Chapter 6

The doors of the Fairy Tail guild creaked open, and Lucy was greeted by the lively chaos she was quickly coming to associate with home. The scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the sharp tang of spilled ale, while a low hum of chatter filled the air, punctuated by bursts of laughter and the occasional crash. Cana was perched at the bar, nursing her signature barrel with a smirk, while Gray and Elfman were locked in what appeared to be an arm-wrestling match near the job board, their shouts growing louder with every second.

At a table near the center of the room, Erza sat with her trademark poise, but instead of her usual armor-polishing ritual, she was delicately savoring a slice of strawberry cake. Her expression was one of utter contentment, her fork cutting precise pieces as she took each bite as though it were the most important task of the day.

Lucy smiled despite herself.

"Lucy!" Levy's familiar voice called out from a nearby table. She waved enthusiastically, her bright smile cutting through the lively chaos of the guild.

Lucy weaved her way through the bustling hall, sidestepping a flying chair and ducking under an airborne mug. She let out a sigh of relief when she reached Levy's table. "Morning, Levy," she greeted, dropping into the seat across from her.

"You made it through your first mission with Natsu," Levy teased, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "That's a victory all on its own. How are you holding up?"

Lucy groaned, resting her forehead against the table for dramatic effect. "If I never see another overgrown wolf again, it'll be too soon. And don't even get me started on him."

Levy chuckled, leaning forward conspiratorially. "You know, the way he looks out for you is kind of sweet. In his own... fiery, overbearing way."

"Sweet?" Lucy lifted her head, shooting Levy a disbelieving look. "More like suffocating. He acts like I'm completely helpless! He practically ordered me to stand still the entire fight!"

Levy grinned, unfazed by Lucy's indignation. "But he didn't let you get hurt, did he?"

"That's not the point," Lucy huffed. "I can take care of myself. I just don't understand why he—" She cut herself off, frowning as her thoughts trailed.

Before she could finish, Cana sauntered over, her ever-present barrel of alcohol slung casually under one arm. "What's this about Natsu?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as she plopped into the seat beside Lucy. "Oh, let me guess—he's being his usual overprotective self?"

Lucy groaned louder, covering her face with her hands. "Please don't start."

"Oh, but it's fun," Cana said, her smirk practically predatory. "You're new, but even we can see it. The way he hovers around you, always jumping in to play hero like it's his full-time job? Classic Natsu."

Lucy peeked through her fingers, her cheeks flushing. "He does not hover!"

Levy and Cana exchanged amused glances, their smiles only widening. "Sure," Cana drawled, taking a sip from her barrel. "Whatever you say."

The teasing didn't stop there.

"Good morning, Lucy!" Mirajane's cheerful voice chimed as she approached, balancing a tray of drinks with effortless grace. Her smile was as sweet as ever, but the knowing glint in her eyes made Lucy instantly suspicious.

"Morning, Mira," Lucy replied warily.

Mirajane set the tray down and clasped her hands together, her expression positively angelic. "It's so nice to see you settling in! And even nicer to see how much Natsu seems to care about your well-being."

Lucy's mouth fell open. "Not you too, Mira!"

"Oh, don't worry," Mirajane said sweetly, her tone dripping with innocent delight. "It's adorable, really."

"Adorable?" Lucy sputtered, her face burning hotter than Natsu's flames. "You guys are impossible!"

"You think we're impossible?" Cana snorted. "Have you met Natsu? That guy doesn't get protective over just anyone, you know. It's almost like..." She trailed off, her smirk turning sly.

"Like what?" Lucy demanded, her voice rising in exasperation.

"Like he's acting on instinct," Levy supplied, her tone more thoughtful.

Lucy blinked, confused. "Instinct?"

Mirajane tilted her head, her smile softening. "You've heard about Dragon Slayers, haven't you? They're not just wizards—they have traits that set them apart. Instincts, bonds... things they can't always control."

Lucy frowned, the weight of the words settling over her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Levy shrugged, though her eyes were twinkling. "You'll figure it out."

Lucy left the table, her steps slower than usual as her thoughts buzzed relentlessly. The teasing had been one thing—she could almost laugh that off. Almost. But the cryptic hints about Natsu, about Dragon Slayers and instincts, clung to her mind like an unanswered riddle.

She reached the job board, letting her fingers trail along the edges of the posted requests. The paper crinkled softly under her touch, but her eyes barely registered the words in front of her.

"Instincts?" she murmured under her breath. The word felt heavy, unfamiliar, and frustratingly vague.

Her mind replayed the fight with the Lycanflare in vivid detail: the way Natsu had thrown himself between her and danger without hesitation, the protective fury in his voice when he'd barked at her to stay back, and the way his gaze had lingered on her afterward, as if he'd been making sure she was unharmed.

A faint shiver ran down her spine, and she gripped the edge of the board tightly. "He's so... infuriating," she whispered, her voice shaky.

But beneath her frustration was something else—a flicker of something she couldn't quite name. Natsu wasn't like anyone she'd ever met. He was loud, overbearing, and impossible to ignore, but there was also an intensity about him that left her off-balance.

She shook her head, her blonde hair swishing around her shoulders as if the motion could clear her thoughts. "No. I'm not overthinking this," she told herself firmly.

Her determination lasted all of five seconds before a familiar voice interrupted her.

"Lucy," Natsu said gruffly, his voice close enough to startle her.

She yelped, spinning around and clutching her chest. "Natsu! What is wrong with you? Do you try to scare me?"

He shrugged, his expression as unreadable as ever. "You looked distracted."

