Somethings Wrong With the Fire Dragon Slayer

Somethings definitely wrong with him.

Was the blonds first thought as she watched her silent partner walk at her side. That was her first clue of many.
Her partner, known for his loud, destructive behavior, was absolutely, 100% silent. Not a word nor a peep could be heard from him.
Hell, he wasn't even humming some ridiculous tune as he ambled along.

To say that Lucy Heartfilia was worried was an understatement.

She was practically having a break down. Although, granted, nobody would know just by looking at her. She was very good at hiding her worries. But, underneath her cool demeanor, a tidal wave of worry was slowly drowning her. Happy, his closer then life Exceed, didn't even know what was wrong.

Yet, another red flag.

The Holder Mage could recall the exact moment and day in which her best friend's behavior had started to change drastically. Her eyes glazed over as she watched the Fire Mage. Lucy's mind started to wander to that day when Natsu Dragneel, became a complete and total, stranger to her...

~2 Weeks Earlier~

"Luuuucccceeee~" Natsu Dragneel whined as he followed his partner out of the Guild. "Why can't you goooo~?"
A bright red tick mark appeared on Lucy Heartfilia's forehead, giving her quickly growing irritation away. "Because, Natsu," The blond bit out, trying to be calm with the persistent boy, (and failing at it).
"I have a date." And, boy was Lucy excited for it!

She hadn't been on a date...since...
It was sad in itself that she couldn't even remember when her last date with a person of the opposite sex (that wasn't a friend) even was. She was just going to have to fix that.
With the tall, charming, funny, boy that she had bumped into at the bookstore she frequented.
His hair was the color of spilled ink. With his baby blue eyes that seemed to sparkle like a thousand sapphires to complete the pretty boy look...
And, there goes Lucy's creative writing mind. But, oh was it ever true.

She had to rub at her eyes to make sure hearts hadn't taken them over. Her heart was so light in her chest that she thought it wasn't even there to begin with. Excitement hummed in her vines. Making her mind sore with possibilities that this date could bring her.

Now, Lucy was a romantic at heart.
It had been shown plenty of times.
The Mage knew that she was hoping for something that couldn't possibly happen on a first date. However, one, such as she, could hope. Truth was, (the ugly truth), Lucy was lonely.
She had been observing the Guild lately. What she had witnessed, had hit something in her.
Her heart to be exact.

She saw love.

From family love to in love, she was all around it, but she wasn't in it. Sure, she did feel the love that her Guild Mates had for her. She was no stranger to the pure emotion.
But she didn't have what she yearned for.
And that was to be loved by someone.
Like, really be loved. Like her characters were in her book. Funny how she could write about how in love they were when she had never been.
She needed to fix that.

Hence the date she was heading to soon. Very soon, in fact. The sun was about to set soon. Lucy was supposed to meet him at sunset. He had told her he would meet her at the Café right next to the bookstore. Without realizing it Lucy had picked up the pace until she was practically speed walking to her apartment. Apparently her excitement had traveled down into her legs.

Only then did she notice that her partner-that had just been asking many questions-had suddenly gone very quiet. She looked over at him and was surprised to find that a stony expression had come across his usually cheerful face. Her blond brows furrowed as Lucy fished out her key to unlock her apartment door.
"You alright, Natsu?" The Stellar Mage asked him distractedly, her large, brown eyes downcast as she looked for that stupid key.
That's why Lucy didn't see the flash of sadness that overtook his dark eyes. It was only for a moment, just a second.
But it was enough.
However, the emotion was gone before the blond had even gotten the chance to look.
To see what he was trying to hide.

Instead, all Lucy heard was his grumbled response, and in that moment her slender fingers brushed against the coldness of her apartment key. "Aha!" She muttered triumphantly, holding up the sly thing for all to see. "Gotcha you-" Her excited words halted when she noticed something was missing from my side.
Or rather a who. Natsu was gone.

