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bumblebeehug · 1 month ago

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The Weight of Redemption

Summary: It’s winter in Fiore and Erik still hasn’t quite gotten used to being on the “good side”. Notes: The Guild Awards Gift Exchange: vpencil's secret santa<3 Merry Christmas vpencil <3 I hope you’ll like this little winter-character-study of your favourite boys. <3 (more notes at the end) Pairing: no ships, only friendship character study between Jellal Fernandes and Cobra/Erik Ao3 - FF.net - FT Guild Awards Gift Exchange collection @ftguildevents @pencilofawesomeness

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The cold made him draw the thin jacket tighter. Had he known how drastic the winters would be in this part of Fiore, he wouldn’t have agreed to meet up here. The small, sparse snowflakes almost stood still in the air, aiding him in gaining some warmth. Still, it wasn’t enough for him to stop shaking.

“I hope the plants will survive the winter…”

“... but what if he’ll break up with me over this? I have to find a way to fix it before christmas day…”

“Oh dear, I hope we’ll have enough money to get a gift for him this year…”

As always, voices filled Erik’s head as he nudged closer to the village. He had gotten better at drowning them out, but after a long journey on isolated paths, he had finally gotten some silence. Getting accustomed to a myriad of voices wasn’t something that happened quickly. Still, he had to tune in – he was searching after someone after all.

It hadn’t been long since he joined Crime Sorcière in hope to one day redeem himself from his past. He had been hesitant at first, not wanting to get close to people he couldn’t trust, but quite quickly he learned that Jellal didn’t have any ulterior motives. At least, none that Erik had heard him think of.

“There he is.” “Erik.”

The voice broke through the haze of thoughts in his mind, clear and familiar. He glanced up sharply, spotting Jellal waiting at the edge of the village, his dark cloak blending into the gray winter sky. A faint smile tugged at Jellal’s lips, though it didn’t reach his eyes. Erik didn’t have to listen to his inner thoughts to know why.

“About time you showed up.” Jellal’s tone was light, but his gaze lingered on Erik’s thin jacket, silently judging him. He heard him loud and clear though. Still, Jellal voiced his thoughts, maybe out of courtesy. “You didn’t think to dress warmer?”

Erik shrugged, pulling the fabric tighter as a biting wind swept past. “Not like I planned on freezing to death in the middle of nowhere. Where’s the job?”

Jellal gestured toward the village. “There’s no immediate danger, just… unrest. I thought it might help if you came along.”

Erik frowned. “I’m not great at the whole ‘help people feel better’ thing.”

“Maybe not,” Jellal admitted and started moving back towards the village. “We should get moving,” he thought as he was finishing up his spoken sentence. “But you’re part of this now. And they need to see that we’re more than our pasts.”

Erik rolled his eyes but followed. Jellal could talk as high and mighty as he wanted, but the truth slipped through despite how hard he tried to cover it up. After the memories from the Tower of Heaven came back, they seemed to haunt him at the least expecting moments. Erik could hear the cries that Jellal’s unconscious sometimes recollected, and he knew it took a lot of effort for Jellal to try and suppress these memories when Erik was around. Still, Crime Sorcière had never once advertised a magic fix that evened out the karma – it was a slow process.

The village loomed closer, the voices growing louder with each step. Erik focused on Jellal’s steady presence, trying to ignore the buzz of hopes and worries swirling around him. The crunch of snow beneath their feet was soon drowned with the hectic buzz of people finishing up whatever business they had left before Christmas. Erik made a mental note to unclench his jaw as soon as his head got used to the myriad of voices. Man, he really preferred the serenity of the woods.

“This is stupid.”

“It’s important.”

“You could have done this without me.” Before Jellal could open his mouth to answer, Erik cut him off. “Being alone doesn’t bother me.”

This time Jellal didn’t bother answering. He knew Erik could argue forever if he wanted to, but vice versa – Jellal was pretty good at finding comebacks himself.

The village was brighter than Erik had expected. Lanterns hung from low doorways, their golden light scattering in the snow. People moved through the square with a kind of hurried purpose, but there was laughter here too – children darting through the drifts, vendors calling out prices, someone humming a tune under their breath as they fastened a wreath to their door.

Jellal stepped into the rhythm of it without hesitation, like slipping into a stream. He caught a runaway scarf with practiced ease, stooping to return it to a grateful woman who barely noticed him beyond the gesture. He bent to help a child whose basket had tipped, rolling apples back into their place with quiet efficiency. Erik stood back, watching it all with a kind of dull fascination. Jellal didn’t have a single bad thought during all this: no hidden purpose, no egotistical pride, just genuine worry for the other person. If nothing else, it was certainly refreshing for sore ears.

“You’re really leaning into this whole ‘man of the people’ thing, huh?” he drawled when Jellal straightened, dusting snow from his gloves.

“It’s not about me,” Jellal said simply, moving on before Erik could process. He didn’t expect an answer: he trusted Erik’s will to understand blindly.

The cold wind quickly picked up again, but this time harsher than before. It brought a hefty snowfall, and the warm light that had shone up the streets was soon gone with the people who hurried inside. The entire village shifted from bustling to tense in a heartbeat. People shouted over the rising wind, scrambling to gather children and goods, to shutter their windows and doors. The storm rolled in faster than anyone expected, heavy clouds blotting out the last light of day. The snow thickened, swirling in erratic gusts that made it hard to see even a few feet ahead. Worried voices made Erik’s brain feel thick – disasters, man made or natural ones alike, had never been easy to cope with. Today was sadly no different. A migraine was creeping up his back, sending aching throughout his shoulders, neck and entire back of his head. This wasn’t good.

And then: the cry. Sharp and breaking, cutting through the noise.

“My son! My son is still out there!”

Jellal was at the woman’s side before Erik even registered the words, his hands steady on her shoulders, his voice calm. “Where was he?”

“The woods,” she gasped, clutching at his sleeve. “The oak grove – he was playing with his friends, but they came back without him, he might be lost- ”

Jellal turned, his gaze locking onto Erik. He didn’t say anything, didn’t have to. Erik met his eyes for half a second, just long enough to understand, then turned on his heel and ran.

The storm hit Erik like a fist, snow and ice slamming into him with a force that made him stagger. His breath came in short, painful bursts, the cold searing his lungs. The ground was uneven beneath his much too thin boots, drifts of snow pulling at his legs like quicksand.

“Scared… cold… where’s everyone… Mom, where’s Mom…”

The voice was faint, barely a thread in the howling wind. Erik clung to it, forcing himself forward, each step a battle against the storm. His thin jacket was useless now, ice crusting its edges and creeping into the fabric beneath. His fingers, already numb, scrabbled at a branch blocking his path, snapping it aside.

The trees loomed closer, their dark forms barely visible through the swirling snow. A low growl stopped Erik in his tracks. He turned sharply, his heart pounding, but saw nothing—just shadows shifting in the storm. Still, he quickened his pace, every instinct screaming at him to move faster.

“So… scared… Mom…”

The boy’s thoughts were thinner now, weaker. Erik gritted his teeth, forcing himself forward. A sudden crack sent his heart leaping—he stumbled as a heavy branch crashed down behind him, its impact sending up a plume of snow. A flash of concern crossed his mind, but he had to keep focus. Time was of the essence.