Lucy let out a frustrated huff, crossing her arms over her chest. "Well, I wouldn't be if everyone would stop acting so weird!" she snapped. "Mira, Cana, Levy—they keep saying strange things about you. Something about Dragon Slayers and instincts? What does that even mean?"

At her words, Natsu's posture stiffened. His usually relaxed stance became tense, his jaw tightening as his eyes darkened.

Lucy faltered, suddenly aware of the shift in the air around them. It felt heavier, charged with an undercurrent of something she couldn't quite place. Her voice softened despite her frustration. "Natsu? What is it?"

"You're asking a lot of questions," he said finally, his voice quieter but no less intense. His gaze bore into hers, and for a moment, Lucy felt rooted in place.

"That's because no one will give me a straight answer!" she shot back, planting her hands on her hips. "I'm tired of being kept in the dark! What's going on?"

Natsu hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he glanced around the guild hall. His gaze swept over the noisy crowd, lingering on Erza, who was watching them with quiet curiosity. Finally, he let out a low growl of frustration, scratching the back of his neck.

"Not here," he said, his tone firm.

Lucy frowned. "Not here? What's that supposed to mean? Where are we going?"

"Just follow me," he said, already heading toward the doors.

Lucy followed Natsu out of the guild hall, her boots clicking softly against the cobblestone streets of Magnolia. The late morning sun cast long, golden shadows across the bustling town, and the air was alive with the sounds of the market

Despite the vibrant scene around her, Lucy's thoughts were anything but calm. Her mind raced with questions, each one louder than the last. Where is he taking me? Why does he look so serious?

She glanced at Natsu's back as he walked ahead of her, his strides purposeful and his posture unusually tense. His fists were shoved deep into his pockets, but she noticed the faint flicker of heat trailing in his wake. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but enough to make her realize that whatever he was about to tell her, it wasn't easy for him.

After several minutes, they turned into a narrow alley. The noise of the market faded, replaced by a quieter hum. Lucy hesitated as Natsu climbed a set of stone steps tucked between two buildings. She tilted her head, frowning.

"Are you planning to give me answers, or are we just sightseeing?" she muttered, half to herself, before reluctantly following him up.

When she reached the top, the view took her by surprise. They were on the rooftop of a tall building overlooking Magnolia, and the town sprawled out before her like a picture-perfect painting. The rooftops glinted in the sunlight, and the streets below bustled with life. A light breeze swept past her, carrying the scent of flowers and fresh bread from the market stalls.

Lucy took a step closer to the edge, her irritation momentarily forgotten as she took in the scene. "Wow," she murmured. "I didn't expect this."

Natsu, however, didn't seem to notice her awe. He stood with his back to her, leaning against the edge of the rooftop. His shoulders were stiff, and the air around him felt... different. Charged, almost electric, as though he were holding something back.

"What is this?" Lucy asked, her tone sharper now as she crossed her arms.

Natsu didn't answer immediately. He stared out at the horizon, his eyes fixed on something she couldn't see. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost hesitant. "Dragon Slayers aren't like other mages," he said. "We don't just use magic. It's... part of who we are. Our bodies, our instincts—they're different."

Lucy blinked, her earlier frustration giving way to curiosity. She tilted her head, studying his profile. "Different how?"

Natsu glanced over his shoulder at her, and for a moment, his eyes caught the sunlight in a way that made them appear sharper, almost predatory. "We're like the dragons who trained us," he said. "They taught us magic, but they also gave us... traits. Things we don't always control."

"Traits?" Lucy repeated, taking a cautious step closer. "Like what?"

Natsu turned fully to face her, his expression intense and uncharacteristically serious. "Like the need to protect what's ours."

Her breath hitched, her heart stumbling at the weight of his words. "Ours?"

He hesitated, his fists clenching at his sides. His jaw tightened as if he were forcing himself to choose his words carefully. "It's... complicated," he said finally, his tone gruff.

Lucy's mind reeled as she tried to piece everything together. The teasing from the guild, the possessiveness he'd shown during the fight, the cryptic comments about instincts—it was all starting to make sense, but the picture it painted left her more confused than ever.

"So... you're saying this is because of your magic? Your dragon instincts?" she asked cautiously, her voice quieter now.

Natsu nodded, but his posture remained guarded. There was something in his expression—something raw and conflicted—that made Lucy feel like he wasn't telling her everything.

She placed her hands on her hips, a hint of exasperation creeping back into her voice. "Why didn't you just say so earlier?"

He smirked faintly, though the tension in his shoulders didn't ease. "Because you wouldn't stop asking so many questions," he teased, his tone taking on a playful edge that clashed with the heaviness of the moment.

Lucy's jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"

He shrugged, the faint smirk still tugging at his lips. "You're the one who wanted answers."

"Unbelievable," Lucy muttered, rubbing her temples as her frustration flared again. "You're impossible!"

Natsu let out a low chuckle, the sound warm despite the lingering intensity in his gaze. "Maybe. But you're still here, aren't you?"

Lucy opened her mouth to retort, but the words wouldn't come. She huffed instead, crossing her arms and turning away to look at the view again. The faint flush on her cheeks betrayed her, though she refused to acknowledge it.

As the breeze swept past them again, carrying with it the quiet hum of Magnolia below, Lucy couldn't help but steal a glance at him. He was back to leaning against the edge of the rooftop, his posture slightly more relaxed now, but there was still an air of mystery about him.

She sighed, the tension in her shoulders easing just slightly. "I guess it's not the worst view up here," she muttered, half to herself.

Natsu's smirk widened, though he didn't say anything.