Vanished as if he hadn't even been there to begin with. "Natsu?" The Holder of the Zodiac Keys mumbled as her brown eyes took in the empty space where her best friend had once stood. Only to notice the sun's rapid descent in the already pink sky. Lucy let out a yelped curse and scurried into her dark apartment. Pushing everything except for her date into the back of her mind.
I will see what was wrong with him later.
She told herself as she hurried around her room, snatching everything she needed for the night.
I'm sure he is fine.
The Mage reassured herself as she shimmied into her dress for the night.
Natsu's always alright.
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Apparently Lucy Heartfilia's brain didn't know what 'pushing-aside-all-my-worries-for-the-night' meant. Flashes of Natsu's stone cold mask that had slipped over his features kept flashing in her mind's eye as she walked down the darkening street.
Her black high heels click clacking off the cobbled street was her only company.

What had caused that dark expression?

Perhaps it had been something that Gray or maybe Gajeel had said or done to make him angry.
But, he seemed fine when he followed me out of the Guild Hall.
Lucy mused to herself. Suddenly, her legs stopped moving so abruptly that she nearly lost her balance. The force of the Celestial Spirt Mage's newly discovered thought almost succeeded in knocking her off of her already unsteady feet.

Could it be...?
Don't go there, Lucy.
She scolded herself harshly as she picked up her pace. She couldn't believe that she even allowed the thought to even cross her mind.
Lucy had been hurt one time before for daring the evil thought to take hold of her and her hope. Before it all blew up violently in her face. Like a raging fire leaving ash in its deadly awake.

It had been all Mira's fault anyway.

The beautiful barmaid's words had taken hold of her rational mind and completely corrupted it.
"Natsu loves you, Lucy."
The sweet voice of Mirajane and her even sweeter words drifted into the young girl's mind. Grasping hold and no matter how much Lucy tried to shake the words off her. They just kept coming back. And each time they did, she lost the will to fight them. Bit by bit, piece by piece, she lost the will to push them away.
For Lucy craved for it to be true.

And that night, when he had asked her to come to that tree at nightfall, oh, how her heart had felt sheer bliss at the prospect of him loving her.
Only for her heart to be burned to ashes on that same night. He hadn't wanted her, he only required Virgo's key, 'To find treasure!' He had said.

Aren't I enough?

The Mage quickly locked away her feelings and traitorous thoughts in an airtight container. Then, she shoved that container filled with her concealed emotions to the far recesses of her mind. And there it was and there it would stay.

Lucy shook her head, making her golden hair fly, before determination overtook her eyes. "Yosh!" She fist bumped the air as a triumphant smile crossed her features.
I'm going to have a nice night and have fun! The Mage smirked as she walked along, with a little more hop to her step then there had been before.

As Lucy's fast pace ate up the distance between her and the Café, she felt the all to familiar feeling of eyes on her. It made her skin crawl and bristle with goosebumps. Lucy's back went ramrod straight as she feigned calm. Her light eyes darted from left to right, searching for anyone that may be looking at her. It wasn't the first nor the last time that eyes had been on her. She was used to it.

But, this sensation was different. She felt the intensity in them as they crawled up her flesh. It made a shiver run up her spine. She carefully glanced over her shoulder, only spotting a mother and her child. Another glance over her left shoulder made her eyes see multiple trees and bushes. Hiding...camouflage.

Lucy ran.

Well, she tried to anyway. She was wearing high heels. There weren't many people out on the streets, it was after 8 anyway. The sun had already set, leaving only the stars and moon to play in the black sky. This only heightened her fear. Her heart nearly stopped when the trees to her left rustled each time she passed one. Something was following her.

She picked up the pace till she was in an dead run. On three occasions she almost nearly ended up breaking her ankle, but she didn't stop. She was so close. So close to safety. So close to the Café that would end up being her safe haven. She-
"Lucy!" The Stellar Mage froze in her tracks. My Mavis, she knew that smooth voice. "Adam?" Lucy muttered, turning around as she did so. There he was. The man she was going to meet.
Black suit on, glossy hair settled in perfect waves, inky locks falling into his cobalt blue eyes.
A hearty, welcoming smile on his handsome face, making dimples appear on his high cheek bones.
Skin seeming to glow under the moonlight, making his eyes sparkle like a thousand diamonds.