When he finally saw the boy, huddled beneath an oak tree, Erik’s legs nearly gave out. The child was shaking, his face streaked with frozen tears. His small frame was half-buried in snow, and his lips were pale and trembling.

“Hey,” Erik rasped, dropping to one knee. His voice wavered, but he forced it steady. “Your mom’s waiting for you. Let’s go.”

The boy didn’t move at first, his wide, terrified eyes fixed on Erik. Then, slowly, his frozen fingers reached out. Erik scooped him up, pulling him close. The boy’s weight was slight, but his warmth was a small mercy against the biting cold.

The way back was worse. The storm seemed to intensify, the wind pushing Erik sideways as he fought to keep his footing. His legs burned, his body screaming for rest, but he didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop. The boy’s faint, ragged breaths against his chest were the only thing keeping him moving.

When they finally stumbled into the village square, Erik’s knees buckled. He dropped to one knee, clutching the boy tightly as a figure ran toward them—a woman’s voice breaking with relief.

“Pete!”

The boy’s mother’s relief spilled out in sobs as she pulled him into her arms.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice breaking. “Thank you, thank you…”

Erik shrugged, looking anywhere but at her.

“Yeah. Sure. Just… don’t let him wander off next time.” He thought he hid his exhaustion well, but Jellal’s worried thoughts revealed the truth. He looked terrible.

“How can we possibly thank you? You must come for dinner tonight, our house may be small but you have to let us thank you properly. We have beds, bring your friend and spend the night! It’s much too cold to continue your travels at night like this!” The woman barely got a single breath in between sentences, already pushing Erik and Jellal towards her house. Erik felt a bit uncertain, sending meaning looks towards Jellal, who, despite trying to look composed, sounded a bit overwhelmed as well. His thoughts didn’t lie after all.

The boy, Pete, sneaked his hand into Erik’s palm. Small, cold, fragile, in Eriks big, slightly warmer, rough.

“Alright.” It was decided.

___

The house was quiet after dinner, the storm still raging outside. Jellal and Erik sat by the fire, its warmth a sharp contrast to the icy howl beyond the walls. The boy had been sent to bed: he was clearly tired from the day’s drama, but he had his mind set on staying awake for longer until Erik promised he’d be there in the morning. Jellal could be a bit of a bully, Erik realised as he heard his amusement.

When the fuss died down, the air became still. Jellal didn’t speak for a long time, just stared into the flames like they held some answer he couldn’t quite reach. Even if Erik hadn’t been tuning in, listening for thoughts that hadn’t been willingly shared, he’d know that he was thinking about Erik’s actions today. Back in the day he wouldn’t have cared if that boy made it home or not. He would chuckle and say natural selection was claiming its weak – although, he wouldn’t actually be in the village in the first place.

He had to give himself some credit at the end of the day. It wasn’t like Jellal had forced Erik into this position: he had joined Crime Sorcière out of free will, a will to better, to redeem himself. Though his path was still long, his openness to team up with Jellal could be considered a sort of victory in itself. A bad person wouldn’t try to better themselves. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to give the looming regrets of the past a rest tonight. Just for tonight, he wanted to feel proud of what he’s done.

Finally, Jellal broke the silence.

“You didn’t have to go out there.”

A sentence he’d already spoken a hundred times in his head. Erik snorted, leaning back in his chair.

“You would’ve done it if I hadn’t.”

“Maybe,” Jellal admitted. “Not with the same success.” He looked at Erik then, his expression soft in a way Erik wasn’t used to. “But I’m glad you did, Erik.” “I’m proud of you.”

“Don’t call me that out loud.” He tried to scold him, but the atmosphere was too comfortable for him to muster up any real tension. After all, Jellal had always been kind to him. No snark, irony or intimidation had scared him away: Erik appreciated that. It was a nice change of pace. The fire crackled between them, the silence stretching out again, warm and easy. Eventually, he spoke up again.

“This is what we’re fighting for, right?”

Jellal smiled faintly, and this time it reached his eyes. For a few moments, at christmas night, they connected. Tomorrow they would go their separate ways again, but tonight their bellies were full, and they had company of someone who knew the other’s full story. Someone they could call a friend.

__________

It was a fun change of pace to write emotionally intelligent men… Natsu i’m looking at you. No but jokes aside, this is the first fic I’ve written that isn’t nalu-centered. I hope I portrayed these insanely complex characters okay, it was really difficult… It’s gonna be a while until I do that again.

Anyways! God Jul! I hope you all get a wonderful winter, and that we’ll meet lots through the notes of upcoming fics. I have a pretty big project in the works atm, but there’s gonna be lots of other small fics in the meantime. I’ll see you in 2025 (unless i push out another fic before that hehe).

#fairy tail #ft guild awards gift exchange 2024 #fairy tail guild awards gift exchange 2024 #cobra fairy tail #erik/cobra #cobra/erik #fairy tail jellal #jellal fernandes #no romance #fanfic #fanfiction #fairy tail fanfiction #fairy tail fanfic #secret santa #gift exchange #bumblebeehug writes

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kiliinstinct · 11 months ago

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Chapter 29:

Rating: R Pairing: Nalu FF.Net || AO3 [Ch: 1] ||| [Prev] | [Next] A lil' late, but could be worse. March Post Dates: 28th (Yes, my Birthday!) April Post Date: 16th As you can see, there will be only one post next month due to me taking part in Camp Nanowrimo. (Similar to Nanowrimo but shorter.) Two chapter posting will continue in May

Lucy craved those nights where she rested with ease, letting the comfort wash over her in a wave. Now she struggled to hold onto sleep, curled tightly beneath her covers and pressed against the wall, as though they could keep her errant thoughts at bay.

Of course she knew that Kage was too injured to be of danger to her. And she trusted Makarov's decision with the other mysterious newcomers. She knew she was safe. Except every time Lucy shut her eyes, she couldn't quiet the restless voices of the stars crowding her mind.

With her magic stable she thought that she could fully understand them or speak to them at will; That these painful night terrors would cease. But they persisted, louder now as they clamored for her attention.

The warnings were jumbled, as if thousands of echoing voices spoke at once. They spoke over each other in a desperate attempt to get their messages across. Lucy could barely make sense of them, the words were said too quick for her to catch only bits and pieces.

'--careful-'

'Don't.---- trust—-draconis'

'--safe–, find safety-'

Sharp pain ripped through her temples, pricking the corners of her eyes with hot tears when she tried to focus on their distress. She couldn’t find her voice as it was overwhelmed by another cacophony of voices swelling inside her skull. The pain felt blinding even though her eyes were shut. With gritted teeth, a whimper slipped through, and finally the voices from the sky dimmed their voices. The sudden reprieve left her confused and light headed, but with no answers.

And in the following, guilty silence, a few whispers would follow, 'we're sorry...'

It was maddening. Did all of her clan have this issue when their abilities first developed, or was she simply an unpracticed novice with no grasp of her blood right?

Sleep did claim her, eventually, though her fingers still clutched tightly to the blankets. Her head felt stuffed with cotton. A muted feeling that felt almost as choking as the multitudes of shouts that had plagued her before.

Though the stars were silent, peace evaded her.

