burningsalamander

[burningsalamander]

                              One look,  huh  ???   

                                                     That all it took  ???

          Emerald soon trailed down to hazel,  the look upon Celestial's face revealed all.  She saw right through boy,  no matter how much he tried to hide behind the very walls put up by fear and anger.  Tug pon long sleeve soon alerted keen senses,  the instinct to pull away rithed,  but Salamander fought it tooth and nail.  With contact,  emerald soon drifted away,  finding the same pain within that gaze as boy found within his dreaded dreams.  Casual grin soon wiping away,  being replaced by quivering features.  Slayer was not one to hide emotion .. but this was no typical feeling.  This was beyond help,  beyond reasonable fear .. and beyond her capabilty to fix.  

          Claws began to clench at both sides,  yielding away from Celestial touch,  locking away any further attempts.  Salamander could do anything if put the right talon forward .. he could stop a world ending dragon attack from a madman from the future .. he could save the entire world from a Phoenix reborn for destruction .. he could even take out the slayer of Gods .. but one thing boy couldn't do .. was save the the one he loved.

❝ I'm alright .. quit worrying yeah ???  ❞

          With that,  Slayer soon took stride,  stepping away from Princess once more,  and continuing his charade around the Guild.  Boy ordered something to eat,  got into a scrap with Black Steel,  was told off by Gramps,  and even continued to rant and rave until the sun was down.  All while Celestial looked on,  that same look plastered on .. one boy had seen before.  

          As the day drew to a close,  coat still tied firmly upon Salamander's waist .. to which no one had said anything about ( beyond the one who actually noticed ) as Slayer soon found himself alone within the four walls of the Guild.  Attendance had dwindled,  as moon lit the sky above.  The only ones left were Team Natsu,  and as Titania soon offered to take Sky Dragon home,  Ice Mage soon following their lead,  Exceeds flying behind .. there left two more members.  

          As the doors of said Guild slammed shut .. emerald soon shot over to hazel,  that same look .. that same worried gaze .. it burned a hole right through even the Fire Dragon Slayer.  

❝  Hey .. shouldn't you be going home yet  ???  It's getting late .. I can walk you there if you want ??? ❞

He was late. Later than usual at least. Call it what you want, perhaps their lives now etched together, woven so strong in a tapestry that would never be torn apart; but she knew something was wrong.

Lucy observed Natsu with a mixture of concern and empathy as he entered the guild, his words though LOUD and boisterous, seemingly carrying the weight of a burden too heavy for even his broad shoulders to bear alone. She could see the turmoil etched upon his face, the haunted look in his eyes betraying the pain he tried so desperately to conceal.

With a gentle touch, Lucy reached out to him, her fingers brushing against his hand in a silent gesture of solidarity. She understood all too well the ache of past failures, the relentless torment of memories that refused to fade.

Fingertips delicately traced along the fabric of his coat. It's with a gentle tug and a soft, sincere smile chestnut hues trace along his facade, his gaze seemingly avoiding her her own.

❛Natsu — she murmured softly, her voice a soothing melody amidst the chaos of his thoughts. ❛ Are you alright? — Her gaze held his, a beacon of unwavering support amidst the storm raging within him. ❛ It a bit too hot to be wearing this isn't it ?

It's in these quiet moments of their conversation, where silence falls between them, the world fades into shadows and the echoes of laughter dim, Lucy finds herself consumed by a profound ache. It's the ache of witnessing the storm that rages within him, the turmoil that dances behind his fiery gaze.

The desire to ease his burden grows stronger, a relentless whisper in the depths of her soul urging her to help him find peace amidst the chaos of his emotions.

It was no secret that the aftermath of the Grand Magic Games, amidst the jubilant celebrations, Lucy found herself haunted by the subtle shifts in Natsu's demeanor. She couldn't help but notice the fleeting glances, the hesitant touches, the words left unspoken in the charged air between them. It's as if a veil has been drawn over their once effortless camaraderie, replaced by a tension thick enough to s u f f o c a t e.