And he was waiting for her.

Lucy's words and mind just didn't do him justice. Lucy could feel her heartbeat settle down in her chest. She would be alright now. The Mage had noticed how the rustling in the trees had stopped abruptly when Adam had called out for her. Scared, are we? Lucy thought smugly as she made her way up to the dark headed man. He was taller then her, she had to crane her neck up just to meet his eyes.

"Hello, Lucy. Are you okay?" He asked her polity, noticing her flushed face, and quick intakes of breath. She had been running.
"Yes, thank you. I am fine." Lucy assured him with a smile, she linked her arm through his and began to lead him inside. "Let's hurry in, Adam." Even though Lucy did feel safer now, she still couldn't shake those eyes...
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Her date with Adam was everything that she had ever wanted. It had been absolutely perfect. Straight from one of her Fairy Tale stories that she loved to read and write about.
That's why Lucy Heartfilia hated it.

The food was exquisite.
The staff were very polite.
The Café was beautiful.
And the boy was perfect.
She had never felt so wrong.

Adam, well Adam had been a lot of things. So many in fact, that she started to compare, and she wasn't even aware she was doing so.

He was the proper gentleman.
So different.

He was polite, almost in an all consuming way.
Just the perfect amount of kindness and sweetness.

He was the perfect dinner companion.
To perfect.

With exquisite manners.
Where was the projectiles of food?

He laughed softly, not bringing any attention to himself.
Completely opposite.

He spoke even softer, about Lucy, about himself, and about books, all she had already read.
None of his own adventures to tell.

His hair was so dark, the color of midnight.
Colorless without brightness.

His eyes were too blue, too light.
Black depths that hid the sheen of green that I knew were there.

He was too tall, Lucy had to crane her neck to see him.
The perfect height for me.

So different.
Too different.

To conclude, Adam, he was a knight in shining army.

To bad Lucy much rather preferred the Dragon in shining scales.

That night, hours later, when Lucy arrived at her apartment. Her conversation with Adam, just before she left, played in her mind.

"Ah, I see now."
"Hmm? You see what?"
"You're in love with someone, are you not, Lucy?"
"W-what?! Excuse me?"
"Mmm. Stop lying to yourself, Lucy. I see the far off look you have when you look at me. You are wishing that I were someone else, yes?"
"..."
"Then, why aren't you with that someone? Instead of wasting your time here, with someone you do not wish to be with?"

"Why?" Lucy muttered to herself as she closed and locked the door. With a breath she laid her forehead up against the coolness of the door. "Because-"
"Yo, Luce!" Her eyes shot open wide as a startled sort of squeal broke free from her. Lucy spun around, fingers already dancing over her keys, but stopped their speedy movements when she caught sight of the pink hair that belonged to the voice. "Whatcha' mumbling 'bout?"

Lucy's heart hadn't even picked up during the date. Funny how it did just by seeing Natsu. "Nothing!" She quickly answered, willing her heart to stop its rapid beats. Natsu only rolled his dark eyes, as he settled back down on her bed-wait a minute!
"Natsu!" Lucy scolded, only halfheartedly telling him to stop sleeping in her bed. As always, he completely ignored her.

The Dragon Slayer's muscles tensed noticeably and a sour look crossed his face as he bit out, "How was it?" Lucy paused for a moment before answering his question.
"It didn't work out." She shrugged, turning away from him to take off her shoes, they had gifted her with not only blisters, but with sore ankles. Dammit...Lucy thought, rubbing at her feet.

"But, you seemed really excited, Luce." Natsu said from behind her. Briefly, Lucy wondered if the bitterness in his tone was directed at her. Mad because I was excited?
The Holder Mage shook it off as she turned to give him a smile.
"He wasn't that great."
"Oh? Didn't he like books? And writing?"
"Yay."
"Then what was so wrong with him?"
He wasn't you.
Lucy turned away from his intense eyes and shrugged halfheartedly, her voice turning soft.
"I don't know." She waved her hand in the air and gave her fingers a twirl. "He just wasn't what I was looking for."