Dreams- no, memories? -hazily filled her mind; Of blood red moons and blackened skies coupled by a piercing howl. They held the soured taste of rotting flesh and permeated the air beneath her blanket. Paralyzed by the visions that have haunted her since winter, she stared, unseeing at her ceiling as each visage crossed her mind. She thought the dreams had stopped, but that was a short blessing before they returned in a cacophonous nightmare. A calm before the storm.

Just like the star’s cryptic warnings, these visions overtook Lucy and filled her with a confused panic. Some were sickeningly familiar despite the shifting landscapes that she struggled to comprehend. Each new horror she was forced to witness was met with the equal struggle to piece it all together.

All too late, the spell broke and she woke with a start, body finally moving as she screamed from a phantom pain tearing through her chest. She recalled the talons that struck her down, again and again, and choked on nonexistent blood. Sweat coated her skin, but she shivered, curling into herself as she grounded herself to the home around her. Safe and far from danger, and suddenly too cramped and exposed all at once. It was a contradiction that left her vulnerable. The walls of her empty home provided little comfort as the last vestiges of her dreams echoed in the chaos of her mind.

Her heart pounded painfully in her chest and she slipped from her covers to stand on wobbly feet. She could still taste the blood and nausea dizzied her. She stumbled to the nearest tub of water in a desperate attempt to rid herself of the taste. She needed to get rid of it; for everything to stop before she fell apart. She needed -

Air.

She needed air.

After one sip, Lucy stopped sharply and turned, making a beeline for the doorway. She barely had the mind to put on her sandals properly, leaving them half tied and clinging to the bottom of her feet as she hurried out of her home.

The chemise she wore dropped past her ankles, trailing against the dirt path. It didn’t register in her hazy thoughts. Too out of it to consider her state of dress, or to bother lifting it to avoid catching dirt. There was no thinking, not even to consider her destination. There was just the need to escape the stuffy air of her own home.

She didn't understand it, and the tears of a pain she barely knew continued to pour from her eyes, dripping down her face.She didn’t bother to wipe them away. It wasn't until she was face to face with Natsu's door that she snapped out of her desperate trance.

Why….did she come here? She wondered, looking to the sky to peer at the stars twinkling through bits of cloud cover. It was a beautiful night and the smell of the sea-salt was a welcome comfort, but her fingers wavered above the handle of the draconis' door, thinking back to the warnings she'd had before her failed rest.

To be wary of a draconis…..Why would she be warned against Natsu? Or was it a different warning entirely? Gnawing at her lip, she looked to where Natsu's nightly keeper should be and bit back a hoarse laugh.

Apparently, Cana had finally been forced to take her turn. Her heavy snores gave away her location, fast asleep on a mat just behind a barrel they'd used as a table.The scent of alcohol permeated the air.

Wouldn't now be the perfect time to chance an escape, then? Lucy considered the fire user inside, huffing in fond amusement. It was possible, but something in her gut said he'd be there.

A fact that was proven correct the moment the door swung wide and Natsu's tired, worried eyes met hers. Lucy’s hand still wavered in place, above where the handle used to be and he scrunched his nose at the sight of her.

“You've been crying.” It wasn't a question.

She didn't bother denying it. “I ... I couldn't sleep.”

Their voices were quiet, staring at each other with the crickets and other bugs buzzing along to the sound of the ocean's waves. He must’ve thought her crazy, to come to him in the dead of night, standing at his doorway in her bed wear with half an explanation. It wasn’t her intention to disturb him, but here she was, witnessing his own red-rimmed eyes and tired hunch to his shoulders. A sign to his own difficult night; He likely didn’t need her hanging around in this state.

He pursed his lips and Lucy cringed. She should leave, she thought.

Natsu however, stepped aside, ushering her in. “C'mon... there's room.”

She blinked, “... room?”

With pink dusting his cheeks, he cleared his throat and reached for her, tugging her gently by the hand inside. “... my bed's big enough. You can stay.”

“But-” Lucy stammered, feeling her face warm and she coughed, “shouldn't I just-”

“You’re already here. Wouldn’t be right to just send you off when you came all this way.” The door clicked shut behind them. He led her across the (mostly clean) room with a warm hand on her back. She ignored the shiver his body heat caused when it touched her chilled skin. “And….you did it for me once.” he reminded gently, biting back a yawn.

“Just let me by the window. The wind's cold tonight.” He clambered into bed first, pushing the mound of blankets and pillows towards her. She was left to awkwardly follow suit, scarcely leaving any for him. He gave no indication he minded.

And just like that, she felt as if everything fell back into place. The unease of her dream ran to the edges of her mind and the tears stopped stinging at the corners of her eyes. Lucy was finally at ease.

“...thank you.”

The voices she'd struggled to understand had become static during her short jaunt and the moment her head hit the pillow, they silenced completely. Her body relaxed from the heat of the furs and she snuggled into the offered pillows with little fuss. She was too tired to think about it while basking in the comfort she'd unwittingly sought out.

She welcomed the quiet and the sensation of Natsu beside her, keeping Lucy grounded into the depths of dreamless sleep.

Unfortunately, Natsu wasn’t as lucky.

His mind was buzzing with thoughts as the blonde's breathing grew even. Though she resembled a mini mound of blankets, he could still see the top of her head. Her face was uncovered, pressed against the pillow as her golden locks drifted across her face.

Natsu held back a light snort. She’d taken the small bit of furs he’d tried to save for himself. He didn't really need it, but the fact that she had so swiftly stolen it all was amusing. He braced his back with what was leftover, holding him at an angle and providing a little space between them. Between that little space, he focused on her even breaths in quiet consideration.

Tracks of tears stained her face. The view had disturbed him greatly, though that was nothing new. He never liked it when she cried, but he wasn't so oblivious not to notice the parallel between his own dreams. His nightmares had led him to her bed months ago and the panic she fell into the next morning still haunted him.

Lucy had assured him it was fine, no fault of his own. But he couldn’t rid himself of the guilt he felt for inspiring such panic. The wild look in her eyes had taken him back to the night he found her, terrified and near hysterics. He never wanted to see that look on her again, much less be the one to cause it.

He'd make certain not to repeat the event. He vowed.

She wrinkled her nose as a strand of hair tickled her nose. Reaching across the carefully crafted space brush it aside, he paused when a tiny sneeze left her. Natsu smiled, biting back a chuckle. Once upon a time, she would’ve flown into a flustered rage at his attempts to offer comfort. It almost felt a lifetime ago when she’d chase him off to struggle with her nightmares alone. To have her come to him, even when many friends lived much closer to her hut sparked warmth in his chest.

The thought pleased him, though he wished the circumstances were better.

His rest had been unusually light, easily awoken by her scent on the wind accompanied by the cloying smell of his keeper’s many drinks. He'd purposefully flung his door open to check on her, almost certain something must be wrong. The fact she merely wanted comfort should have calmed him, but his instincts boiled inside, calling him to stay alert.

There was something else that tainted the air and had him wary. With her by his side now it was much easier to pinpoint: someone else roaming the streets, and they were circling to his home.

His lip curled at the scent just beyond his walls. Metal, clean and unnaturally sharp pierced the night’s chill air. It carried with it a taste of a home long forgotten. The reminder made his fists ball up tight with a simmering rage.

The strange draconis was here; Denied visiting him all day only for him to escape his confines and come straight to Natsu. He swallowed a snarl as he heard the careful shuffling that passed a blissfully unaware Cana.

