Chapter Five
The trek back to Magnolia felt both shorter and longer than the journey out. The forest seemed quieter now, though the faint scorch marks and trampled ground left behind by the Lycanflare served as reminders of what had happened.
The silence between me and Natsu was heavy but not exactly uncomfortable. He walked ahead, carrying the recovered necklace in his hand, while Happy flew lazily beside him, occasionally humming to himself.
"So," I started, unable to hold back my curiosity any longer. "That fire magic of yours—it's not just regular magic, is it?"
Natsu glanced over his shoulder at me, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. "What do you mean?"
"You were... different during that fight," I said, hesitating as I searched for the right words. "It wasn't just strength. It was like you weren't even human."
He stopped abruptly, turning to face me. "I'm a Dragon Slayer," he said simply, as if that explained everything.
I blinked. "And that means... what, exactly?"
"It means I'm strong," he said, smirking.
I frowned. "That's not an answer."
"It's all you need to know for now," he said, turning away again.
His dismissive tone grated on my nerves, but before I could press further, Happy chimed in, "Lucy, you should've seen how awesome he was when he fought bigger things than that Lycanflare! Like that time with the Vulcan—"
"Happy," Natsu interrupted, his tone warning.
Happy immediately zipped his lips, though he gave me a conspiratorial grin. "You'll find out soon enough."
I sighed, my curiosity only growing.
The chaos of the guild greeted us the moment we stepped through the doors. Cana was perched at the bar, laughing as she challenged Macao to another drinking contest, her barrel already half-empty. Gray and Elfman were locked in what seemed to be a heated argument near the mission board, their voices rising over the clatter of mugs and plates. And then there was Erza—sitting at her usual table, calmly polishing her sword like it was the most ordinary thing in the world amidst the noise.
"Welcome back!" Mirajane called from behind the bar, her radiant smile lighting up the room. She was effortlessly graceful as she wiped a glass clean, the guild's ever-cheerful heart amidst the madness. "How'd your first mission go, Lucy?"
Before I could answer, Natsu stepped forward, holding up the recovered necklace like it was no big deal. "Done," he said simply, dropping the delicate item onto the counter with far less care than it probably deserved.
Mira picked it up, her fingers tracing the intricate details of the pendant. "Looks like you two did a great job," she said, nodding approvingly. "I'll make sure the client gets this safely."
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "That's it? We're done?"
"That's it," Mira confirmed with a soft laugh. "Congratulations on completing your first mission!"
Her words carried across the room, drawing the attention of several guild members. Their gazes shifted toward me, some curious, others amused.
"Lucy went on a mission with him?" Gray's voice cut in, his smirk as sharp as ever. He pointed a finger at Natsu like he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "How'd you survive?"
"Shut it, Ice Princess," Natsu growled, flames sparking faintly around his fists.
Gray leaned back, completely unfazed. "Seriously, though. How'd you end up teaming up with him? He's a handful, you know."
"I didn't have much of a choice," I muttered, crossing my arms as I shot a pointed glare at Natsu. "He kind of... forced his way into it."
"She would've been dead without me," Natsu grunted, plopping onto a stool at the bar. Without so much as a glance my way, he grabbed a plate of food Mirajane had set down for him and started eating like nothing had happened.
"I wasn't helpless!" I snapped, the memory of him barking orders at me still fresh—and irritating.
"You would've been if I wasn't there to bail you out," he retorted, smirking as he shoveled food into his mouth.
"You're unbelievable," I muttered, my fists clenching at my sides.
The back-and-forth was interrupted as Levy appeared at my side, her warm smile instantly easing my frustration. "Tell me everything!"
Relieved to focus on someone who wasn't trying to infuriate me, I launched into the story. I told her about the dense forest, the Lycanflare's sudden appearance, and how terrifyingly fast it was. When I got to the part where Natsu had fought the creature, my words slowed as I tried to describe what I'd seen.
"It was... intense," I said finally, glancing toward the bar where Natsu was still devouring his food. "He wasn't just strong—he was relentless. It was like watching a force of nature. I've never seen anything like it."
Levy's eyes widened, her expression shifting between awe and fascination. "A Lycanflare?" she repeated, her voice almost reverent. "Those things are no joke. And Natsu... took it down?"
"Yeah," I said, my gaze lingering on him. He hadn't even glanced our way, as if what he'd done was so ordinary it wasn't worth discussing. "It was like the creature didn't stand a chance."
Levy followed my gaze and smiled knowingly. "Dragon Slayers are... different," she said, her tone soft. "There's a lot of mystery around them. You might want to keep an eye on him."
I frowned. "Why does everyone keep saying things like that?"
She just laughed, patting my arm. "You'll see."
Gray, who had clearly been eavesdropping, snorted from across the room. "She's not wrong, you know. Natsu's a walking disaster. Good luck dealing with him."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I muttered sarcastically.
