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I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But Heaven knows, I'm miserable now
I was looking for a job and then I found a job
And Heaven knows, I'm miserable now
Natsu fell in love with Lucy naturally. It was as easy as breathing. He didn’t expect it to be, of course, after Lisanna’s death, he was content to never love again. He would love and fight for his friends, but to be in love? Romantically? Never. Perhaps it was dramatic, but what was Natsu if not dramatic?
He remembers that day in Hargeon like it was yesterday. He had gone to town because of a rumor of a “Salamander” which he was pretty sure was his nickname, so obviously it had to be Igneel, right?
It wasn’t, of course, and he met someone just as good. Of course, it wasn’t Igneel, because no one could ever replace the feeling of losing Igneel, that was his dad. He was a dragon-born as far as he was concerned. When Happy had been born, that was the closest feeling he ever got to being whole again.
But he digresses.
He remembers barging into the group of people, because why were all these ladies surrounding this man with ugly purple hair who was definitely not a dragon, especially not Igneel. He saw a flash of blonde in his peripheral vision but just rolled his eyes and walked away. He did not need this bullshit. He stalked away and Happy was flying by him, not saying anything. Happy knew better than to say something when they were talking or looking for Igneel.
“Hey! I just wanted to say thank you for earlier, can I treat you two to lunch?”
He glances behind him and there’s the blonde from before. She’s pretty, blonde hair, brown eyes, and huge breasts. He didn’t know where else to look! Igneel was going to kill him. She was wearing a white and blue outfit that accentuated them, so was it really his fault?
That’s not the point. The point was she was offering him and Happy free food. She complained when the two ate a lot, but didn’t really do anything to stop him. She just watched fondly as she ate her own food, going on to ramble about Fairy Tail and how much she longed to join. He hummed in amusement, because his own mark was covered. It usually wasn’t, as it was usually on display, red and ready on his shoulder. She eventually got up to leave, but Natsu suddenly remembered that Erza would kill him if he didn’t at least thank the girl!
He got on his hands and knees, beckoning Happy on with him and they bowed, loudly thanking the other.
The blonde, Lucy, he thinks, just yelled at them for being embarrassing, saying it was her being thankful for him breaking her out of a spell. He didn’t even know that he did that, but it got him free grub so!
He went on his day until he started hearing whispers of a “Fairy Tail” mage was around town, going and getting girls onto a ship going who knows where. When he crashed in, the blonde of all people was there.
Oh yeah, moving objects and him did not get along.
He felt his stomach getting sick, and he ushered Happy over to Lucy, making sure he got her out of there. He didn’t know why but he needed to get her out of here. He continued to try to fight, but he was legitimately sick to his stomach. Before he realized it, the ship was being blown away and he was back on land when the fake Fairy Tail mage started talking trash and aimed some fire at him.
It’s not his fault, he must not know , Natsu mused as he ate the fire, ugh! This is the grossest fire I’ve ever eaten! And he told the mage as much, and the others around him seemed to realize who he was. He idly heard the blonde say “Salamander?!” from behind him and he resisted the urge to smirk. He went on to beat the asshole’s ass, making sure he never talked about Fairy Tail ever again. He realized he might have gone overboard again as he saw the council’s army showed up. Shit! He grabbed Lucy and started to run, Happy hot on his tail.
“Where are you taking me?” she cried like she didn’t know.
Huh maybe she’s as stupid as she looks , “You said you wanted to go to Fairy Tail right? So, let’s go!”
It came out softer than he meant to, really, but the smile that raised itself onto her face was worth it.
In fact it made his chest warm, warmer than usual, for a fire dragon.
Well, that’s odd, wonder what that’s about.
In my life, why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die?
Natsu yawned.
Lucy was somewhere off in the guild, talking to Gramps probably. He knew she’d get in. If Natsu of all people brought someone with him, Gramps was likely to let them into the guild. Fairy Tail was the number one guild in the region, so he knew why Lucy wanted to join. But Natsu had never brought someone with him from whatever adventure he went on. He was wondering where that ice idiot had gotten off to, he wanted to fight.