He sensed his presence on the edge of the barrier, just out of view of the window's opening, silent like a predator on the hunt.

Unfortunately for him, hiding from another predator would take more skill than that. Natsu growled low in warning, narrowed eyes glancing back and forth between the opening and Lucy.

The presence drawled, low and amused, “Easy now, don't wanna wake the girl do you?”

“You shouldn't be here.”

He chuckled, ”No? It's stuffy in that keep of yours and I got a lil antsy. Figured I'd stretch my legs a bit, enjoy the air, and see the sights. Nice place ya' got here.“

Natsu squinted as he shifted to peer through his window, trying to pinpoint his visitors' exact location. His warning growl never left his throat, sitting there on a low frequency that rumbled through him as the seconds slipped by. A dull ache began to form because of it, but that hardly mattered.

One of Jose's men was right outside and Lucy was right there and -

Natsu’s pupils thinned at this revelation, baring his fangs as heat crawled across his skin, answering to the swell of magic inside him. ”If you think I'm not willing to burn my own house down to keep you away from her, you're dumber than your shadow friend.“

The strange Draconis' laughter cut short, molding to a disgusted snort instead. Natsu listened to him shift, body pressed against the wall just beneath his window. Was he just kneeling there? He narrowed his eyes, watching the sill, barely seeing the bits of jet black hair waving wildly from the soft breeze.

Natsu heard a soft thud as the man sat down. Mocking amusement laced his hoarse whisper grated his ears. ”The girl’s nothin to me. If I wanted to grab her before she would’ve never made it here in the first place.”

Cana’s breath hitched from where she slept, making both men pause, but her heavy snores only deepened and the other draconis continued.

“Seriously, how do you think I got here? Your scents all over the place, but finding her waltzing around smelling like you've been tussling in the bed sheets? I couldn’t have asked for an easier trail to follow.”

“... That ain’t- ” Natsu froze in denial, refusing to correct the assumption. If he thought he and Lucy were together, he could use it as another layer of protection for the time being. “Then out with it,” Natsu snarled, “I ain't into vague bullshit. Get to the point.”

“Gihee,” was the only response. Already his temper was reaching its limit and this man’s twisting words were pushing him to fly through the window and rip his hair from his head.

”Can’t I spare a greetin’ for my fellow clansman?” The man asked innocently, though something tinged his words that Natsu couldn’t pinpoint. “ I'll head back to my quarters soon enough. Everyone will think I'm being a model guest, promise.“

This wasn't making any sense to Natsu, and the growl he unleashed was louder than intended. Flinching, he glanced back to Lucy who curled in on herself, legs entangled in the blanket, but otherwise, still deep in sleep.

”Don’t put me in the same box as you,“ He spat, ”you're just another enemy.“

Flames licked at Natsu’s palms as he moved to sit up, patience thinned to nothing. This man broke out for what? To say nothing? Empty words that pulled at buried memories and old feelings. He didn’t have a clan outside of his current home, and the sooner Natsu got the chance to sear it into the other’s brain the better.

A gaping silence met Natsu’s venomous response. No longer could he spot the mane of wild hair. The man’s scent was still heavy. He was still there beneath Natsu’s window,though his once even breathing came in shorter bursts, shallow draws almost muffled as though muffled behind his hand.

A strange guilt gnawed at Natsu’s gut, one that made his fire dim. A rustle of fabric interrupted the silence as the draconis moved. Shifting back to his feet he stood tall, taller than Natsu expected. He blocked most of the moonlight. Natsu was not graced with his face, only met with the swath of wild hair that fell down the tresspasser’s back.

“So that’s how it’s gonna be? Came all this way to see if you're alive and this is the thanks I get?“ He spoke, voice cutting, controlled and devoid of emotion. ”Shame. You replaced your real family that easily. That's gonna hurt your uncle's feelings.“

Natsu's breath caught in his throat, the embers on his palm died instantly, ”My—?”

“Don’t think too much on it. Not your clan remember? When I get back, I can tell our Lord Acno-”

He wasn’t given the chance to let the name fall from his lips. Fire sparked back to life in a blaze, wrapping around his body as reason left him. There was no consideration to be careful for his bedmate as panic sank its claws into his soul.

Natsu slammed a fist on the sill, and another swiped the air. He hissed as his visitor ducked from the claws laced with scorching heat that skimmed the edges of his hair.

“I'll fucking KILL you!” Natsu’s snarl broke the fabric of humanity and shook the walls. His visitor ducked into the shadows from Natsu’s assault with a gleeful chuckle. The conversation was over, and the man disappeared into the night, slipping back to his cell. But his final words latched themselves onto Natsu, as strong as dragon claws.

”better cool it with that temper, Little Sun. A joke ain't nothin' to get twisted over.“

Natsu’s breath shuddered, sharp inhales that weren’t enough to sustain him. His claws dug into the charred window sill, turning to ash the more the seconds raced by. He wanted to give chase. To hunt. To eviscerate. Gleaming scales crawled up Natsu’s arms as he began to climb through the window and felt the pull of Freed’s barrier. He didn’t care.

He needed to get to him.

He could hear the heavy footfalls, rushing back up the slope towards the keep. Keeping his word to return to his quarters would not calm him down. Not now, not when...

Natsu choked on a sob as the sill broke under him. Flickering tendrils of dark flames crawled up the walls of his home. He knew. Natsu had to get him, he couldn’t let him escape. The pull of the barrier felt weak under the strain of his fire slipping through the cracks, attempting to force it open.

Darkness filled Natsu’s vision as the last grip of reason crumbled. Black embers fell from his skin and thickened to curls as he felt another break in the barrier. That man would beg for mercy for coming to him. For daring to ruin everything he’d been-

There was a snap and red littered the air in dying sparks. The magic that held him against his will was no more. Manic delight filled his golden eyes. He was free.

Lucy's arms wrapped around his middle, heaving with all her strength to drag him away from the damaged opening. His fire blazed brighter, whirling his head back to glare at her with fury. His lips were pulled back in a fiery snarl and heavy smoke twisting free of his bared fangs as he felt the embers gather at the back of his throat.

”Natsu! Calm down!”

His heart stopped.

Natsu looked down to meet the horrified eyes of Lucy. He was reminded of a different one, clinging desperately to a tree as she glared at him in fear. A different Lucy who'd called him a monster with the same look of terror. A dream becoming reality before his eyes.

His fire fizzled out. The black flames retreated from the walls to sink back under his skin. His earlier panic faded to sudden guilt. He let her drag away back to the bed. His body was a quivering mess due to adrenaline pumping through his veins, and his heart beat rapped against his chest like a hammer.

Lucy didn’t give him a chance to slip away, holding him tight. Natsu didn’t have the strength in him to fight against her and sank into her arms.

Too much. It was all too damn much.

“You...” He gasped. His fingers dug indents into her arms. He could hear her heart pounding rapidly in her ribcage - A match to his own - and clenched his eyes shut, willing his own tears to disappear before she could see his shame, “Why are you…..?”

She shushed him with soft fingers trailing up his back. He didn't know who was shaking the most, her or himself but a war waged inside of him. The fear and anger demanded he seek out the other draconis and tear into him for the sake of the village and himself, but Lucy's strong presence pulled from him a part that craved comfort, that begged for reassurance. Like some terrified child.

