Dragon Slayer mating season

Mates and fights

"Mate," Natsu said as he stared Lucy down, her eyes widened in surprise but before she could speak he flew past her to the door of the infirmary locking it and shoving beds stack onto each other in front of it. Natsu sighed in slight relief

"Natsu, What's going on?" Lucy asked Natsu's shoulders slumped and he turned and walked back to her and Happy rubbing his neck, he motioned for her to sit in the bed he had just been lying in. She sat looking at him in worry, Natsu struggled in his mind of what to tell her, Igneel's voice echoing in the back of his mind to just follow his instincts. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before getting on his knees in front of Lucy, he took one of her hands as he began to explain.

"It's slayer mating season, and you Lucy Heartfilia are my mate. It's like a soulmate and it means that I'm going to be really weird and ruin our friendship. What matters is that we get through this without you getting hurt, because me being a sorta prince means that they will want to hurt what is mine, which is you. I won't let anyone touch what's mine." He ranted overwhelming Lucy but at the end of it, he had gotten fired up so not only were his eyes different but scales began to form along his skin with small flames erupting from his body. He hung his head not wanting to look at Lucy scared of her rejection.

"I'm your mate?" she questioned as silent Happy sat on her lap absorbing the conversation. Natsu only shook his head yes. Lucy sat there stunned into silence she didn't know what to say, didn't know how to feel or think. Then banging came from the door
"You will open this door right now Natsu Dragneel, or you will face my wrath" came the voice of a yelling Erza. Natsu didn't even flinch from his spot and Lucy dared not move. When finally the door and beds were all destroyed due to a blade of Erza's
"This is no time to hide Natsu some of our men are going nuts out there. We need your help!" She shouted. Natsu stood slowly from his spot and turned with burning eyes to Erza
"I will protect what is mine." He growled out. Erza stopped and looked taken by surprise. Lucy sat still her and Happy holding their breath. Natsu walked toward Erza and stopped in front of her
"You will not touch what is mine" he stated before walking out the door. Suddenly there came a loud roar and then Natsu's voice bellowed through the guild.
"I am the prince of dragons. Take what is yours and leave or challenge me for the rule" This made Lucy stand and run past Erza into the guild. She saw Natsu staring down at everyone from the bar. Some threw girls over their shoulders and left, Laxus being the first surprisingly as he swung Mira over his shoulder who began to squirm and yell but no one dared to stand up and stop him. Gray followed carrying Juvia, and Lucy scanned the crowd when she landed her eyes on Levy knowing Gajeel would come for her next but instead she found Gajeel to be nowhere near her. Gajeel stood in the middle of the guild glaring down at Natsu who growled in disapproval.
"So be it." He snarled jumping down from the bar. He got nose to nose with Gajeel staring him down and spoke
"You will take up what is yours and find me tomorrow for a challenge and anyone else who dares fight me," Natsu commanded with confidence and anger. The guild sat still many of them holding their breaths unsure of what was happening. The men seemed at a standstill until Levy got brave enough to stand, Gajeel tensed. Levy slowly made her way to the men and laid her hand on Gajeel's arm
"Let's leave Gajeel. You have tomorrow" she spoke softly. Gajeel finally took his eyes from Natsu's and walked out the door Levy following close behind. Natsu sunk to his knees when the guild doors closed ashamed at being harsh to his guild, to his family. Lucy then moved to him resting a hand on his shoulder giving him the strength to stand and yell at his guild members again.
"It is slayer mating season, I advise you to leave the affected males and the female mates alone unless you want to be killed." Natsu then marched out the door, Lucy and Happy followed. When they reached Natsu's home he went to his bed and Lucy sat on the couch using her brain to understand what had just happened. Puzzle pieces began to fit into place and she understood that like animals the dragon counterpart of the men were acting like animals on instinct to mate as Natsu had put it. Lucy also knew she was Natsu's soulmate and that he would have to fight tomorrow to keep his status if she continued to look at it from an animal's perspective. Happy who couldn't sit in the silence told Lucy he was going to go stay with Wendy as he noticed she didn't seem affected by the situation. So Lucy walked into the bedroom where Natsu was sitting on the bed.
"Natsu talk to me" she almost whispered but he could hear her fine.
"I am going to follow my instincts Lucy" he stated being vague unsure of anything himself.
"What do your instincts say now?" She asked quietly
"To take you in my arms surround myself in your scent which has changed, by the way, you smell sweet like of vanilla or cotton candy" this made Lucy giggle, the first thought coming to Natsu's mind was to sniff at her like a dog. Reminding her of the day she was invisible and Natsu found her using his nose. Natsu turned to look at her confused at her laughter.
"Will a hug do?" She asks Natsu stiffened and frowned. 
"Lucy you don't have to do anything for me just cause you've been claimed as my mate. We can return to normal if you want after this is all over" he spoke not knowing how hard those words would hurt him as he said them. Lucy smiled at him
"You know that ring you have from the first time we met?" She questioned him he nodded and she continued on
"Its spell can only be broken by your soul mate, and I believe now that all the signs point to that, who am I to deny our destiny. But I don't want to jump ahead into anything" by the end of this she was blushing and trying to hide her face from Natsu.
"What are you saying, Lucy?" He asked eyes furrowed as he stared at her
"That we can try to have a relationship of being more than friends, and not make things permanent just yet" she spoke her eyes avoiding Natsu at all costs. He then took her hand
"Then I will do everything I can to win your heart Lucy Heartfilia" he stated the excitement he felt was none like ever before. It compared to the moment of getting to see his father once again but this made his heart jump in his chest. He then stood smiling that goofy smile that was accustomed to being how everyone perceived him, Natsu patted his stomach.
"Well I'm starving hope you and Happy didn't eat all the food you cooked" he stated and walked away into the kitchen. He heard an angry Lucy yell as he walked away
"Natsu you infuriating idiot!" A few moments later she was slamming the bathroom door. Natsu chuckled to himself Just returning to normal he thought as he ate his food. Lucy laid her forehead against the wall of the shower allowing her body to be under the stream, she thought about the conversation and how things might change between them but she had been happy that Natsu dropped their conversation and acted normal like nothing had happened giving her some relief and allowing her uneasiness to fade. She sighed and reached for her body wash when the mischievous side of her thought about Natsu's words, she wasn't really dirty or stinky anyway she just came to get a quick shower to relax. So she skipped the heavily scented body wash and did her hair before getting dressed and leaving the bathroom. Natsu expected Lucy to come out smelling of her scent or more so of strawberries since that was her new favorite smell of choice but when the bathroom door opened the strawberries were the farthest scent from his mind as her natural one intoxicated him. He resisted his urges and finished his meal before going into the room he would have to share with her. He climbed into his hammock and thought about Gajeel, even if Gajeel wanted to back out now he wouldn't for his pride. So Natsu knew Gajeel would be here to fight him sometime tomorrow he only hoped that his instincts were wrong about this challenge, that Natsu wouldn't have to kill him tomorrow. With his mate's scent filling the room he fell asleep with fear in his heart and Gajeel on his mind.