Suddenly, there was a noise from behind him. He looked at her from the corner of his eye- Gods she was gorgeous . Lucy was standing in front of him excitedly, a pink Fairy Tail guild mark on her right hand- wait. Pink? Does she like pink? Is it ‘cause of my hair ‘cause I brought her here? Why would it be pink? He resisted the urge to shake his head. He shouldn’t overthink it. Natsu wasn’t one to overthink it. Was he seeing things or was there, like, a glow surrounding her? He tried not to fuss over it. Maybe he was feeling delusional, he hadn’t felt like this in a very long time.
It was a few days later when he asked Lucy to be a part of a team with him. Her eyes were wide with excitement, like she hadn’t expected him to ask. He told himself he didn’t care, even as Happy looked at him with something dancing in his eyes. Happy was not one to be filtered, but here he was, having a filter.
They rode the train, and he, of course, had motion sickness. He vaguely heard Lucy ask, “So why did you want to team up with me anyway?”
Without really thinking about it, he said, “You seem pretty nice,” before realizing there was and in here, “But you’re just so weird .”
He knew she was thinking something that was irritating, but he didn’t really care. It was just so easy to mess with her.
They continued on until they reached the mansion. They were trying to destroy a certain book called “Daybreak”, which was an unreleased book by Kemu Zaelon, apparently one of Lucy’s favorite authors as she lamented why she didn’t want to burn it the entire way there. Natsu tried to tune her out because he knew he shouldn’t be harboring these feelings, but Natsu was a weak man when it came to Lucy. Huh. He didn’t know her last name. It didn’t matter, he shrugged to himself. If she just wanted to be Lucy of Fairy Tail, then who was he to judge?
They eventually found the book, and Lucy ended up being a headache in terms of dealing with destroying it, but she also cracked a code. Natsu was irritated, but decided she was right. They didn’t need to destroy it, he guesses, as they walked back to the job reporter. As he suspected, the man is angry until Lucy tells them the meaning of the book, and the actual story is released.
He knows this will piss Lucy off, but at the end of the day, they didn’t complete the mission, so they had no reason to actually take the reward. He said so. Lucy cried the whole way home, but she seemed excited to have a new key, whatever that meant. He knew she was some kind of mage, and based on the people (?) she summoned, he thinks she got another person. Kinda weird.
He was actually kinda curious, “Lucy.”
She turned to look at him, her blonde hair flipping a little bit, “What do you want, Natsu?” Her voice still whined but he could hear the curiosity.
“So, what kind of magic do you use? I can see you’re summoning something? Are they people or?”
Lucy brightened up, “Oh! They’re called Celestial Spirits. They aren’t really people per say, but they do have feelings and emotions. We come up with contracts based on when they’re free and how they can be summoned. I…” she looks down, looking upset, “Inherited some of them from my mom.”
Natsu’s face turned serious. He didn’t want to push, but something clear happened to her mom. Did something happen to her dad?
“That’s really cool, Lucy,” he nodded, “I’m sure you’ve guessed, but I use Dragon Slayer magic.”
She nodded, “I thought that was a lost magic. It’s SO cool that you use it.”
He grinned, “Yeah, I was taught by an actual dragon,” he grinned, “He’s actually who I was looking for when I found you. His name is Igneel.”
Her eyes went wide, before she managed to cool her expression off, “Wow! I thought dragons died off hundreds of years ago. I wonder if they’re out hiding somewhere.”
Natsu’s heart leaped when she believed him. Fairy Tail, even now, typically didn’t believe him when he talked about Igneel. It was clear Lucy was hesitant, but believed. Natsu just grinned at her as they continued their way home. He also thought it was nice she was always willing to walk. He knew she preferred transportation, but since seeing how he acted, they had been walking a lot more.
Two lovers entwined pass me by
And Heaven knows, I'm miserable now
I was looking for a job and then I found a job
And Heaven knows, I'm miserable now
Natsu was furious.