He couldn’t have been telling the truth, was he? That he wasn't after her? Was it all just a joke? A cruel, terrible joke?

In the quiet of the night, Lucy continued to shush him. Any attempts to learn what she could’ve overheard was dismissed as she pulled him back under his blankets and still held him tight. Natsu was reminded of the rare times he'd gone to Mirajane as a child, terrified of things he didn’t dare name and looked for solace from anyone he could find.

It had been years since he'd last sought someone out. Within the past few months the vulnerability he choked down reared its head twice now. It was a gift he almost cursed. His teeth clenched tight to bite back the quiet, desperate whines he wanted to unleash.

“We'll talk in the morning,” She assured him, voice calm and resolute, “... and we can tell Makarov everything, okay?”

He nodded, eyes tightly shut as he basked in her scent and curled against her until he wasn’t quite sure where he ended and she began.

And quietly, he hoped he'd still agree with her terms when morning came.

When Natsu woke, Lucy was awake and looking more alert than he felt; Still secured in her arms. Sunlight poured through the window and stabbed at his eyes and he groaned. When she pulled back, allowing him to sit up, he quietly mourned the loss of her embrace, feeling off-center.

Groggily he kicked off his share of the blanket and froze when the sheet crumbled to ash in his hand. Natsu bit his lip to hold down a stunned whine. Ducking his head down guiltily, he turned his attention to the wall, but rather than feel better, it only made him worse.

Charred black ran up the walls and coated the ceiling that was now splintered wood threatening to give way. It was a wonder that it hadn’t collapsed in the night. The sill was crushed in two, but he knew his own claw marks anywhere, and the deep gouges were unmissable as the sunlight dipped in the crevices.

Natsu listened as Lucy slid off the bed, too wrapped up in his thoughts to spare her a glance. Until he heard the unmistakable squeak of pain through clenched teeth that made him whip his head around.

It was through some small miracle that only his side of the bed was burnt, Lucy's side was spared. But Lucy, no matter how quickly she turned away from him, couldn’t hide the unmistakable wounds that dotted her skin.

Her arms were red, angry streaks that crawled up to her elbows from when she’d grabbed him. Despite her desperate attempt to appear fine, she failed to hide the small wince when she gingerly reached for the nearby roll of bandages to wrap them with.

He knew burns, and he knew them well. His magic made him familiar with the scents of charred skin. He could tell from a short glance what would mark a victim forever from a mild singe that would fade over time. What damage he caused to the side of his house was far more intense than Lucy's injuries, which looked more like a hot water burn, but that fact didn't mollify Natsu in the slightest.

He stared with puffy eyes as sickness roiled in his gut. He wanted nothing more than to roll over and vomit the contents of his stomach out onto the floor, but Lucy was between him and the edge of his mattress.

She turned to him when her makeshift bandaging was finished, lips pursed together, “It was an accident. Don't blame yourself. You didn't mean to hurt me.“

”That doesn't make it any better!“ He snapped, ”I shouldn't have lost control like that!“

He wrenched his arm from her when she tried to grab his hand, feeling far worse when her expression dropped. How could she be more hurt by that than the fact he'd singed her?

“You were upset,” She reasoned, “I didn't hear everything, but I caught the tail end. We need to tell Makarov that he escaped his room and threatened you.”

Natsu hated how hoarse his voice sounded when he asked, “... he didn't... How did you -”

Too shocked to rebuff her again, she slipped her hand into his and squeezed lightly. ”I may not know who he was referring to, but no one reacts like you did if it wasn't something awful. I'm not an idiot Natsu.“

He deflated, hiding his gaze behind his pink fringe, ”... nah, you're one of the smartest people know.“

”Compliments will get you everywhere,“ She smiled, tugging him to follow her to his feet. ”Now let's go get something to eat and head out as soon as we can. The sooner the better-” She froze, eyes widening in horror and she swiftly snatched her hand away.

”What is it?” Did she finally realize how much he'd screwed up?

No….that wasn’t it. Lucy spun away from him as he clambered awkwardly to his feet, standing still as Lucy’s arms flew to wrap around her chest. He couldn’t see her face, but if he had to guess it was as red as the tips of her ears.

Her voice sounded unusually small as she shuffled from him. “...How could I have been so out of it last night…..I didn’t think about what I was wearing.”

“Natsu,” She called, shyly.” Can you uh-”

”Can I what?“ He urged her, face twisted quizzically, ”What's up?“

She motioned towards the long nightdress she wore, the once pristine white smeared and streaked with ash, but even that couldn’t hide how sheer the fabric was once sunlight graced it. Far too revealing for a day time walk. ”Can I trouble you to get me some clothes?“

Color crept up Natsu’s neck and he tore his gaze from her, coughing. “ I can’t leave, remember? Not without my keeper following me there.“

“Then let them go with you!” Lucy hissed, “I can’t be seen like this! We can make an excuse for why I’m here. I’m sure Freed or -gods forbid- Gray won’t say-”

Natsu interrupted her hysterical rambling. “Lucy. I think you forgot that it’s Cana who’s on watch right now.”

He heard the click of her teeth as she shut her mouth; could almost see the gears turning in her head. Weighing the options and risks, she tightened her grip, sighing heavily. Defeat forced her shoulders to fall before a bewildered Natsu.

“Distract her while I go through the window.” Lucy said, resigned to her fate.

Despite her drunken night, Cana was wide awake when Natsu opened his door. She'd sluggishly turned to face him, one hand poised on the bell and the other flicking a card out from her pocket, twirling it between her fingers.

“Barrier’s broken.” She stated plainly. “Someone’s been naughty.” She’d slept too deep and knew when Makarov saw the state of Natsu’s home, she’d be chastised for not taking her duties seriously enough.

A hangover had threatened to pound on the doors of her brain when she came to, making her eyesight fuzzy, but even the fortune teller could easily see the blackened wood around what used to be Natsu's window. She'd slept through something and rushed back to her seat to quickly nurse the hangover so she could adequately take care of the situation.

Natsu had torn her attention away from the water she drank, his expression one of carefully crafted indifference. She arched her brow. He seemed too alert for that to be normal: he was hiding something.

“Put the damn bell away, I ain't running off!“ He exclaimed, eyes wide as he waved dramatically at her, ”... you look like shit, didja seriously sleep here all night?“

”No.“ She lied.

”There's a stick in your hair.“

Cana rolled her eyes, ”Yeah and your bandages are half charred and hanging off you. We both have questionable fashion choices. Enough about me,“ shifting her focus back to him, she reached through her hair for the offending twig and drawled, ”Something tells me you had a wild night.“

One would have expected him to have stepped on a nail from the way he jumped, guilty conscience as plain as day on his face in seconds. Cana mentally pat herself on the back as she stifled a yawn and flicked the retrieved stick behind her.

”N-no! How could I?“ Yup, something was definitely up.

”Half the house is burnt to a crisp and Freed’s enchantment is as dead as you are when he finds out.“

Natsu stubbornly hissed.“ But I didn’t go anywhere!”

Well at least she didn’t fail her duties completely, if he was telling the truth, but something was still up. “All that mess just to stay home like a good little boy? Come on, you can tell me. Who’d you pay a little late night visit to?”