The squeaking sound of her mattress let her know that Natsu had laid back down on it. "Then you're gonna have to tell me when ya do find him." Lucy cocked an eyebrow as she turned her gaze to him. She found him staring up at the ceiling, his eyes tracing a crack in the plaster, his fingers laced behind his head. "Why is that?"

Lucy was trapped when he turned his onyx eyes on her. A promise lit by an ever burning fire danced in the depths of his eyes as he answered her.
"So, I can see if he's even close to good enough for ya, Luce." His eyes returned back to the ceiling and Lucy was released from her frozen state.
Her breathing had turned uneven and her mind had been rattled.
She felt like crying from hysteria.
She wanted to scream her bleeding heart out.
She wanted to kick and wail.
Because, it wasn't fair.
It wasn't fair that she had to keep the words she wanted to roar out a silent secret.
It wasn't fair that she loved her best friend.
It wasn't fair that he didn't know.
It wasn't fair that if he didn't return the intense emotions that she felt, their friendship, team, would crumble.
It wasn't fair that he got to say all these perfect things to her and do all these amazing things for her, and not expect her to fall in love with him.
It's not fair, Natsu...
It's not fair...

In that moment, for one earth shattering second, Lucy was going to say it. She had had enough of all this worrying and all this secrecy.
She hated being weak. Because that's what she was being right now.
Weak.
If Lucy were strong, then she would come out and say the three words.
They are just three. Just three small, little words, that can completely shatter you're life. No big deal, Lucy!

Lucy, brave, determined, and in love, Lucy Heartfilia, parted her lips and took a breath. A breath that would determine her faith, once the words were released into the open air.
Lucy shut her chocolate eyes, her nails digging into her palms, her teeth clenched.
She inhaled her courage and exhaled her fear.
"Natsu," Lucy whispered, opening her eyes to look at him. "I-" Only for the Mage of Fairy Tail to get cut off my a snore.

No. Freaking. Way.
Oh, yes way. Natsu had indeed fell asleep during her battle with her mind. Looks like I was to slow, Natsu. The Stellar Mage thought sadly as she rose to her feet. She tip toed over to fix the pink blankets around him. He always slept so strangely. With his arms and legs in every which direction, it made her chuckle. Her hushed laughter stopped short when her eyes spotted a vibrant green sticking out vividly from his hair.

Lucy reached over and very softly removed the green thing from his hair. She held it close to her face so she could see it in the dim light.
A leaf was in her hand.
A crushed, light green leaf, just like the one that she had walked past to get to the Café, just like the ones from the trees that had concealed her pursuer, had been in her partner's hair.

Why were you following me, Natsu?
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From then on, Natsu's behavior just escalated.
Firstly, he wouldn't let her pick any dangerous jobs.
And, if she insisted on it, Natsu would take out any and every enemy there was. Not even letting Lucy lift a finger to help.
It made her feel...useless.

Secondly, and this was a big change, if there was a brawl in the Guild, Natsu Dragneel, would not. Join. In. At all.
Nope. Zero. Uh-huh. Nada.
Instead he would sit or even go as far as standing in front of her and the fighting. Blocking and protecting her from any person or object that came flying at them.
Lucy felt...helpless.

Thirdly, Natsu was always there. It seemed as though he wouldn't leave or go anywhere without her. He would walk her home each and every night, then stay. Then he would be there in the morning to go wherever she went. He was like her shadow, always there and never vanishing.
Lucy felt weak.

Fourthly, Natsu had turned...dangerous. He would growl or snarl at men who looked at her, even if it was just a fleeting glance. He would glare or even play with his fire in front of people he deemed he didn't like. A smirk would always come to his face as his white hot flames danced in his hands.
Warning anyone who came near.
Stay away or get turned to ash.