Lucy was laying on the ground after Zero’s attack. He looked at her after he managed to stand. They had been completely obliterated. He grabbed her, and held her with such affection, he didn’t know what to do with himself.
“Lucy, we gotta go,” he whispered, glancing at Gray and Happy, thankfully they were also standing up, “I believe in you, c’mon.”
She opened her eyes, “Fuck, what did- what happened- where’s-”
“Bastard Zero or whatever the fuck his name is did this. We gotta destroy those lacrima or we’re cooked.”
“I cannot believe you just said we’re cooked,” Gray glared at him, like he was mad at how close they were, “We need to go find the lacrimas.”
Natsu lowered his voice as he helped Lucy up, “You going to be okay?”
“I’m a Fairy Tail wizard, I can do this.”
Natsu’s grin sharpened, “Happy?”
“I’ll go with Lucy.”
“Good, you two stay safe.”
-
Natsu doesn’t think he’s ever seen someone look as longingly as Erza did Jellal as he entered the Magic Council’s car, and his heart softened as he glanced at Lucy, who was already looking at him. He sent her a small grin before trying to decipher why on earth Erza would stop them. Didn’t she love Jellal? That was certainly the vibe Natsu was getting, and Natsu was super dense when it came to that stuff. The idea that Erza could love someone romantically was still new to Natsu, but he was coming to terms with it. He stood by Lucy as she bit her nails, looking out on the horizon. Happy was standing behind them, looking at Lucy with something dancing in his eyes.
“Lucy…?”
She snapped her head around at the wobbly voice that came out of Happy. Natsu couldn’t help but snap his head around too, Happy sounded sad.
“Oh Happy,” she bent down and picked the other up, “What’s wrong, Happy?”
“That was really scary,” he admitted, shoving his head into her chest, “I wasn’t sure if we were going to make it.”
She glanced at Natsu, making him straighten up, “Well, we all know what idiot fought Zero,” she laughed and oh , “We shouldn’t have been worried. When Natsu starts throwing punches like that, we’ll be okay.”
“Natsu?! Is that why you told me to go with Lucy?”
Natsu walked next to Lucy, so Happy could be next to both of them, “Thanks for taking care of Lucy for me,” he winked at Lucy who just rolled her eyes, “We took care of business together, as a team.”
“We are the OGs aren’t we?” Happy laughed.
Lucy snorted, “To think this all started because you needed me for a job I didn’t even qualify for in the end.”
Man that was a bunch of bullshit, Lucy was ten times as pretty as all of those monsters, but Natsu didn’t say that out loud as he stood with them, watching the sunset go down, until he eventually heard Gray and Erza calling out for the three of them.
“Looks like it’s time to go, you two. Ready to go back to Fairy Tail?”
“Always,” Lucy hummed, and continued to hold Happy all the way back to the others, when he jumped back out on his wings, eager to please Carla.
In my life, oh, why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die?
Tenrou Island is when he knew for sure.
Lisanna had been alive, stuck somewhere called Edolas where the magic was weird. Everyone was unable to use their magic, except Lucy because it counted towards “holder magic”. Natsu wasn’t sure he liked that. Especially as he met his double, who was a real push over, except when it came to His Lucy. Natsu could respect that. He thought if when Lisanna and him talked, it would all come flooding back.
It didn’t.
Natsu and Lisanna had sat at the guildhall together after she had finished catching up with Elfman and Mirajane. The two had been at her side without exception for the last few days. They gave the two their alone time, though. Lucy and Happy had gone back to her apartment, and Natsu was going to meet them there afterward. Lisanna looked different than she did in his memories. Older, jaded… just different. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement, like she wanted something from Natsu. As he was thinking about Lucy, he realized he couldn’t give Lisanna what she wanted anymore.
He’d… move on.
If you had told Natsu that before Hargeon, he’d have called you insane. He had been enamored with Lisanna his entire life. A girl his age who was nice to him, and the little sister of the “She-Devil”, so she was ferocious in battle as well. It was a trait he admired. But, he remembers seeing Lucy with Happy and thinking- this is it. This is what matters to me. Obviously, all his friends matter to him, but he doesn’t sneak into their apartment and lay there like with Happy, he doesn’t refuse to go on a quest without anyone else but Lucy, he doesn’t follow anyone else like a puppy.