Slack-jawed, Natsu stared, frozen in place as he failed to retort. In the end, he just pointed a quaking finger at her and sputtered, “I didn’t go see anyone!!”

“Oh?” She asked, wincing at the dull throb in her temple. She knocked back another swig of water with a smirk. “That’s hard to believe. Was it Lucy?”

The way he froze almost made Cana choke on a laugh. She might not have hit the jackpot yet but she hit something.

He asked in a bewildered tone, “... why is THAT who you guess?”

She blinked. “You're dating. Duh.”

Another curse, “No! We’re not.” Damnit, Wendy!

His voice wavered, threatening to crack from embarrassment. Though Cana almost swore she heard something squeak from further inside the house.

“... well that's boring.” Already Cana was losing her attention on the subject. Teasing her friends was a favorite pastime for her, but there were more pressing matters to be concerned with, ”Hey, nevermind your midnight escapades. Is everything okay?“

The shift in topic threw Natsu off. Cana could see it in his eyes, the loss of light that came with his emotions as he looked off to the side, fangs all but puncturing his bottom lip as he chewed in thought. Cana wasn't a master of her craft for nothing. For all the years she honed her skills and grew her magic, she learned the importance of reading others like she did her cards.

And every fidget and micro-expression the draconis made spoke volumes for her. The accelerated breath, his nostrils flaring as he tried to appear calm. It all spoke of something far worse than a teased clandestine night.

”M'fine,“ He was lying, that she was sure, ”healing fast and full of energy. Totally normal. Why?“

She waited in quiet disbelief, giving him a chance to come clean before she cornered him again. When he didn't seem open for further discussion, she rose from her seat, stretched her arms high above her head and sighed.

”You don’t just burn down your house for fun. Despite how much of a pyro you are, you're not sloppy.” She hummed in thought, running a finger over the pouch that held her cards. “ And like I said, you managed to bust out but stayed put despite all that.”

Cana waved dramatically at the side of the house. “Something freaked you out. Enough for you of all people to not give chase. So what happened?” voice dropping low to keep others from hearing, ”I know you’ve been wanting to break Freed's barrier, but somehow I doubt you'd do this without a good reason. What's going on?“

A drop of blood pooled on his lip as a fang finally broke skin. Natsu didn't react to it, fists clenched by his side as he looked away, “Can we just, not talk about this right now?”

“Natsu you can't just avoid everything whenever there's a -!“

She stepped back, shielding her eyes from the dry heat that burst from his skin. His brows were knitted with worry, but the clench of his jaw and the sharpness of his eyes spoke of a warning. He leaned forward, pleading, ”Please? Let me see the old man first?“

Ah, so it was bad. This didn't bode well. Apprehension pooled in her stomach, but Cana knew when Natsu was becoming more stubborn than man. Grabbing her water, she knocked back the rest of it and cleared her throat.

”... fine, but you can go see him after your next guard’s here. I’m not in the mood to walk all that way, so go clean yourself up or whatever in the meantime.”

Relief brought the tension out of his shoulders, toying now with the singed bandages that wrapped his arms with a much lighter expression. He turned away, pulling the door shut behind him as Cana groaned, rubbing the back of her head. She was not looking forward to the earful she was due for later. She would need something strong before facing the old man. And possibly Freed once he got wind of what happened.

A sharp crack of wood split through the air, followed by the shriek of a very familiar voice coming from inside Natsu’s house. Hold on a minute-

Cana slyly glanced at Natsu out the corner of her eye, partially hidden by the half closed door. But that nervous energy was back again, making him fidget.

“Natsu?” She asked sweetly, “What was that?”

She bolted when he swiftly tried to slam the door shut, jamming her leg in the opening before he got the chance to shut her out.

“Natsu~” Cana dug her fingers into the side of the door, desperate to wrestle it from him. “On second thought, you look like you could use some help with those fresh bandages. Lemme lend you a hand with that.”

“No! I’m good!” He grunted. But in the moment he responded, his grip on the door handle slipped, and Cana wrenched it from his grasp: victory.

“Cana wait-!”

“Outta my way Pinky!”

She kicked the door open, ignoring how it bounced against the wall. Shoving passed Natsu to stand triumphant, grinning gleefully. Lucy, who was ungracefully sprawled atop his bed, squeaked. Utter mortification painted her face and she turned her glare towards Natsu who looked ready to bolt out the open door.

“Uh, sorry?” He said lamely.

“Well good morning Sunshine.” Cana purred, propping a hand on her hip. “Sleep well?” Lucy drew a pillow over her face, curling away from the fortune teller and wishing she could sink through the mattress.

Gray was gonna get a kick out of this.

—

“I thought you’d do better at distracting her!” Lucy accused, her face a constant red as the three of them walked towards the keep.

Cana all too readily agreed to accompany them with this new source of entertainment. Just as she’d too easily agreed to run and get Lucy a change of clothes. She’d left the pair in an embarrassed silence that didn’t break upon her return. Her eyes glittered with mischief as she tossed Lucy a fresh dress. Natsu sheepishly had ducked outside to give her privacy, grabbing a clean vest to slip on as he went.

True to her word, she followed him out with a spring in her step, cheerfully assisting him with a fresh set of bandages, all smiles and no words. But Natsu knew the teasing he was in for. It was only a matter of time.

When the door creaked open with a properly dressed Lucy dragging her feet, Cana turned that cheshire grin on her. She tugged him along, skipping over to throw an arm around both their shoulders.

”So aren't YOU a brave girl,“ She'd greeted and just like that, Lucy's morning became a mess. Cana claimed she had a way to ensure the next guard on rotation would find her at the keep, but how she could manage this, she didn't say.

Instead, their entire walk had turned into Lucy's stomach grumbling complaints at being empty as Cana snarked and teased her at every given moment. Natsu had the grace to look apologetic when she shot him a glare, arms crossed as she simmered in betrayed embarrassment.

”I thought you’d be out already!,“ He retorted, unable to meet her gaze, ”I suck at lying on the spot!“

“You don’t have to be good to hold her attention!”

“That’s why you should’ve gotten out faster!”

”Ugh, you're hopeless.“

Cana, thoroughly enjoying herself, shook them slightly -albeit a bit more gentle on Natsu once she noticed the flinch he failed to hide- and whistled a low, drawn out tune. “You two keep bickering like that and I'll start to think Wendy wasn’t kidding around, Natsu.”

This puzzled Lucy, blinking consecutively as she attempted piecing together what Cana was implying, “Wasn't kidding about what? What did Wendy say-”

“Nothing!” Natsu blurted, glowering at Cana whose expression was a twisted, amused smirk, “Me an' Wendy were just talking yesterday and Cana's being a shit starter like usual.”

“Gee, way to stab me in the heart there, Natsu.”

Lucy frowned, “Maybe you should apolo-”

The fortune teller barked out a laugh and pinched Lucy's cheek, “If I was actually offended. Which I'm not. I know what I'm about.”

Lucy's expression darkened and she elbowed Cana in the ribs, “You're as hopeless as he is.”

“D'aaaw, that's so sweet of you to say, blondie!”

Their banter continued on towards the keep, mostly embroiled with Cana's constant jeers as she poked and prodded both Lucy and Natsu's toleration abilities. Her teasing was constant, searching for an opening and diving in the moment it was found. By the time the keep was no longer a yawning behemoth in the distance, the two were a collection of blushes and agitated scowls.

