, twisting and pulling on the nub.

Feeling her sopping wet core, he moved his hand down her stomach to make her extend her legs even wider for him.

When he bit her nipple and said, "You're already so wet, Luce," she cried out. "I bet you're as sweet as you look."

He put his fingers beneath her panties and met her red-faced gaze, silently pleading for her consent as she raised her mouth to meet his. He slipped down the panties with delight, sighing as he saw her shiny folds. His tongue dragged on her glistening lips as he dived straight into her center. He sighed as he licked at Lucy's folds, sipping her liquid gold while she yelled out, her way of bucking into him.

She laced her fingers through his hair, rocking her hips into his face till he felt drunk on her fluids.

"Natsu!"

She struggled beneath his grasp as he wrapped his arms around her thighs and dragged her in closer, tongue teasing her clit.

He enjoyed the way she writhed beneath him while he caressed her pulsating button and stroked his finger in and out, feeling her trousers expand in response to his actions. He really liked it when she began to constrict around his finger and let out a deeper groan as he sunk another one in.

Lucy quickly reached her peak, her thighs pushing on Natsu's head on either side while he sipped from her honeypot. He believed that she would suffocate him, and if this was his final journey, he would more than die happily.

Natsu nearly burst when he sank his teeth into her little, constricted cunt. He was burying himself in the silt, groaning alongside her and trembling in his arms. She shook against him, her claws digging into his biceps, and she wasn't getting any better. It took everything he had not to rape her crazy as he kissed her, seizing her swollen lips to swallow her groans. He shivered when she rolled her hips against him, reaching up to see the smiling woman below.

He promised himself that he would be patient and slow until she asked for more. Then, with such ease, he drew away to reposition himself inside her, causing him to shudder.

"Fuck, Lucy," he groaned, face scrunched up in pleasure. "You're so fucking tight."

It wasn't long before Natsu was plunging into her with a sense of urgency. He had been waiting for so long to be with her, and he didn't want to miss this chance as he moved in and out of her wet cunt. He particularly enjoyed the way she whispered his name and trembled beneath him when he pushed his hips towards her.

"Shit!" She trembled as he penetrated her once more. "Ugh, Natsu!" - Exclaimed in frustration towards Natsu. She pulled him down to make eye contact with him. "If you don't start fucking me, I will scream until your ears bleed!"

"Happily," he rasped, his pupils blown out wide as he felt that familiar darkness lurk his senses. He ignored it, happily moving back and lifted her legs to place them on his shoulders. He only withdrew halfway before thrusting his hips into hers, causing her to scream.

"Harder!" She panted

He seized her hips and rose, moving her up and down on his erection as she searched for something to hold onto. Watching her face contort with pleasure, he observed her breasts bouncing while thrusting vigorously, moaning as she tightened around him. He was beginning to reach his peak and vowed to make her orgasm again before he reached his own, stimulating her clit as he penetrated her.

Underneath him, she was in disarray, gasping for breath while attempting to push him off of her. The firm grip and weight of Natsu as he thrust made her scream his name.

"Cum on my cock, Luce," he grunted as she started to squeeze. "Be a good girl and orgasm on it for me."

It felt as if he was gazing at stars while he thrust himself back into her throbbing center, and he trembled as he reached climax.

He felt like he was seeing stars as he thrust himself back into her pulsating center, trembling as he reached climax. It felt as though everything had frozen in time, his ears ringing as he released all emotion and cradled her delicately as if she were made of porcelain. He embraced her whimpers and trembling as he consumed her screams, kissing her gently while they both experienced their highs.

She sobbed as he withdrew. He approached her and embraced her in his arms, only to be taken aback when she ended up on top of him, sitting astride him with a mischievous smile.

Her dark brown eyes gazing at him, lust and longing in her eyes. "Is that all Natsu?" She purred as she grinded on his cock.

He shook his head, his throat to dry to respond.