What really shocked the golden haired Mage was when he growled at one of the men at Fairy Tail for talking to her that morning. Lucy was getting more and more concerned for him.
Natsu was acting possessive over her and Lucy didn't know what to think or feel about that.

Which brought her to the here and the know. Her gaze zeroed on the Dragon Slayer as they both headed for their Guild. Happy had already went ahead, not wanting to stay any longer, even the Exceed could sense the change.
Anyone could. Just by looking at the silent Dragon Slayer, they would know. Lucy wanted the old Natsu back.

The one who started random fights just because he was bored.
The one who lit his food on fire and ate everything in sight.
The one who was always roaring out something.
The one who smiled and laughed.
Not this one that didn't even crack a smile.
But, more importantly, she wanted her best friend back.
That is why Lucy had stopped her walking. That's why she had her body locked up and her fists clenched.
That's why determination lit up her brown eyes, making them the color of warm caramel.
Lucy Heartfilia was not leaving without answers. And answers she was going to be receiving.

"Hmm? Why did ya stop, Luce?" Natsu asked her, stopping as well to look over his shoulder at her. When his eyes took in her stance, he turned fully around, until he was facing her. He was getting ready for his own battle. A battle you're going to lose, Natsu. Lucy thought as she asked the first of many questions.
"What's wrong with you, Natsu?"
His eyes flashed towards her, her words sparking something in him.
Something that he didn't like.

"I don't know what you mean, Lucy." Natsu said, his tone indifferent and distant. Lucy got the message that he was trying to deliver.
Leave it alone.
Like hell she was.
"Yes, you do!" The Celestial Mage shot back. Her own fire coming into play. "Why aren't you telling me what's wrong with you? Why won't you talk to me!" She could see a muscle jump in his jaw. Other then that, he remained silent, except for his eyes that screamed at her with things that she couldn't understand.

An exasperated breath came from her, as she rolled her brown eyes skyward, and put a fist to her forehead. "I just...don't understand." She whispered, dragging her eyes up to meet his. "You always help me." She tells him, anger creeping into her tone. "Always. So, why won't you let me help you?" Lucy was reaching out to him with her words. She wanted to be let in. She hadn't even realized that she had been kicked out.

Natsu stood there, a soft breeze stirring his hair, making it brush against his shadowed eyes. His body was rigid, his muscles tense, and his mind going haywire. From underneath the shadows that hid his dark eyes, worry and truth battled one another. Without meaning to he had hurt his partner, the one person he would never even think of hurting, and he had already done it.
Without even knowing.

The Fire Mage had been pushing her away. When all he wanted to do was pull her close to him. He had been to caught up with his new knowledge, this new information that frightened him, so much that he had been so distant from her.
To caught up in himself.

Now, as he stared down at her, so close, yet so very far from her, truth won. Truth wanted her back.
And so did Natsu.

He had been silent for so long that Lucy was pretty sure that he was now completely ignoring her. Hurt flashed through her at the thought. Her partner had never been so cold.
"W-" her lips quivered. "What did I do?" She whispered, folding her fists close to her chest, as if to protect herself. "Whatever it was...I am-"

The Dragon Slayer was in front of her before her heart could take another beat. "No, Lucy. Please don't be sad." He tried to smile, even as his insides twisted and turned. The Fire Mage felt like he had been thrown onto a train multiple times...and he didn't see himself getting off the hellish ride any time soon. Natsu Dragneel took a breath, laid his hands onto his surprised partner's shoulders, and let the fear go.
The truth of the matter met the air as it left his lips.

"Because, you're my Mate, Luce."

The wind blew, scattering golden locks of hair this way and that. Golden mixed in with cherry blossom swirled and danced together. There was no sound to interrupt their dance. There was only the faint sound of a gasp and a happy laugh.

Then, there was nothing else. For the two dancing colors blurred into one, bright, beautiful light.

~The End~
This one-Shot is for, @KatieLarryLover, hope you all enjoyed!