~ few hours ago ~

"Natsu! Wanna go on a mission with me?" A beautiful Celestial wizard yelled from a far to salmon haired Fire wizard who sat at the bar.

He turned his head at the sound of his name being called, and as he turned he noticed something odd with his best friend.

She looked extra pretty today, she was always, but he never really payed any attention to it.

Her hair was tied up in a side ponytail with a blue bow holding it together, like always...

She wore a little makeup and a pinkish lipstick, like always...

She had her signature outfit, like always...

She wore a smile with a soft blush on her cheeks, even the most regular smile of hers was enough to make Natsu feel flustered.

His cheeks burned up, and it was weird because he never felt this way, his body was acting weirder and weirder every day.

"Earth to Natsu! Are you even listening to me?" Natsu's thoughts were interrupted by a well known blonde who now stood in front of him.

"For someone who has such sensitive hearing, you sure are deaf sometimes..." she sighed and crossed her hands on her stomach, not realizing it made her boobs look bigger.

"And what's with your face, you're all red," she commented, making Natsu turn back to Mira.

"We'll go on a job in half an hour! I'll be right back!" And with that he was gone.

Lucy looked at Mira with confusion written all over her face, expecting some kind of explanation for Natsu's behavior. But Mira looked just as confused before cracking a smile.

"What's with the face?"

"He likes you!" She tried twisting her tongue like Happy.

"W-What? Where did you get that idea from?" She squealed, clearly surprised.

~

"Oh hey, Natsu! You're home early today!" Happy yelled as he heard the door slam closed, he flied towards the door to find his best friend sitting while leaning on it while gasping.

"What's the matter? Did you ran all the way home?" Tiny neko asked the Dragon Slayer as he nodded, too exhausted to talk.

"N-Nothing happened, wanna go on a job with Luce and me?" He raised his head, waiting for Happy to give him an answer.

"Aye, sir!" Blue neko fist bumped in the air.

~

"Where did you ran off to? Lucy was worried sick!" A Take Over mage angrily shouted at Natsu with her hands placed on her hips.

"N-No, I wasn't!" Lucy coughed out as the smoothie she drank got stuck in her throat.

Natsu came to her and helped her cough everything out.

"Thanks.." she sighed and glared at Mira.

"Sorry I made you worried, Luce, I went to get Happy," Fire mage explained.

Lucy looked away and quietly mumbled 'I wasn't worried'.

"Did you choose a job already?" Natsu asked.

"Nope, it's your turn, I chose last time, remember?" She answered.

"Hell yeah!" He cheered and ran off to the request board.

This gave Lucy minute or two to be alone with certain somebody at the bar.

"The hell was all that about, Mira?!" She violently whispered.

"Did I lie?" She whispered, and it took Lucy back for a moment. No, she didn't lie, the blonde really was worried, but so would be any other friend, right? 

"Shut up!"

"Happy and I found the job!"

"Awesome! Let's go!" Celestial mage quickly yelled and rushed out if the guile while Natsu gave it to Mira for approval.

"You're free to go," whitehead said as Natsu began taking his leave.

"Wait, Natsu!"

"Huh?"

"Keep Lucy safe no matter what.." Mira requested as Natsu smiled widely.

"Always..."

~ now ~

"Ngh..." the Dragon Slayer groaned as his eyes opened. He looked around to see a cell, it looked old and dirty. Blood was pretty much all that you could smell in the air.

He tried to move but he noticed chains wrapped around his arms and legs. He was tied up to a chair.

Then, his gaze landed on an unconscious blonde in front of him. His pupils shrunk when he noticed the state she was in. Her whole body was bloody from battle, her hair was dirty, her clothes were ripped apart... but he couldn't see her face since her head was down.

"Luce... Say something, Luce! Wake up!" He tugged onto the chains, but it was no use. His magic power was drained as well as hers.

"Damn it!" He cursed in annoyance.

Big metal doors suddenly began opening, and a tall woman with gold hair walked in. Her eyes were covered by her bangs and she wore a creepy grin on her lips.

She slowly walked behind Lucy and grabbed her face, showing it to Natsu, causing him to growl deeply.

"Don't touch her!"

"Oh! Is the big and powerful Dragon Slayer feeling frightened for his friend?" The woman mocked, making Natsu even more mad.

The woman took out a small knife out of her pocket and devilishly smiled at the Fire mage. Natsu instantly started to tug on the chains while growing.

"Don't you think it's time for her to wake up..?" She sarcastically asked and sliced the side of Lucy's arm, she felt burning pain and immediately woke up.

"Agghh!"

"Stop it!!" The Dragon Slayer shouted in rage.

"W-What the hell is all of this? Who are you?!"

The golden haired woman dangerously turned towards Lucy and cracked a creepy smile while walking towards her. Blonde shivered and regretted opening her mouth.

"My name is.." she pulled out her knife again.

"A..." she craved it into Lucy's skin as she screamed in pain.

"M..." as Lucy's screams got louder with every cut, Natsu's rage was getting larger. He demanded the woman to stop, even begged, but she didn't budge.

"Y..." she craved in the last cut, Lucy's whole forearm was bleeding. She was bleeding out badly.

Blondes eyes closed from exhaustion and she fell unconscious.

"ENOUGH!!!" Natsu yelled and ripped off the chains which kept him tied. His appearance drastically changed. Horns were sticking out of his hair, his eyes were pitch black and he had a raged expression.

Natsu sprinted towards Amy and did an Fire Dragon Iron Fist attack at full power. She crushed to the wall and slowly slid down on her bottom. Her clothes were melted from the unnatural heat and she looked dead.

"M-Monster.." were her last words.

Natsu's eyes snapped and he became conscious again. His eyes scanned the room and they landed on the beaten woman. His eyes widened.

Did I do that? He asked himself but someone else came to his mind.

Lucy! Where is she..?!

"Lucy! Hey, wake up!" He tried shaking her, and her eyes slowly opened.

"Natsu.. I can't feel my a-arm..." she weakly said, trying to stay awake and get away from slumber that tried to consume her mind once again.

Natsu took a hold of his scarf and ripped it off from around his neck. He carefully wrapped it around Lucy's arm.

"What are you doing! That's your scarf, Natsu! It's too precious, don't do this!" She cried out and tried to move her hand away, but Natsu held her still.

"Stop it, it's just blood, I can wash it off.. and besides, nothing is more precious to me than you, so shut up!" He blurted out and quickly realized what he said.

"I-I mean-"

His words were cut off by Lucy slamming her lips on his. She wrapped her right arm around his neck and gently pulled him in closer to deeper the kiss. Natsu was surprised at first, but he kissed back in no time.

"You are more precious than anything to me, too" she exclaimed happily and kissed him one more time.

"I love you, Luce.. I'm sorry this happened today, I promised I would protect you and I failed.. i'm sorry.." he looked away and blonde quickly placed her palms on his cheeks, forcing him to look at her.

"This wasn't your fault, you have to stop blaming yourself for everything.."

"How can you say it's not my fault, I chose the job!"

"What happened here had no connection with the job we had to do!" Lucy looked straight into Natsu's sad eyes and placed her forehead on his.

"Thank you for always protecting me... I love you.."

——————————————————————

Yay! Finally!

my fingers are sore again.. but! i gave up during this one too, yeah

Hope you have a wonderful day, bye bye