《f o u r》

LATER THAT AFTERNOON, you finally came to in an empty infirmary with bandages wrapped around your arms and a small bandage on your forehead. Your legs had been kept the way they were, since none of the members were quite sure what to do to fix it as the 'wound' was unfamiliar to them. You sat up slowly in the bed, and gingerly touched the bandages, unsure. You hadn't seen bandages like these since you were a little girl. Zeref never treated you when you were hurt, and Sparrow just used her magic to cure you, no bandages involved.

Looking around the room, you suddenly heard the chattering coming from outside the door to the infirmary. Cowering back slightly, you sensed so many auras at once that it was overwhelming. You gently swung your legs over the side of the bed and dangled them so they nearly touched the floor. It felt strange. It was like you were almost paralyzed, but you could still feel the weight you pushed down on them in order to walk. You heaved a sigh. Even though you were able to make it out of there, you had to pay the price.

Just as you were considering getting up, the door to the infirmary suddenly opened, revealing the salmon haired guy you remembered carrying you into the infirmary in the first place. He was looking at the floor as he walked in and only looked up after Happy flew in after him. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of you awake.

"Oh, you're up!" He grinned, showing off his fangs. You scrunched up your nose slightly in concentration. An exceed and fangs. Could he be a Dragon Slayer as well? You brushed your tongue up against your own fangs, feeling a twinge of sadness as you began to wish that you could just be a Dragon Slayer and not a Dragon Slayer as one of the Peculiar powers.

"Y/n!" Happy let out a pleased cry as he flew to rest on the bed next to you. Natsu walked over next to you and Happy and sat down in a chair next to the bed, looking at you with curious eyes.

"How are you feeling?" Happy asked.

"Better. I-Is there anything you guys can do about... my legs?" You asked softly, looking down at the miserable dead leaves. Natsu and Happy exchanged glances with one another, already telling you the answer. Sadness filled your eyes like a pool.

"Hey, I'll tell you what; I'll try to find a way for us to get your legs back if you answer one question for me! Deal?" Natsu negotiated, leaning towards you with that same goofy grin on his face. You stared at him momentarily, analyzing his aura and his person. He seemed very childish and lighthearted, but on the inside, you could sense a lot of hurt and depression. He seemed like an interesting character, and he was much like Happy; he was one of the few people that you'd met so far that you actually felt comfortable with. Tilting your head to the side you allowed a small smile to creep across your lips.

"Deal." You answered. His grin grew as he scooted closer to you, putting his chin on his fists and looking at you in what you almost thought to be admiration.

"Tell me, how did you end up beating Zeref? I mean, he's the legendary evil wizard! Not that I'm judging or anything." He smiled openly at you and awaited your response with Happy even staring intently at you.

You supposed it was a pretty interesting subject, but you didn't even know anyone else knew of Zeref. For a long time, you had thought he was just a figment of your imagination. But then reality struck you once more. You were lucky that this guild had allowed you in just for treatment considering the sort of magic you possess. Looking over at your newfound friend (and the strange reason to why your heart was beating faster than usual) you felt a pang hit your chest as you realized that you had to tell him what you were. You might just lose the only other friend you've had besides Sparrow.

"I'm a Peculiar wizard." You said dejectedly, lowering your head and waiting for him to gasp in shock or tell you that the two of you couldn't be friends. To your surprise, you were met with silence. Looking up in confusion, you saw Natsu with his jaw dropped almost to the floor and his eyes wider than the sun.

"You're a Peculiar wizard?" He echoed. You nodded miserably, about ready to place your hand on your head when he suddenly grabbed it and squeezed it excitedly. You furrowed your brows at him as he looked like he was about to explode from excitement. "That is so cool! Your magic was banned a long time ago, right? For driving people to kill? What is it like to get totally consumed by your own magic? God, it sounds so awesome! I wish I had that sort of magic! All that I am is a Fire Dragon Slayer." He crossed his arms and began to pout like a little kid, steam coming out from the top of his head. Happy pouted along.

"Yeah, come on Natsu! Why can't you be cool like Y/n?"

You stared at the two of them in complete and utter shock at their words. "Y-You think I'm cool?" You whispered, almost inaudibly, but due to his hearing sense, Natsu was able to pick it up. 

"Of course we do! Why wouldn't we?" He grinned at you, that same childish curiosity glinting in his onyx eyes. You smiled gently at the realization that hit you. These two were the only people other than Sparrow that were actually completely okay with you being a Peculiar wizard. Acception meant a lot to you at the moment, considering you didn't really have anywhere to stay.

"It's just... everyone else thinks I'm evil. That's why Zeref kidnapped me, because I'm the Chosen One. I'm the only Peculiar left, not to mention that I have done the impossible and have a full dose of magic inside me along with being able to survive the take overs and keep most of my magic locked up so it doesn't happen so often. But, really, I would much rather just take my Demon Dragon Slayer and try to be normal for once." You looked down, your bangs creating a shadow over your eyes as you clutched your skirt.

Natsu looked at you for a long time before he finally decided to break the silence. "Just because your magic is supposed to be 'used for evil' doesn't mean that it has to be," he leaned forward and placed a hand on your shoulder, forcing you to look into his eyes. "Don't let others tell you what to be. You become what you want to be. By the way, are you planning on joining Fairy Tail?"

You looked off to the side at Happy, who looked back at you with waiting eyes. "If the guild master let's me, I'd love to. But I don't know if he will. I still need help with all my abilities and if anyone finds out that you guys have an illegal Peculiar in your guild, it'll ruin your reputation forever."

Natsu shook his head, as did Happy. "No way, we'll find a way to make you stay! You and Sparrow got anywhere to crash?"

You shook your head again. Natsu stood up and smiled at you. There goes my heart again, you thought in annoyance. "Then it's settled! You and Sparrow will move in with me and Happy until you find a place to stay! That way I can help you out with some of your training and even if you don't get into the guild, we'll still be able to see ya!"

"Aye!" Happy cheered, flying up to rest on his shoulder. You looked at them in astoundment.

"T-Thank you," you breathed. "Are you sure?"

"Of course we are! You're the Peculiar," Natsu mocked in a narrator-like tone, his eyes glistening. "You have to be protected from the law! And lucky for you, we're great at running from the law!"  You rolled your eyes, trying to push away the smile that worked its way up your lips.

"Stop that, Pyro." You smirked, forcing yourself up out of the bed and onto your dead leaf feet. Natsu grabbed your arm and helped you up, draping your arm around his neck. You swore you saw his cheeks flash red for a second, and you were seriously starting to worry about whether he was okay or not. 

"Yeah, yeah, Oddball," he snickered as the two of you made your way to the infirmary exit. "Just stick with us and you'll be fine!"