In contrast, Cana was beaming. She claimed they were the perfect balm for her hangover until she could find her way home.

”That or I'll sniff out Wendy for a headache cure,“ She said offhandedly. And while Lucy wondered if the girl would be willing to help Cana escape the consequences of her own habits, she still wondered just what being they'd upset to bring about such torture this early in the morning.

For Cana was relentless, even in sight of the keep's entrance, left with only one person standing guard at its entrance:

Erza.

”Wait,“ Cana scrunched her nose, ”I don't remember Makarov setting a guard here today, why's she here?“

Natsu' rumbled his reply petulantly, ”What, your cards didn't update you?“

”Oh shut it-“

Ignoring the backsass, Lucy wrenched herself free of Cana's arm and held her hand up in greeting, catching the redhead’s attention. Anything was a welcome change from Cana’s constant teasing. ”Erza! Is Makarov in right now? We really need to...”

She trailed off, taken aback by the brisk pace she suddenly took. Beelining straight for them with an expression so intense, Lucy feared they were about to be punished.

“We didn't do it!” Lucy shouted, surprised by the echo of Cana and Natsu yelping in sync with her.

Erza spared them no words beyond ”Come with me!“ She snatched Lucy by the wrist and promptly began dragging her away from the others. Cana stumbled back, waving her hands in the air as Natsu, eyes flashing, snarled at the action.

It was all she needed to cast her gaze back to the draconis, pointing at him with a deep frown on her face, ”Control your instincts, I'll not have you react like a fool every time Lucy's involved. Now, be a good boy and wait!”

His snarl cut off immediately, eyes wide as she materialized her sword into her fingers, a threat unspoken between them. Before the baffled Draconis could recollect himself, she continued her march, pulling a stunned Lucy off behind her.

“... did she seriously tell you to be a good boy?” Cana asked, mystified, though humor lined her words.

“... why's everyone actin' like I'm a damn dog?“

Natsu's angered shouts and demands for Erza to return so he can properly challenge her for such treatment, went ignored as they echoed into the air and faded. Lucy hoped he'd calm down enough to continue into Makarov's office on his own, almost stumbling to keep up with Erza's rapid pace.

Jostling to and fro, she stammered a quick, “Slow down, I- I'm coming!” To the other, relieved when Erza realized her error and slowed her pace. The crunching of the gravel beneath them became background noise to their trek all while Lucy waited for the determined woman to explain just what she was being whisked off to.

When the answer didn't seem to come verbally, but in the sudden change of trajectory Erza took off the beaten path, Lucy realized she was purposefully changing direction in case of followers. But why?

“Erza, where are you taking me?”

Her reply was a brusk, “In a moment.” As she doubled back on their steps, back to the keep towards the small building attached to it. Lucy had never gone this direction, but recalled hearing others talk about one of the visitors being detained in that very location.

Erza was ... bringing her to one of them?

No wonder she was being roundabout. It was obvious now, the weaponized Romni was intent to keep them in the dark, if only to prevent others from overhearing, or worse, Natsu following.

Lucy could only imagine the explosive reaction he'd have to this.

But that did nothing to assuage the nauseating anxiety that now gnawed at her guts. These visitors were from the group who'd been after her. She knew that much, even with the majority of their goals being kept far from her. While she trusted Erza would never hand her off to an enemy, the situation was too confusing not to question.

When she muttered the others name in concern, tone rising in growing apprehension, Erza finally stopped. Taking in a deep breath, she spun to face Lucy, hands clasping her shoulders.

“Please,” She urged, ”Trust me. You're safe.“

And surprisingly, that was enough. Nodding, she fell into an even pace with Erza, uncertain what she was about to see, but believing it must be important. Why else would she practically kidnap her?

Erza eased open the door to a too cramped room without so much as a knock. She offered Lucy a reassuring nod, gesturing for her to step inside, and though the anxiety told her otherwise, her trust in Erza outweighed the confusion. She stepped through the doorframe and squinted while her eyes adjusted to the low-light.

Of all the things Lucy thought to see, a man seated comfortably in the corner with his nose in a book was not her first assumption. (In fact, it wasn't even on her list of assumptions that ran through her mind in the length of time it took to finish their short trek and for Erza to swing the door open) His gaze flicked to the door immediately, a calm, almost expectant look on his face. He set the book down in one fluid motion and quickly rose from his seat, bowing his head as he did.

”You're earlier than I expected,“ He greeted, eyes flicking to Erza still standing in the doorway before settling on Lucy.

A familiar magic reached out to her, emanating like a warm embrace. It came from a man who stood expectantly with a slight smile on his lips that crinkled the tattoo trailing down the side of his face. She gasped, a hand flying to cover her mouth. She recognized that mark. That pattern, she hadn’t seen anyone bearing that mark on their skin for years.

The world grew dizzy as an aura much like her own magic hummed around him. The soft hues met her like an old, unforgotten friend as tears began to well in her eyes.

”He's... you're,“ She couldn't speak, her words fell from her lips in tangled garble.

It had been so long since she’d felt the pull of a magic like her own, and in his face she could see many who were long since buried in the soil, ”but the others traveled north!” She finally managed helplessly, choking on a sob.

”He has been traveling apart from his clan for awhile now,“ Erza explained softly, ushering Lucy forward as she shut the door behind them, ”But he was with them up North, waiting for all branches to meet them in time.“

”Hello, Lucy,“ Jellal greeted, voice much quieter than Erza's, a gentleness that didn't match his current, gruff appearance, ”... I've been hoping to find you for a long time.“

She couldn't breathe, the room felt too small suddenly and before she knew it, the tears were already dripping off her cheeks. This was something she never thought she'd feel again. The familiar magic, the warm understanding, the taste of stars in the air…

It was too much. It was all too much.

”Have they been treating you well?“ He asked. His concern was genuine.

Another celestial, so like her family and yet so different, and she couldn't manage a proper greeting.

She moved without thinking, flinging herself into his surprised arms. Lucy clutched his cloak tightly as though he would disappear before her very eyes. He was stiff against her, but relaxed when he caught her desperate sobs. Wavering for a moment, he placed a soothing yet awkward hand against her back. Lucy vaguely heard the clinking of metal as Erza came closer, concerned.

But it didn’t matter. She didn’t care that she was making a scene.

She'd found a connection to her family, and that was worth every awkward moment that followed.

—--

Natsu was pissed, and there was nothing he could do about it. Erza's sudden appearance and disappearance with Lucy in tow had left him more off kilter than Cana managed all morning. But now he was finally in the keep, with the front doors slammed shut behind him, and his mind was conflicted.

He told Lucy he'd see Makarov about last night, but ... what about her?

And that Draconis- his lip curled at the thought of him. He was somewhere in the keep, tucked away in its depths, though not as far as Kage, if his nose was correct. He could only catch traces of the shadow user wafting through the air.

Cana banged her fist on the door, breaking through his concentration with her voice muffled, ”Oi! You're on countdown! If you're not back in thirty minutes, I'm sending Sparky AND Mirajane after your ass, so don't do anything funny!“

Damnit. Fortune tellers were the worst.

