Dawn of Adventure {Book One of The Paths We've Traveled}

Chapter Fifty-Five: What Are Friends For?

One week.

It had been one full week since Natsu and his team returned to Fiore, Magnolia, and Fairy Tail, and life was just beginning to settle down once more for those seven wizards. As Natsu walked through the streets, hands in his pockets and head thrown back to enjoy the chilly spring sun, he barely received any stares of wonder or amazement or surprise. Not that it changed anything. As one of the most well-known members of the strongest guild in the country, he was used to attention. He was just glad it had died down again in his hometown. There was nothing like walking from Lucy's house to the guild in the morning and being aware of everyone's stares and attention.

Happy flew by his side, and he knew it was only a matter of time before the Exceed started poking fun at him again. Apparently Natsu couldn't spend the night at his girlfriend's house without his best friend finding something to tease him about. The only thing Natsu found funny about his relationship was that no one had noticed yet. Juvia knew, and so did Levy and Gajeel, but no one other than those they'd told had figured it out themselves. Natsu thought it was hilarious. They'd made no attempts to hide it. He went home with her nearly every night, they held hands in the guildhall, they'd told everyone who asked about the matching pendants, and really changed nothing about how they acted everyday. And yet no one was any closer to figuring out the truth. Well, he was pretty sure that Lisanna was onto them, but she'd yet to bring it up whenever they talked.

Natsu sighed. Happy looked over in confusion. "What's up?"

Natsu shrugged, rolling his shoulders back. "I dunno. Just thinking bout Lisanna."

"Yeah," Happy agreed, putting his thinking face on. "I think that's the weirdest part. I mean, we knew things were going to be different when we came back, but everyone's gotten married or has kids or just changed."

Natsu nodded, thinking back to the wedding pictures Lisanna had shown him a few days ago. "Well, not everyone. Cana's still as single as ever."

"And Freed."

"Maybe we can set them up."

"No way! Cana would eat him alive!"

"It's a joke, Happy! Chill out."

"I'm gonna tell Cana and she's going to kill you."

"Dude, I said it was a joke!"

Happy snickered as he flew out of reach. Natsu huffed, crossing his arms. "Gildarts is still the same, too." Then Natsu's frown slipped deeper.

"What's that face for?"

"Gildarts definitely knows about me and Luce. I just dunno why he hasn't said anything. It's not like him to keep quiet when he could be teasing me non-stop. Just like someone else I know."

Happy giggled again. "It's just so easy."

Natsu blew a breath of fire toward his best friend, the Exceed easily diving out of the way. "Whatever."

Happy held up his paws in a placating manner. "I don't know, Natsu. I mean, Gildarts always has a reason, doesn't he?" The Fire Dragon Slayer snorted, agreeing wholeheartedly with that statement. "Why don't you ask him about it? He's not supposed to leave for his next job for another couple days."

"Asking why he's been quiet is just asking for him to start bringing it up." But Natsu thought about that suggestion. "But there is something I want to ask him about..."

Happy continued to grin, knowing where his friend's thoughts had turned. But he wouldn't tease him about that. He wanted to help Natsu make it as perfect as possible, and that meant being supportive.