“Natsu, it’s okay,” her smile was sad, like she realized what had happened without him saying it, “I’m not blind you know.”
Natsu shrugged, “I’m sorry, Lisanna. I missed you so much sometimes it felt like the whole Igneel left grew even larger. After Happy was born, it filled that hole. When I met Lucy, the rest of that hole was filled.”
She nodded, “I’d love to hear more about your adventures together.”
“I got you next time. Go spend time with your siblings, Happy and Lucy are waiting for me,” he stood up, “I’ll see you next time?”
Her smile was sad, like she was accepting something, “Yeah… bye Natsu.”
But it was Tenrou Island, when Lucy was getting stomped on by that clay guy, that he knew she was everything to him. She had claimed she wasn’t going to run, because it was “always more fun with you”. It made something in his chest wiggle, setting itself free as he glanced around for something- anything.
He grabbed the voodoo doll and Lucy “kicked” his ass.
Afterwards, he managed to drag himself out of the rubble, and rushed to her side. There was something in his heart that made him hesitate, but he grabbed her and held her to his body, trying to let the warmth overtake her. He could feel her smile against his shoulder. He pulled back and looked at her face, as Happy flew over, sitting on his head.
“Lucy, please don’t- gods, I don’t…” he trailed off, looking at her face, hoping Happy didn’t do something to interrupt, “Please be careful. I thought…”
Lucy’s face softened, “I’m alive, right?”
Her voice was soft with affection and Natsu couldn’t understand why. He’d failed to protect her. As if sensing his thoughts, she grabbed hold of his hand.
“I chose to stay, Natsu. Now let’s go find the others,” she huffed as she attempted to stand, “We need to get a read on the situation and see what’s going on and where we can help.”
“Aye sir!” Happy agreed, “I think I saw people fighting over by the mountains, let’s go check it out.”
“Right,” Natsu nodded, and then as if deciding against his own will, picked Lucy up and carried her the whole way there.
-
Agonolgia was a name of legend. A dark dragon who claimed he wanted to destroy the world, everything and anything that he touched. He had been asleep for nearly 400 years, but others claimed there had been sightings of him over the years. Natsu wasn’t sure what was worse as he watched the demon dragon overhead, circling them like they were prey. Perhaps they were. Natsu knew, deep in his heart, his dragon-slaying magic wasn’t strong enough yet. Even with Laxus, Wendy, and Gajeel here, was it enough?
The answer was a startling no.
Before he could let himself devolve into his thoughts too much more, he heard a sniffle next to him. He snapped his head to see Lucy crying. It made something ugly circle up in his chest as he realized she was scared. Okay, Natsu, time to get it together. Lucy needs you.
“Hey, we’re not gonna go down cryin’, okay, Luce?”
Her eyes widened, but then there was the familiar look of determination he loved so much, “You’re right!”
What she asked of me at the end of the day
Caligula would have blushed
"Oh, you've been in the house too long", she said
And I naturally fled
He was sitting with Gray. It wasn’t something that happened often, but Natsu actually needed to talk to a friend so that wouldn’t make him feel stupid about something real. He knew Gajeel and Levy were together, they’d gotten together sometime during the War, and Natsu was happy for them, whatever that entailed.
“So flame brain, it’s not often you call one of these little meetings, everything okay?”
They were going to start a new job soon- the 100 Year Quest that even Gildarts couldn’t accomplish. Natsu was nervous, but maybe it was just because he was part-dragon, he felt as if Lucy and him were basically together when it came to Dragon rituals. Like when he was younger, he had been forced to learn how to write and read by Erza, the old fashion way. So… he was turning to Gray to talk about “human customs”.
“Ugh, shut up icicle,” he glanced away embarrassed, which he was sure would cause Gray to laugh, when it didn’t, he glanced back, “I need advice.”
Gray’s eyes widened, “And you thought coming to me was a good idea why?”