A snarl of frustration escaped and Natsu pondered the consequences towards derailing his plans to instead seek out the shadow user in the limited time he had. A sick feeling of satisfaction rolled through him at the thought of Kage's face when he advanced upon the cell, flames spitting from his palm to snuff the life out of him clear as day-

-Lucy’s face twisted in horror and disgust, more dream than reality. It flashed, once more, before him and the thoughts withered away. Muttering a curse under his breath, he tore down the hall, ignoring the scent trails of those who threatened him and made quick work of reaching Makarov's office.

While he hoped the chief would already be situated in his office, the early hours could prove to be his downfall. Thankfully, the old man's scent was strong, fresh, and Natsu felt relief when he came upon the door, not bothering to knock as he slammed it open to the small room. He barely recognized the rickety stool he'd knocked over in the process and bared down on the center desk with purpose.

“Gramps! I need to -” His voice cracked, a high pitched squeak that resembled his preteen years and he winced, cheeks turning red. “I gotta tell ya-”

“Why in the hell are you here, talking to me with your wounds still like that, boy?!“ The chief boomed, having almost fallen out of his chair at Natsu's sudden arrival. His hair was askew, wild and poking in so many directions it looked as if he had just rolled out of bed.

Judging from the dark circles under his eyes and the rumpled clothes that reeked of yesterday, Natsu was sure he wasn't too far off.

”Cana's at the-“ He tried again, but he rolled his eyes when Makarov cut him off once again.

”Shouldn't she be relieved by now?!“ He asked, his own voice cracking from exhaustion, ”What is going on here?!“

Natsu slammed his hands on the desk in frustration, “gimme a sec to talk would you?”

His throat may be worn out by the end of the day from all of this, but that didn't matter. Lucy was right. He needed to talk about last night, and this was the only chance he had before he was put under watch again.

When the chief motioned for him to continue, finally giving him the time to collect his words, Natsu continued, “That freak draconis, I don't know what sorta shit you talked about yesterday, but he didn't stay locked up. He got out somehow, followed Lucy through the village.“

Makarov met his gaze with surprise, lip pressed in a thin line as he pondered Natsu’s words. A long pause filled the room, allowing the sounds of mourning doves to enter from the back window and the dry rustling of bugs as they skittered across the stone walls. Natsu could hear it all, but paid each small nuance little mind. As a child, such sounds were maddening for his sharp ears, but it was all background noise these days. When the silence grew too awkward for them both, Makarov rubbed his temples and groaned.

“... please tell me you didn't break out of your house last night to get this information.” He asked, voice full of exasperation.

Natsu huffed, ”No, she was with me and-.“

That caught his attention, eyebrows raising, “She was with you? Now I know you two have been close, but you haven't even done the courting dances yet to be-”

“Not like that!” He interrupted, denying himself the urge to slam his forehead against the desk. Why did this keep happening?

“Why does everyone keep talking about us like we're together? I was told to watch her and I did and now we're friends, stop making a big deal out of-”

“Enough, enough,“ Makarov placated, settling back into his seat, ”Goodness that distracted you far too easily. Go on and it better not involve you breaking any rules to get this information.“

He had to admit, despite the embarrassment of the earlier claims, Natsu was relieved his leader had enough faith in him to hear him out. Already he felt more relaxed, easing off the desk and folded his arms. ”I know cause he came right to me, old man.“

Makarov’s expression darkened and Natsu felt his gut drop at the sudden pressure that was exerted across the room. ”He... What?” His terse tone spilled through clenched teeth.

“You heard me,” Natsu continued through the rasp in his voice, clearing his throat to get his words across, “came right up to my window.”

“Where was Cana during all this?” Makarov pressed and Natsu smirked.

“Dead asleep.” He said simply. He had to get her back somehow.

“And that man? What did he say to you?.” The old man eyed Natsu critically, as he sought out the truth but Natsu already had a lie waiting easily on his tongue.

“Empty threats.” Natsu’s gaze flitted away from Makarov’s doubtful own. “ But he pissed me off and I, uh…. kinda..., blew up.”

“... you did not blow up your house, did you?”

Natsu felt ready to throw the stool out the window, ”I just said Lucy was there, you think I'd endanger her like that?“ Never minding the slight burns he'd given her during his panic the night before. He chose to keep that tidbit to himself.

”So minimal. Good. That's good. I'll send Laki to inspect the damages later, perhaps we can reinforce it.“

”Is that important right now?“ Natsu asked, exasperated.

Makarov clucked his tongue and slid from his seat, moving around the large desk to exit the room. Ushering for Natsu to follow, he led the draconis down the hall with his shoulders stiff and demeanor changing by the second.

”The foundation of our homes is always important, remember that, Natsu.“ He chided, stopping further down the hallway to loudly knock on a door with a quick rap of his knuckles. Instead of waiting to enter, he continued on with a bounce in his step.

Confused, Natsu stood by the acknowledged door, face scrunched as he puzzled out the action. When he caught the slight, aggravated groans of a newly awakened Freed on the other side, he lost interest and began to follow once again.

”Why's Freed here?“

Makarov answered quickly, ”He and Levy spent most of the night double checking and reworking his barrier. They wanted to make absolutely certain that Kage couldn't break through it. I can't say I understand half the discussions over it. Rune and Script magic are like a different language for me, but they seem to figure it out just fine. Never mind that, I want you to get Cana or her replacement in here at once.”

“But-”

“Natsu.” He said, stopping mid-step to look back at him with a glare mastered by any man who parented a child. “I'll not have you wounded and starting fights in my keep. Cana should be resting now, so either her replacement, or her. But do it with haste.”

“You can find me by my scent well enough, so meet up with me once you do.” He ordered, turning his back to the Draconis to continue on his trek, “hurry now, if he's sneaking out at night to threaten my children, then I don't intend to take him lightly. So be quick.”

Natsu didn't have to be told twice.

As much as he wanted to follow after and raise hell, he knew better than to underestimate a fellow Draconis. Retracing his steps, he exited the building just minutes before his time limit was up.

But instead of Cana lounging where he left her, Lisanna was there, absentmindedly watching the songbirds in the tree overhead. His groan caught her attention, turning to him with a smile that he ignored. He hastily sniffed the air for any trace of Cana, hoping to catch her before she escaped too far.

“There's no way you're on the rotation, is there?” He asked with a swing of his head. There she was! Just down the road! He could catch her if-

He was cut by a sharp flick to his nose, forcing his attention to a frowning Lisanna who was poised to attack again. “Hey what gives?!” He protested, holding his stinging nose.

“First off, you’re being rude!” Lisanna snapped, jutting a finger at him. “And why not me? Do you think you're too much for me to handle? Cana was practically nodding off when I got here, give her a break!”

Agh, he didn't have time for this! ”Fine, whatever. Come on then!“

Before she could ask for details, he grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her inside. He dragged her down the halls as he keenly followed Makarov’s scent, far deeper in the keep than expected for a man of his age and height.

They could discuss it along the way, or explain later, if his throat was unwilling. Already he could feel it swelling from overuse, and he worried what that meant for him once they finally reached their destination.

#ftfanfiction #nalu fanfiction #fairy tail #nalu #natsuxlucy #cana alberona #makarov dreyar #jellal fernandes #this chapter was a lot longer than i expected #this keeps happening lately lol

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