Natsu's P.O.V

The moment my eyes opened to another day I immediately decided that I'll take the day off. From what? For starters, fighting with Gray, annoying Erza, picking a fight etc. I probably would stay at the guild for breakfast then spend the rest of the day with Luce. This morning I didn't talk as much and followed routine as usual. Eat? Check. Brush teeth? Check. Putting on clothes? I half assed this one but I was no where near Gray. I threw on some sweatpants and sneakers ready for my run this morning. This is one of the main habits that stuck with me during training. Wake up at 4 a.m, out the door by 5 and back by 7.

Gazing up at the sky dark hues of blue, purple and pink announce the sun's incoming arrival as I step out our apartment. Our. I couldn't really pick a moment where is became ours. There was just a time where I needed her to be my light and she needed me to just be there, everything else just followed. I woke up to us entangled in a web of limbs, desperately close clutching on to whatever skin was accessible. It was my favorite part of the day, waking up to her. Whatever dark thoughts whispering in my mind that she was going to leave me, that I wasn't worthy of her were hushed. Nevertheless, they still murmur in the back of my mind when I'm alone to my thoughts. Separating myself from her took more effort then I thought, which cost me time off my jog.

Warming up at a light pace I head to the woods to follow my usual trail. The rough terrain and secluded surroundings gave me more then enough time to focus and sort my thoughts out. Sometimes I don't even think at all, letting instinct and muscle memory guide me. Today was one of those days where I didn't want to think about anything at all. Letting my mind free, all other senses heightened. Soon after I can feel my canines elongating and my vision sharpen to where the tiniest insect hundreds of feet away can be easily detected. The hum of the forest becomes alive with scurrying of animals, the dash insects, the batting wings of birds moving around starting their morning like everyone else. Yet, I feel a disconnect between me and the indigenous life. With every step I take I sense the wildlife cringe away from my presence. Even the plants find a way to maneuver themselves the opposite way.

This is the price I pay for having such an evil force awakened in me. To used to this treatment to react anyway but indifferent I begin my run with no hesitation. The crunch of the branches and leaves benefit my feet harmonized with the rush of wind resonating in my ears lulled me to a place where I can't name. This is my high. Conscious but strangely unaware. Numbed, but highly observant to every detail of your environment. However, this all came crashing down with a jolting sensation indescribable to even the master of storytellers.

Dragon Season.

I knew. All naturally trained Dragon Slayers knew what it was, the effects, purpose and importance it served to the Dragons. Hell, even Wendy knows. Gajeel is probably the most experienced when it came to his seasons. Think about Dragon Season as heat for Dragons. Every season, our darker more animistic elements surface to find and claim a mate. From there it's a separate conversation, but it is essential to isolate ourselves from society. The extent we will go through to pinpoint, protect and claim our mates is borderline psychotic. If we decide to stay it can go as far as forcing ourselves onto our mates because every basic instinct is screaming us to. Claiming a mate is not only a lifetime commitment, but even after death the two souls are joined and bound by whatever holds them together. Because of that Dragon slayers don't play around with their feelings. Dating just doesn't work for us and our mentalities of a partner are more carnal then mundanes.

While Gajeel is the one you want to find for the facts my seasons are exponentially more intense. If a Dragon Slayer during season is psychotic, I'm terrified to what I would be, especially with this...part inside of me. It lends itself logical when I find myself not fitting into society. I've always been more beast than man.

Every nerve ending was on fire and my heart scrambled for the oxygen I was seeming to lack. My sense of balance vanished and I was left gasping for air on my knees. Veins were protruding from my arms and soon a black substance filled the tubes thick and slow. My bones felt heavy as if it made from osmium and unable to take the pressure anymore I rolled to my back and let whatever affect come its way. And that it did. Electricity shot up my spine so intense both eyes rolled to the back of my head in shock. Both sets of canines elongated before heavy sharp talons dug into the soil. Struggling for a breath I was counting the minutes until I could have a break knowing well that it was about to get worse.

The picture of the woods danced as my vision swayed in and out leaving me uncomfortably vulnerable on the bed of earth. The pain subsided into something more sensual after several hours. Humming and lulling me to try to disregard its dark desires. Incomprehensible whispers looped endlessly in my mind. Hundreds of them speaking at various times in various tongues, yet I understood the message of every single one of them.

Go to her. Low and suggestive in started out.

Go to her now. More demanding and urgent the whispers pleaded in pain.

Go now! We need her now! I clutched my head with heavy hands at the wails and screeches resonating in my head. I gritted my teeth in attempts to not call out, but a suddenly liquid covered my hands distracting me for a moment. Removing my hands from my ear I examined them with an anxious heart to see them stained in black. Blood? I touched my ears again and more of the black substance flowed out to the soil beneath me, dying my hair in its color on the journey.

I stayed on the ground withering in pain until I gathered enough strength to lift myself up. For the first time in hours I stood up on my feet to look at the sky. The sun was on its way to setting meaning I've spent the whole day here. Supported by a tree I stumbled from one to another until I reached home. By this time shop owners and fisherman were wrapping up their day and too busy to pay attention to me. For the first time, I walked through the door to find the apartment empty. Lucy's scent was fresh and potent meaning that she was here for a while before she left, possibly all day. Unknowingly I drunk the sweet fragrance in like a drug I couldn't get enough of. It wrapped around me, warm and comforting and the whispers stilled. This was no substitute for her presence, her voice, her body against mine, but it'll have to do. I basked in the tranquility for a few moments before I came back to my thoughts.

The first thing on my list is a shower. Stripped of my dirty clothes I stepped into the steaming hot streams of water to wash away the tension and sooth my thoughts. Laying against the wall I took a moment to be weak. I hated being weak. It drove me to abandon Luce and the guild, it was the source of my nightmares, the reason why I couldn't even protect my own father.

Pulling myself together I washed myself and shampooed my hair. After a thorough rinsing I tiredly shut the water off and wrapped a towel around my waist. Topping off with other hygienic business I pulled on some clothes and immersed myself into the bed. The comfort of her smell soothe me into a much needed sleep. I heard the door open and I instantly knew it was her. My body was on fire and I suddenly became aware of her. My mind also became aware and fought the sleep that I so desperately craved. Her light footsteps became louder and closer to me before I heard her voice.

"Where were you all day? I stayed here worried sick especially when you weren't in bed this morning. Never mind that, you look tired and sick. Should I stay home? I'm going out tonight and I'm not coming back 'till late." I only caught onto a few phrases. Something about she was worried and I looked sick. I swore I heard something about her coming back late.

"You're going out?" I questioned.

"Yes Natsu, I just said this. Do you need me to stay home? I'm not leaving you like this." I ignore the second part of her sentence and zoned in on what's important.

"Where? With who?" I questioned some more.

"A restaurant with a man that I'm doing business with. Don't worry about it. I have to be there by 9 but I'm going to try to come home as soon as possible. Let me make you something to eat before I leave." I saw through blurred vision her stand up and disappear towards the kitchen. Dinner with a man? I can barely function so I can't oppose as strongly as I wanted to and I doubt a couple groans will get my message across.

Within a few minutes I see her return with a large sandwich and a cold bottle of water. She propped a couple pillows under my head and proceeded to feed me. I wish I could say I was surprised, but knowing her character it was nothing new. After the sandwich was gone she helped me drink the water until the bottle was empty. Cleaning up quickly she took a armful of materials into the bathroom and shut the door. I heard the shower run for a while and heard shuffling for even longer. It seemed like it would forever before she walked out...and it did. Though even she finally exited, the succubus that walked out knocked the air out my lungs.