Chapter 3

Sorry it took me so long to post, sort of forgot about this story tbh. But i received a review from a very frustrated reader so, whoever you are, I wrote this just for you! I'll try to be more reliable for updates from now on.

It took Gray less than 30 seconds to figure out what was happening. The stupid Dragon had gone into flameout in the middle of the guild. Gray recognized it from when they were younger. When Natsu's dragon overruled the human side of his brain, and his senses got so sharp that they seemed to physically pain him. Natsu's pupils had dilated to cat-like slits reflecting an eerie green, and his mouth was set in a line of pain. Luckily because of his experience, even though it had been years since the last incident, Gray knew exactly what to do.

"Natsu, let's go for a walk", he tried to speak in the softest non-threatening voice he had. The dragon was too close to the surface for Natsu not to react to any overt challenge for dominance.

Natsu went predator still at the sound of his voice, seeming to size Gray up without realizing what he was doing. Gray couldn't help the slight chill that went down his spine. As much as he and Natsu fought, Gray knew that if Natsu was ever truly serious, it would be Gray that ended up six feet under.

"Lucy let go of him, we need to go outside, preferably to the woods."

Gray could see that moment that Erza caught up, her eyes lighting with concern, even as she shifted uneasily on her feet. Natsu tracked the movement.

"Natsu?" Lucy's voice trembled.

Shit. Lucy was sitting way too close to him. Natsu was very much not receptive to people trying to touch him when he was in this kind of mood. Not only that, but Lucy had no idea what was going on; she was the most likely to set him off.

Natsu had turned his focus to Lucy, and Gray could feel the temperature of the air steadily rising.

"Lucy, you need to let go of him right now." Erza's tone was firm, but Gray could hear the slight echo of fear. The last time, the master had gotten into Natsu's space when he had gone flameout, Natsu had chucked Gramps out a third story window. His magic dancing around him with destructive ferocity.

Natsu was a lot stronger now.

Lucy hadn't even spared Gray and Erza a glance. The entirety of her attention was on Natsu.

Then in the softest whisper; Gray had to strain to hear, "Too many people?"

A jerky nod, white knuckles gripping the table.

"Okay," faintly, then firmer, "Okay. We're leaving."

Lucy started to slide out of the booth, Natsu's hand clasped in hers. Natsu started to follow her, then stopped, yanked his hand out of hers and brought it up in a sharp movement.

Gray pulled ice into his hands, lethal looking daggers extending outward, leg muscles bunching in preparation to leap across the table. Erza had already dived, forming a human shield between Natsu and Lucy.

xxx

Lucy had no idea what was going on, except that Natsu was in pain, and she just knew that he needed open space and air. His magic felt positively feral. She had just grabbed his hand to pull him gently out of the both when he ripped his hand out hers, and several things happened very quickly.

Natsu slapped both hands to his head, covering his ears as if to block out a loud noise. Lucy let out a brief shriek of surprise and pain as Erza jumped on top of her, and Gray had taken up a battle ready stance on the other side of the table.

The temperature rocketed up.

The table caught fire.

A growl shivered through the air.

Natsu's fangs gleamed in the flickering firelight.

Lucy, using a strength that people always forgot she possessed, shoved Erza off her and onto the floor, then launched herself at Natsu. Slamming against his chest, she used his shoulders for balance to go on the very top of her tippy toes- was he always this tall?- slid a hand around the back of his neck and pressed her forehead to his.

"Just focus on me Natsu." His arm locked around her waist.

xxxx

The table was on fire, and Natsu loved it. The smell of burning wood, slowly crumbling to ash, with traces of fear scenting the air. It was ambrosia, he wanted more. He wanted the flames to burn higher, bigger, hotter. He wanted to burn, and watch things bleed. His dragon was stretching in anticipation, claws right below the surface.

The ice mage had his weapons out, good. Natsu didn't want this to be too easy, he wanted to enjoy this.

First, Natsu was going to - a small projectile hit him in the chest, grabbing his shoulders, and reaching for his neck. His arm locked around the body, a snarl tearing through his throat as his magic swirled up his chest, ready to be released in a rage of destructive fury.

Only to be confronted with downy blonde hair and the smell of summer storms and starlight. Lucy.

Natsu paused, his dragon stilled.

Lucy.

His Lucy.

"Just focus on me Natsu." A gentle command. The dragon chafed at the order, but considering the little waif was completely at his mercy, decided to allow it. Natsu felt some of his human focus come back. He struggled against the instincts telling him that Gray was a threat, and needed to be taken care of immediately. He brought his other had up to Lucy's waist, his thumb finding the open skin between her skirt and top, using the contact as an anchor.

A ring of steel. Natsu's head snapped towards the sound. Erza had pulled her sword.

The little control Natsu had gained dissolved. Flames sprang up once again, waiting to be released to execute their masters' will. A feral warning rumbled in his chest.

Gentle pressure on his jaw, drawing his face back towards blonde and blue. Fingers spreading up towards his cheekbones.

"On me, just me."

His Lucy was always such a vain selfish little thing, it entertained him and his dragon. Erza wasn't half as much fun. Natsu pressed his forehead back to hers, snapping his teeth at her in amusement. His attention successfully re-obtained. He tightened his arm around her waist, until she was plastered to his chest. Her toes just brushing the ground. His other hand had slipped fully under her shirt, the heat of his hand pressed to the warmth of her hip.

But, Natsu's battle lust was fading, and with it, his narrowed focus. All the sights, sounds, and scents started to crowd in on him again. His headache was back as if it had never left, probably hurting even more than it had before. And with the pain, the restless need to get out.