“You’re working things out with Juvia, aren’t you?”
Against what Natsu thought the reaction would be, Gray’s face flushed a dark, crimson red. Oh, I didn’t think he was that deep in. Gray spent the next few minutes sputtering and trying not to talk about her.
“Ugh, I just wanted to know how you knew,” Natsu rolled his eyes. It’s not like I don’t know I love Lucy, I just want to know how Gray, a non-dragon, would go about this. Maybe if he proves not to be an asshole I’ll tell him. But that’s doubtful.
“ That’s why you called this shit?” he grumbled, a flush on his cheeks.
Natsu resisted the urge to snort. Gray was always… weird about who he let in. People talked about Erza and her armor, but Natsu noticed Gray was the same thing with his ice. It’s not like he wasn’t close with the people on the team, but there was something softer in his eyes when he looked at Juvia, “Humor me, Gray.”
Gray snapped his eyes up to him, and took a deep breath. It wasn’t often he called the ice mage by his name, so he sucked it up, “I’m pretty sure I was deep in denial for a long time, but… during the war with Alvarez, Invel or whoever the fuck, forced Juvia and I under his spell. We both… chose to kill ourselves over hurting the other. I thought it was because she was a good friend. Then, when I woke up and she was using this stupid secret art, blood water make, to literally turn her magic energy into blood to save me, I realized I couldn’t live without her. She’s who I want. I’m not in any position to make her mine right now, but once I’m strong enough, I will.”
Natsu’s eyes softened at his friend and nodded, “That’s the most I’ve ever heard you talk about someone in a romantic light. Good for you, Gray,” and stood to leave before the ice mage forced him to sit down, “I’m not getting out of this one, am I?”
Gray just looked at him.
“Fine, fine, fucking calm down,” causing Gray to snort at his cussing, “Ugh, so… I was raised by a dragon, right?” Gray deadpanned, “Okay, fuck, calm down. I don’t have a very good… perception of what people who weren’t raised by dragons do for people they love, so I wanted to see what you do for Juvia, but maybe I should have gone to Gajeel or even Jellal.”
“Wow, so honored,” Gray rolled his eyes, “This is about Lucy, isn’t it?”
Natsu snapped his head to the ice mage in horror, “Er-”
“Relax, I’m pretty sure she thinks you’re too dense to realize what romantic feelings are. Just… keep doing what you’re doing, do it the dragon way or whatever. She likes that about you. If she wanted someone “normal” she would have dated that library guy you’ve told me about,” Gray tutted, “I’m 98% sure she feels the same. There’s always a chance she doesn’t, but just court her the way Igneel taught you. But remember, at the end of the day we’re on a mission, so don’t be stupid.”
“Thanks Gray, I appreciate-”
“YOU TWO BETTER NOT BE FIGHTING!” Erza broke down the door, Lucy, Wendy, Happy, and Carla standing behind her as they looked to see what the two of them were doing, “Oh.”
Natsu stood up, Gray with him and they bolted.
In my life, why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
When Natsu met Ignia, he thought he’d finally lost it. Igneel had another son? Does this mean I have two brothers? Zeref and this guy? Jesus what is with my family members and crashing out? Nii-san literally turned me into a demon ‘cause I died? Does that mean-
“Natsu!” he snapped his head around to see Lucy, her eyes frantic, in her Sagittarius star dress, “Eat the fire!”
Ugh I really don’t want to depend on this guy’s fire! It smells like Igneel and it makes me sick. But she’s right, Mercphobia needed to be taken down. Too bad he’s not a jerk, definitely makes this harder. But he’s out of control and he would hate himself if he hurt his villagers.
Natsu grabbed a bite of fire. It didn’t taste bad, just nostalgic and tiring and ugh , why was he doing this again? In the corner of his eye, he could see Lucy and Happy. He loved his other friends, but they were his family above all else.
That's why he was doing it.
At some point, it was like he had blacked out, throwing fiery punches like there was nothing stopping him. He couldn’t help the fire that was consuming him. He was marching back to Mercphobia to finish the job, the body had no reason to stay when he felt warm hands stop him. They were kind and human and hers.