By the time I returned to my apartment, the sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. The streets of Magnolia were alive with the hum of evening activity.
I climbed the stairs to my apartment, my legs aching from the day's events. The air inside was warm and still, the faint scent of flowers from the flower beds on my windowsill welcoming me home.
Dropping my bag onto the floor, I leaned against the door and let out a long sigh. My first mission was over, and while I'd survived, the memories of the Lycanflare and Natsu's raw, untamed power replayed in my mind like a vivid dream.
"Why does he have to be so frustrating?" I muttered, rubbing my temples. I wasn't sure if I was more annoyed by his overbearing attitude or the fact that I couldn't stop thinking about him.
Shaking off the thought, I grabbed a towel and headed for the bathroom.
"This is exactly what I needed," I murmured, sinking into the hot water. The tension in my muscles melted away, the heat seeping into every inch of me.
The room filled with steam, and for the first time all day, I felt like I could breathe. My mind wandered back to the guild, to the way Levy had smiled knowingly when she talked about Dragon Slayers.
"Keep an eye on him," she'd said.
I snorted, resting my head against the edge of the tub. "Easier said than done. He's impossible to deal with."
Despite my frustration, I couldn't shake the image of Natsu during the fight. The way he'd stood between me and the Lycanflare, flames roaring around him—it was terrifying and mesmerizing all at once.
After my bath, I wrapped myself in a towel and padded back into the main room. The apartment was quiet, save for the faint hum of the city beyond the window. The cool evening breeze drifted through the open panes.
I grabbed my journal from the small table near the couch, settling in to jot down my thoughts. My pen hovered over the page as I replayed the day in my mind—the forest, the fight, and most of all, Natsu.
"Does he always have to do everything his way?" I muttered, scribbling down a few disjointed sentences. "One second he's acting like a total caveman, and the next he's throwing himself into danger like it's a game. And that fight..."
My pen paused as I remembered the way he'd stood between me and the Lycanflare, flames blazing around him like some kind of protective shield. It was mesmerizing—and a little terrifying.
I shook my head, scribbling out the sentence I'd started. "No. He's not taking up any more space in my head."
The soft creak of the window behind me made my heart leap into my throat.
I spun around, clutching the journal to my chest.
"Natsu?!" I shrieked, my voice echoing in the stillness of the room.
He was perched on the windowsill like it was the most natural thing in the world, his legs swinging casually over the side.
"Hey," he said, his tone as casual as if he were greeting me on the street.
"What are you doing here?!" I demanded, my face heating as I clutched my towel tighter.
"Checking on you," he said simply, hopping down into the room. His eyes scanned the apartment, lingering on the stack of unpacked boxes in the corner. "You didn't finish moving in yet?"
"That's not the point!" I snapped, still clutching my journal. "You can't just climb through my window like some kind of burglar!"
"It was open," he said, shrugging. "Figured you wouldn't mind."
"Well, I do mind!" I snapped, my frustration bubbling over. "The door exists for a reason, you know!"
He smirked, leaning against the arm of the couch as his dark eyes flicked over me, lingering for a second too long. "You know, every time I've come to your place, you've been wearing a towel. Starting to think you don't actually own clothes."
My cheeks burned hotter than ever, and I gaped at him. "Excuse me?!"
"Just saying." He grinned, completely unfazed by my mortified expression. "Maybe I should start knocking... or not."
I glared at him, fumbling for a retort before finally snapping, "Well, maybe if someone didn't show up uninvited, I wouldn't have to keep answering the window in a towel!"
He laughed, a low sound that sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. "Fair point."
"That doesn't mean you're off the hook!" I added quickly, pointing an accusing finger at him.
"It's not breaking in if the window's open," he said, plopping onto my couch like he owned the place.
"You are ridiculous," I muttered, throwing my journal onto the table and crossing my arms. "Do you even understand how boundaries work?"
"And you're loud," he shot back, leaning back against the cushions.
I glared at him, my frustration mounting. "Why are you really here, Natsu?"
He looked at me, his expression softening just slightly. "Wanted to make sure you were okay. First mission and all."
His honesty caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond. "I... I'm fine," I said finally, my voice quieter than before.
"Good." He stood, stretching lazily.
I watched as he made his way back to the window, his movements relaxed and unhurried. Just before climbing out, he glanced over his shoulder.
"You should lock this next time," he said, smirking. "Wouldn't want anyone else sneaking in."
"Oh, so I'm supposed to believe you wouldn't sneak in if it was locked?" I shot back, raising an eyebrow.
He laughed again, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Guess you'll have to wait and see."
Before I could respond, he was gone, disappearing into the night like the enigma he was.
I let out a long sigh, collapsing onto the couch. My heart was still racing, but whether it was from annoyance, embarrassment, or something else entirely, I wasn't sure.
"That guy..." I muttered, though my lips twitched into the faintest smile despite myself.