What secrets lie hidden behind the mask of Natsu's happy facade? And as she watches him, a sense of longing grips her soul, a desperate plea for clarity in the midst of confusion. For Lucy knows that their bond is fragile, a delicate thread stretched taut between them, threatening to unravel at the slightest touch.

and yet . . .

❛ Hey look at me, i'm right here you know. . .

It's with these words she finds her hand yet again searching for his, giving it a gentle squeeze as a reminder that she, Lucy Heartfilia, was there and he had not failed her.

Not yet.

❛ And i'm not going anywhere . . . I promise.

[burningsalamander]

[burningsalamander]

“Do you love me?”

                         Love  ???                                      That was a funny thing to say  ???           Emeralds blew wide at the sudden question,  spoke aloud by Celestial,  who stood fairly close to Slayers own body.  Hazel peered into boy's soul,  as if searching it for the right answer.  Slanted emerald stayed wide,  body planted firm despite Princess' best efforts to challenge him.  Giving her a once over,  then back to chocolate hue,  Salamander was still puzzled by this notion.  After a few seconds more of awkward silence,  a claw came behind her neck,  pulling Celestial into an embrace,  one marred by sweat and muscles.  Holding girl firm in place,  canines now peeking into quite the grin.  He was happy,  and if thats what love was,  then he had that in spades.

❝  --Course I do,  Silly  !!  I love you .. and all our family at Fairy Tail  !!  ❞

[burningsalamander]

"I believe in you."

I forgot Tumblr existed, my bad.

Anyways this scene made me so soft I just had to!

[burningsalamander]

NaLu Week cover w/out text!

[burningsalamander]

Natsu responds to stronger opponents by becoming more powerful than he already is …

[burningsalamander]

[burningsalamander]

[burningsalamander]

Just joking

... or am I?

[burningsalamander]

“I love you” 🩵

          Emeralds blink,  confused by the statement,  abrupt and forward,  but certainly not unwelcome.  A few more blinks,  followed by canines peeking out,  revealing a sharp grin born of dragon fangs.  Claw raises above salmon tress,  hues wide with glee.  

❝  --Really  !?  That's awesome sauce  !!  ❞

[burningsalamander]

          Since the moment Slayer stepped foot in this particular town,  something felt .. off.  Well,  more like smelled off.  Call it intuition,  a great nose,  or even just a danger sense .. but the boy could feel the tide begin to shift,  and being alone on this particular mission meant he'd have to deal with it without any back up .. just like he liked it.  Call him surprised when a long lost scent entered his nostrils .. he'd not smelled something so familiar since .. Tenroujima  ???

          A familiar heat soon came barreling towards Salamander,  which because of that danger sense ( or maybe him shouting at the top of Godlike lungs ),  gave him ample time to dodge,  and even counter.  Flaming claw came to clash with the other,  a forceful embrace before boy swung once more,  only to be greeted by wind and disappointment.  As familiar enemy slunk back,  emerald hue scanned distinct features.  Long,  golden hair .. piercing crimson eyes .. and most of all,  black flames.  It was him alright .. the Fire God Slayer.                   

                                              What was his name again ..  ???

 ❝  Hey  !!  It's you too .. uh .. Zatch  ???  Zagalow  ???  Zangoose  ???  ❞

@burningsalamander liked for a starter !!

Funny how life works. You could be stranded alone on an island one moment and struggle to even survive, and the next you can be picked up and adopted by a literal God on earth. Fate is fickle like that, and as such you can never fully prepare for what's to come; the universe has its own plan, and whatever happens really can happen purely by chance. Then again, when you set your sights on a goal pertaining to a specific person, it's impossible not to meet that end if it really is up to mere chance, and all pieces are present to begin with.

He'd recognize that pink hair anywhere; and presumably, as the other's senses would indicate, he too must be recognized. He has to be, there's no way he wouldn't be! But just seeing that flare was enough to cause Zancrow to stop in his tracks. Standing still, even shivering a little at the mere sight. Shocked, that after so long, he sees him again!

"...You."