“Calm down, Natsu, I’m here. It’s over,” she whispered sweet nothings into his ear, eager to calm him down, as if she was scared. That snapped him out of it- Natsu never wanted her to be scared of him, ever.
“It’s over…?”
-
The 100 Year Quest ended up living up to its name. They went through trials and tribulations with Natsu also discovering how much stronger Lucy was, it was kinda hot. Natsu had a thing for women who could kick his ass- well, he mostly just had a thing for Lucy. Dragons mated for life. That’s why he knew it was Lucy. She was his forever. He just had to tell her.
He felt Gray’s eyes on him as he was staring at Lucy. He glanced over his shoulder and glared at Gray who just put his hands up in defense. Before he could process anything else, he felt someone grabbing him by his hair aggressively and dragging him away.
“We’re having a talk, Natsu.”
“Ugh what did I even do, Erza?” he cried out, looking at Lucy for help, who was just looking at him apologetically.
She dragged him out until they were out of ear shot.
“Natsu, you and Gray have been acting very buddy-buddy lately. I do not mind, but I cannot help but wonder what is going on? Did something happen? You’ve also been avoiding Lucy since the accident.”
Ugh he hated it when they called it that. The accident . But it was true, Natsu had been avoiding her, mostly because he couldn’t even remember what had happened, but he had hurt Lucy. He’s spent the last few years protecting her, and he hurt her-
“No need to spiral, Natsu. I just need to know if this will impact the mission.”
“Considering it hasn’t because we’ve taken out the dragons, I think we’re fine.. Although with the new dark mage… we need to keep an eye on that,” he muttered as he looked away.
“Look if this about you and Lucy’s relationship-”
“It’s not like that!”
“But you wish it to be. I am not blind,” she sighed, “Jellal and I have begun spending quality time together. I can offer advice.”
Suddenly Natsu felt like he was 10 years old again, listening to Erza yammer about how Natsu needed to learn his alphabet.
“Thanks, already asked Gray-”
“YOU ASKED GRAY BEFORE ME ?!”
Oh Gods.
I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But Heaven knows, I'm miserable now
"Oh, you've been in the house too long", she said
And I naturally fled
They were back in Lucy’s apartment. It was quiet, and Lucy was fast asleep. Natsu was laying in bed with her, staring her down. He had a bad habit of doing so, but he couldn’t find it in himself to stop. Happy was passed out on the couch with Plue, one of Lucy’s celestial spirits.
“Natsu, I can’t sleep with you staring at me like that,” she whined, not moving away when he brought up a hand to touch her hair, “What?”
“You’re very beautiful, Lucy,” his voice was softer than he ever imagined he could do, and he watched as her face turned a very bright red, like she couldn’t have ever imagined that coming from him, “I’m sure you get that a lot, but-”
“But it’s never been from you,” her voice was pleading, like she could sense the shift in the air, she was closer than she was before. Yep, not imagining it.
“You know, Lucy, Dragons mate for life.”
He could practically hear her heart doing somersaults. He wasn’t Cobra, but he was still a dragon slayer and his hearing was still better than most humans. He had traces of demon in his blood, and sometimes he could sense it, but the seed had long died, leaving the dragon seed remaining.
Her eyes widened, “O-oh?”
“I was confused for a long time,” he whispered reverently. He’d always been loud about a lot of things, but there was something special about this being how he confessed to her. Softly, alone with Happy asleep, in her apartment, where they had started to become a family, “I even talked to Gray.”
“I was wondering what you two were talking about if you weren’t fighting,” her voice is quiet, like she’s trying to keep herself calm. He can tell, he always can.
“Yes, well, I was raised by a dragon. I wasn’t told I had to say something if I loved someone, I just did and gave everything to them,” his voice was honest, “I’ve loved you since Tenrou Island. You’re strong, and brave, and kind. You’re my best friend. I’m sorry if this is corny-”
She jumped him, pressing a soft kiss to his lips, finally, finally bringing him home.
In my life, oh, why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die?