I wrote this at 2am and am too lazy to edit it. So poor writing ahead. Y'all've been warned.
~~~
The night air was cool and crisp. Crickets chirped, leaves rustled, fireflies blinked in and out of sight like stars dancing it the sky. It was beautiful and serene. But it wasn't going to stay like that for long.
Birds flew from the trees, roused from their slumber by an explosion tearing through the woods. Flames thrashed wildly as shards of ice impeded themselves into their surroundings. The dust cleared and Natsu and Gray's glares hardened when they realized the other was still standing,
"It's not that hard," Gray snapped. "Just stay away from her,"
"I won't stay away from her," Natsu spat in reply. "She'd my friend!"
"Oh, you're friend," Gray said with a patronizing expression on his face. "You kiss all your friends?"
"What?" Natsu blinked taken aback.
Gray seized the opportunity and leapt forward. He reared his arm back and slammed his fist into Natsu's nose. He felt bone crumble before he drew back, watching the blood pour free.
Natsu snarled, lunging for him. They swapped a number of blows, both magic and not. This fight was different than those they often held in the guild. This one was vicious, brutal. Fueled by a rage neither of them could quite understand.
For Gray, it was the frustration that Natsu had beat him. The vexation that came with knowing that no matter what he did y/n always seemed to go to someone else. Lyon. Natsu. Gajeel even. For Natsu, it was something instinctual. A primal desire to defend what should be his. And the anger of knowing that it wasn't yet. He had tunnel vision as he stared Gray down. He was his rival and he needed to fall.
"Stop!"
Natsu drew in a sharp breath, his vision clearing. "Happy!"
The exceed in question dashed forward, quickly getting between the two fighting mages.
"You have to stop," he said. "Look around you, you're destroying the forest,"
It was true, the once small clearing was now capable of housing their old guildhall. The earth had been torn up, the terrain now ragged and icy. Trees had been blown over, some still smouldering from the flames.
"I know you two fight but it's never as bad as this," Happy said. He looked up into Natsu's eyes, his gaze pleading. "What's going on?"
"Nothing," Gray muttered, turning to find his discarded clothes.
Happy frowned. "But-"
"It really is nothing Happy," Natsu said. He smiled at the cat, but it didn't seem right. "Get back inside,"
The exceed opened his mouth as if to argue but Natsu shook his head.
"You've had a long day," he said. "You need to rest,"
Happy hesitated a moment before doing as he was told. The air was thick as tension as they waited for the cat to leave. Watching as he disappeared through the brush returning home.
"This isn't over," Gray growled, knocking his shoulder with Natsu's as he brushed past.
Natsu didn't say anything and for a moment he wondered if the fire dragon hadn't heard him. But then he turned to Gray over his shoulder with a look so dark it was jarring. He didn't know he was capable of such an expression. Under the light of the moon, orange flames still burning behind him, Natsu seemed almost demonic.
"Yes, it is,"
He stalked off through the flames, leaving Gray alone with his thoughts.
***
Y/n let out a deep sigh as she sank deeper into her tub. She let her eyes flutter shut, warm water easing her muscles. Baths were alien to her during her time as a mercenary, which was why she'd been so excited when Lucy had shown her the apartment. The tub was deep and luxurious. Baths soon became commonplace after nearly every mission. Then Lucy had mentioned something called bubble bath and y/n fell in love all over again.
The bathroom door swung open and she shrieked. A burst of red mist flew towards the person at the door before y/n even had a chance to look.
"Ow, y/n what the hell?"
"What the hell yourself! The fuck do you think you're doing barging into my bathroom?"
"Well you weren't anywhere else I checked so I figured you'd have to be here,"
"Jeez Natsu," y/n muttered. She met his gaze and her glare softened. "Are you okay?"
"I can't feel anything," Natsu shrugged, rubbing his cheek with the palm of his hand.
"Give it a few minutes and you will," She made a grabbing motion for the towel and Natsu handed it to her before turning his back to her. The act would have meant a lot more if he hadn't barged in on her in the first place.
Y/n seized Natsu's wrist, pulling his hand away from his pink cheeks. She fixed him a stern look as she forced it down to his side. "Stop touching it, you'll spread the poison,"
"Sorry," He offered her a sheepish grin, his gaze quickly flickering away. His cheeks were flushed and his skin was becoming dewy with sweat.
"Go sit on the bed," she said, waving him off with a sigh. "I'll be with you in a minute,"
***
Natsu's mind was racing. A lot had happened that night. He'd kissed y/n. She'd kissed him back. Then Gray had cornered him on his way home, spouting off a bunch of garbage a demanding Natsu to leave y/n alone. Something in Natsu had snapped at the ice mage's words.