In broad daylight. In some random town, between so many people he just so happened to step by! It's him!! His Magic Power flared up immediately as the stone bricks below his feet began charring, the air around Zancrow heating to dangerous levels as he failed to contain himself; "YOU!!!"

Leaping without warning towards the Dragon Slayer, his arm drawn back and sent out to deliver a punch aimed at the adversary's face. "I found you, Fire Dragon!!!"

[burningsalamander]

    Natsu is fairly dense when it comes to romance and anything of the sort,  so he Genuinely thinks he and Lucy have been together since post Grand Magic Games.  No they never talked about it,  no Lucy doesn't realize he thinks that.        

[burningsalamander]

Take my hand

Take my whole life too…

[burningsalamander]

@ilumiis

Lucy doing Natsu's eyeliner >:)

[burningsalamander]

manga redraw🫣

[burningsalamander]

@ilumiis💙

                 So .. that's what it feels like to Lose.

                                  To not be fast enough ..

                                                To let the very one you love .. die.

                                                                                It hurts. 

          To be haunted by past failure .. to be reminded of mistakes you can never take back .. to be defiled by such hideous reminders day in and day out .. these plagues were known quite well to a certain Dragon Slayer.  To be marred by evil,  the very skin stripped away,  leaving nothing but scarred flesh.  Physical wounds do heal .. but ones of the heart,  they seem to last forever.  

          The boy had completed the mission,  but like all good soldiers .. he must now live with the trauma,  the consequences .. the failure.  The war for the Future may have been won,  their futures saved to be carved into whatever image they so choose .. but what about the past?  Could there be nothing done of the pain there?  Nothing done of the loss?  The future always seemed so malleable,  the path stretching on to whatever they'd imagined,  nothing holding back.  But the past .. it grinded to a halt.  It stayed motionless,  always the same.  No matter how strong the boy became .. the past could never be changed.  Not even Dragon King flames could burn through it.  This revelation haunted Salamander,  taunted him again and again,  the face of his dear friend .. the tears shed .. the scars bore .. the trauma sustained .. it was all too much for just one lonely boy .. 

          Dawn light peaks through unshuttered windows,  and a new day begins.  Salamander stirs,  continuing to rithe and scowl within slumber.  Sweat coated face contorted,  the horror hiding just beneath the surface,  another nightmare he must live within.  A white paw soon took to aid,  shaking Salamander awake,  as boy bolted up,  her name still on his lips ..

                                            ❝  Lucy--!!  ❞

          But Clestial would be nowhere to be seen,  a fading memory in a broken heart's dream.  Exceed once more laid paw upon friend,  a comforting gesture they shared.  No words need be spoken,  but sentiment was surely felt.  Without another word,  boy was off to get ready for the day.  Another exciting day in the best Guild in all of Fiore,  right?  

          Turning the trauma into triumph,  the boy made his merry way to his home away from home,  the place he loved,  the place he protected,  the home of all his beloved friends .. Fairy Tail.  The scowl that bore upon visage now tuned into the usual grin,  a beautiful day surrounded him,  the sun was shining ever brighter,  like the future he has won for them.  These should be happy times,  right?  The world is calling out in celebration,  the clear blue sky enlightening and free,  and yet .. these thoughts bore into him like a vice.  Why wouldn't they just go .. fly away like the birds in the sky?  What use were they,  but to remind him of his failures .. of the loss of life draconic couldn't prevent?

          Leaving those sickening thoughts behind,  sandal soon met hardwood and entrance swung forth,  flames spouting from wide,  bellowing cavern.  Canines peeked,  salmon tress swung wildly.  That's right,  Natsu Dragneel is in the building  !!

With his usual aggressive,  excitement driven,  loud mouthed self coming through,  not a soul should be able to pick up on anything that might be bothering him underneath this visage,  the usual charade should suffice enough to keep prying eyes at bay.  But there was one thing that couldn't be explained .. why was Salamander wearing his coat in the summer?  Why .. to hide the sins of his failure,  marked upon his very skin .. that's why.

[burningsalamander]

Somehow, Brendan / Natsu survived.