Fix You | Natsu x Reader

Chapter One

The battlefield was nothing new for Fairy Tail. Explosions lit up the sky, the ground trembled beneath heavy spells, and their enemies shouted curses as they pushed back against the guild's might. It was chaos-but it was the kind of chaos Team Natsu thrived in.

At the center of it all, Natsu Dragneel charged forward, fists blazing with fire, his grin wild and certain. He lived for moments like these, where instinct and flame carried him through.

"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" he roared, swinging at the armored mage in front of him.

But instead of an explosion of flames, only a weak spark flickered around his knuckles before dying out. His punch connected with nothing but flesh and bone.

The enemy stumbled back, more surprised than hurt. Gray blinked in disbelief, nearly losing focus on his own spell. "Oi, Natsu! what the hell was that supposed to be?"

"I-" Natsu's voice faltered, his hand trembling as he tried to summon fire again. Heat rushed to his skin, but the flames came thin and unsteady, guttering like a candle in the wind. His chest tightened, a sharp pain spreading through his ribs.

Something was wrong.

"Don't just stand there!" Erza barked, already shifting into her Black Wing Armor to cover him. "Focus, Natsu!"

"I am focusing!" His words were sharp, panicked. He clenched his fists tighter, demanding his fire obey him. It sputtered, flared and vanished again.

Lucy's whip cracked through the air, striking an opponent who tried to take advantage of Natsu's faltering stance. She whirled to him, panic in her eyes. "Natsu, what's happening?"

He tried to grin, to play it off like always, but the breath caught in his throat. "Guess I'm just-" His knees buckled, the ground rushing up to meet him.

"NATSU!"

Wendy was already there, hands glowing bright blue as she pressed her palms to his chest. The sky dragon slayer's magic poured into him, scanning, soothing, searching for answers. Her face drained of color as she whispered, "His magic flow... it's unstable. It's like... like his body is rejecting it."

Erza's sword drove into the dirt, creating a protective wall of steel to block a rain of arrows. "Explain. Now."

Wendy shook her head, tears pricking at her lashes. "I don't know-I've never seen it this bad before. His energy's there, but it's like his body won't let him use it."

For the first time, Natsu's fire was gone. Truly gone.

And for the first time, fear flashed in his eyes.

-

The mission was done. The enemy guild had fallen back after Erza's final strike and Gray's ice wall forced their retreat. On paper, it was a victory.

But inside the dim hotel room that Fairy Tail had taken for the night, no one felt like celebrating.

Natsu sat on the edge of his bed, elbows on his knees, staring at the floor. The usual fire in his eyes was gone, leaving only a hollow, restless silence. Happy perched beside him, paw on his arm, while Lucy sat close on the other side, her face tight with worry.

"Natsu," Lucy tried softly, "you still helped us. We couldn't have finished the job without you keeping them distracted."

He didn't respond. Didn't even look at her. His fists clenched and unclenched against his knees, trembling with a frustration he couldn't burn away.

"I was useless out there," he muttered finally, voice low and rough. "Couldn't even light a damn candle. What good am I without my fire?"

Happy's ears drooped. "Don't say that, Natsu... you're still you."