He couldn't remember much of the battle. Just the burning rage and overwhelming power. After Happy had broken them up, Natsu had stumbled over to y/n's place to find her in the tub. She'd attacked him, which looking back on he deserved. At the moment, he was splayed across her comforter, trying to ignore the pain that coursed through his veins.
He turned at the sound of the door opening and smiled as y/n stepped out. He sat up with a wince, giving her space to sit beside him.
Her gaze was serious as she looked over his face, sucking in a sharp breath between her teeth. She raised her hands, hesitating a moment as her fingers brushed the soft fabric of his scarf.
"May I?" her e/c eyes were gentle as she spoke, waiting patiently for his reply.
Natsu nodded and y/n slowly began pulling it from around his neck.
"So what are you doing here?" she asked. She slung a leg over his as she turned to face him fully, her hands glowing with sky magic.
"It's raining," Natsu said, shuddering as her fingers traced the jagged scar on his neck. The feeling was odd, but not unwelcomed.
"That it is," y/n replied. "But that doesn't answer my question,"
"I figured I could stay here overnight and then in the morning we can go see a rainbow,"
She paused for a moment, blinking up at him, her head cocked to the side.
"I promised, remember?" Natsu shifted on the bed.
Y/n hissed, hooking her leg around his waist and holding him still. No words were spoken but the message was clear. Don't move.
"I do remember," she answered with a nod. "But I didn't expect you too,"
"I would never forget a promise," he stated with a certainty that almost made her believe him.
She didn't bother replying and silence soon overcame them.
"That should do it," y/n said after a couple of minutes. "Let me know if the pain comes back,"
"I will, thanks," he said. "And sorry for that,"
"It's not a problem, just don't do it again," she smiled, picking up his scarf. Her eyes widened as she hissed. "Fuck,"
"What?" Natsu asked. "What's wrong?"
"The poison must have eaten away at your scarf," she muttered, lifting it up to show him the damage. One end of it was now uneven and ragged. It wasn't horrible but it was noticeable. "I'm really sorry- but I can fix it,"
"You can fix it?" Natsu asked incredulously. He watched her rush around the room, grabbing an armful of things before she rejoined him on the bed. "How?"
"I can sew a piece back on," she said, picking it up gingerly as if it would break at the slightest of touch.
"You can sew?"
Y/n nodded absently as she stood and walked over to her closet. "And knit,"
"You knit?" he echoed.
"Yeah," she shrugged, rifling through her clothes. "Why is that so hard to believe?"
"You're just so cool, and awesome," Natsu said, falling back onto the bed and breathing in her screen. "All stabby and backflippy and strong. Knitting's kind of..."
"Domestic, docile and lame?" y/n asked, standing over him with an arched brow.
He shook his head rapidly. "No! It's just not something I'd expect from you, that's all,"
"What can I say?" she asked, holding the scarf up to her sweater with a hum. "I'm full of surprises?"
"What's the top for?"
"I don't have any fabric that matches your scarf," she explained, holding up a pair of scissors. "So I'm using this instead,"
"What?" Natsu exclaimed. He shook his head animatedly. "No, you can't,'
"It's no big deal, really," y/n said as she made the first cut. "I messed up your scarf so it's only fair,"
He opened his mouth to argue but she spoke before he could.
"No buts,"
"Fine,"
It was relatively quiet between them as y/n worked. But it was a comfortable silence, the kind that warms the air and makes one giddy. Natsu eventually found himself leaning against y/n, his fingers running through her h/c hair.
"There we go, all done," y/n said suddenly. She wrapped the scarf around Natsu's neck with a smile.
"Thanks," he grinned, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "And I'm sorry about your sweater,"
"It's fine," she assured him, waving it off. "Besides, I could always make something out of what's left. I could make myself a scarf so that we'd match!"
Y/n blinked as something soft was dropped over her shoulders. She stared at the scarf around her neck for a moment before looking up at Natsu, her brows furrowed. His cheeks were dusted pink as he stared deep into her eyes, his own flooded with sincerity and warmth.
"Or, maybe, you could just wear mine,"
Y/n coughed, looking away. She tried to ignore the heat burning her cheeks as she met his gaze once more. "Yeah, maybe,"
~~~
1,733 words
I've really got to stop writing for Natsu. But he's the easiest for me to write and come up with ideas for. So I have no idea how to remedy the situation.
Sorry to anyone who was looking forward to it but I've elected to forgo the Key of the Starry Heavens arc. I just can't figure it out. So instead, we're going to jump straight to the Grand Magic Games.
Thanks for reading!