How could he tell her that he wanted to stay buried inside her? That what calmed him was spilling his seed into her warm cunt. He had never been good at words but he felt like that would be the wrong thing to say to a woman. So instead, he watched in rapt attention as she took his hard cock into her soft, thin hands and lined him up to her cunt.

That same dark feeling was there, he was teetering on the edge as he felt himself struggling to maintain control. Yet that dark voice told him to let go, to surrender to it and everything would be easy.

So he did.

He let himself go as Luce slammed down onto his cock with a high pitched cry, his name tumbling off her lips.

Luce was too lost in the rhythm of her movements to notice the subtle yet undeniable shift happening beneath her. But Natsu felt it, his pulse quickening as an unfamiliar surge of power coursed through him. He watched, wide-eyed, as his left hand began to change — the skin hardening, turning red, scales forming along his arm as his nails elongated into sharp, dangerous claws that dug into her hip.

His breath hitched, a strange discomfort blooming in his back. Instinctively, he glanced over his shoulder, catching sight of something that made his heart race even more. From his back, large, red wings had erupted, their leathery expanse stretching out like a dragon's. The wings were powerful, primal, a manifestation of something dark and ancient deep within him.

He could feel the dragon inside trying to claw its way out, a side of himself he had never fully confronted. Yet here it was, threatening to take over, to consume the moment. He gritted his teeth, struggling to maintain control, but the more he resisted, the more the dark voice within whispered that sweet promise of power — of letting go.

Natsu's grip on Luce's hip tightened, his claws lightly pricking her skin, but she was still too immersed in her own pleasure to notice the changes, her soft gasps filling the air. His mind was in turmoil. He didn't want to scare her, but the dragon was taking hold, and it was harder to pull himself back.

He had always fought against this side of him — the side that threatened to overwhelm, that brought destruction. But now, with Luce so close, her warmth grounding him, he was torn between succumbing to the power and holding on to the person he was.

Natsu's gaze locked onto Lucy, searching her face for something, anything to tether him back to reality. The changes in his body felt overwhelming—his scales, his wings, the power rising inside him—but when she finally looked up at him, her eyes filled with tenderness, it was like a lifeline.

Her movements never faltered, her body still in sync with his, as she reached up, cupping his face in her hands. Her touch was soft, reassuring. A small, breathy smile played on her lips. "Human, demon, or dragon…" she whispered, her voice barely above a whimper, "you'll always be Natsu. My Natsu."

That was all it took for the last thread of his control to snap.

In an instant, he had her underneath him, his wings spreading wide behind him like a protective shield. But there was no violence in the way he moved. There was no battle to be fought here. Instead, what filled him now was something deeper—hot lust, yes, but also a profound sense of devotion and love for the woman beneath him.

She clawed at his chest, her whimpers and moans were music to his ears as he continued to plow into her, desperate to have her pretty cunt clamp down on his cock. To milk him dry as he spilled his seed into her.

He moved with a passion that went beyond mere desire. It was driven by the truth he had carried with him for so long, a truth that had only now fully surfaced.

Natsu loved Lucy.

She had always been there for him, standing by his side through every battle, through every trial. She had faith in him when he had doubted himself, trusted him when the world around them seemed uncertain. And in that trust, she had given him something he never knew he needed: a sense of belonging, a home.

Each movement, each breath shared between them, was an unspoken vow. The heat between their bodies, the pulse of their connection, spoke louder than any words could. They moved in perfect sync, bound by something far deeper than just passion.

Natsu's voice, rougher and deeper than usual, carried an almost primal edge as he spoke. "Luce," he murmured, his words a mix of raw emotion and something more animalistic. "I love you."

Her big, doe-like eyes fluttered open, gazing up at him through half-lidded lashes, her cheeks flushed with both warmth and affection. For a moment, the world around them seemed to fade, leaving only the two of them in this shared moment.

"I love you, Natsu," Lucy whispered back, her voice soft yet full of conviction. Her words wrapped around him like a promise, sealing their bond even further.

In that instant, nothing else mattered—just the love they had for each other, a love that had been growing stronger with every challenge they faced. They were no longer just partners in battle, but something far more.