Hot and Cold

Marriage?

~*****~

Dan and Coco stand on the rocky ledge above us, staring down with smirks on their faces. "Aw, man, not this clown!" I exclaim.

"How did you guys even find this place?" Natsu asked angrily, his arm jutting out in front of me.

"Thanks to the Key of the Starry Heavens. Samuel told me the whole story from memory." Dan hums. "And guess what? It says there's a piece of the clock right here."

Coco juts her hand up. "It looks to me like you sorry losers haven't been able to find it yet, either!" Coco exclaims.

I flinch as Dan takes notice to me. He gives a shout of delight. "Could that really be my lovely little Ri-Ri Princess over there?!" Dan exclaims loudly.

"Don't-- Don't call me that!" I shout at him.

"Princess?" Happy hums. "Absolutely not. Caveman? Yes!"

"Princess Caveman seems a lot better than the names from last time," Ballad hums.

"WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?!" I bark at her.

"Our paths were meant to cross again! Unavoidable destiny!" Dan exclaims as he surges forward. "I can practically feel the thread of fate pulling us together!"

I let out a scream of frustration. "This guy is freakin' me out! I can't think straight!" I scrub at my hair violently.

"L-O-V-E--" Natsu cuts him off by attacking.

"Well, I'd love to get payback for last time!" Natsu shouts. "Fire Dragon... Roar!"

"I can't waste my time screwin' around like this. Because... love beckons me with it's sweet song!" Dan chirps, his gaze suddenly back on me as I attempt to slip away unnoticed. "OH YEAH!"

"WILL YOU BE MORE CAREFUL! MY TOP IS ON FIRE! AND I ONLY BROUGHT ONE!" I shout as I pat at the burning straps.

"Goodness, that would be a distraction, wouldn't it?" Ballad giggles. I snatch her tail and run away from the destruction.

The sound of destruction fades and I suck in a breath of relief. "They're not coming after us!" Romeo gasps.

"Oh, I hope we were able to lose them!" Michelle stammers.

"Exactly like I planned!" Natsu cheered.

"You're such a liar!" I snap at him, my arms crossed over my chest to keep it from bouncing and snapping the already feeble straps.

"Let's just find what we came here for!" Lucy exclaims.

I skid to a halt as Dan reappears in front of me. I nearly collide into him and bounce a few steps back, my face feeling pale. "Slow down! My Alluring Ri-Ri Princess! First, you and I need to water our garden of love!"

"THAT SOUNDS DIRTY! KEEP YOUR PAWS OFF OF MY GARDEN, BUDDY!" I shout at him, my arms unconsciously crossing over my chest.

"Hold on!" Coco reprimands Dan. "First, you and I need to find that clock piece! Have you already forgotten that we were sent here on an important mission?"

"Did I forget my mission? No way! I remembered my sweet love!" Dan exclaims, face flushing brightly as he stares back at me.

"That's kinda my point..." Coco sighs.

"L-O-V-E!" Dan chants.

"WOULD YOU STOP?!" Natsu bellows as he attacks again.

"HOW MANY TIMES YOU GONNA ATTACK THAT SHIELD?!" I bellow as I cover my now bare chest. "GIVE ME YOUR SCARF! OR I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"