Hot and Cold

A Meeting With August

~*****~

With new clothes on, we finally venture into the dungeon to visit with Brandish. "Hey, Bran- uh..." Natsu trails off, scratching his head. "Brand-New-Dress?"

"It's Brandish!" Lucy, Happy, Ballad, and I complain.

"They told me I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for you!" Natsu chirps as he presses his face against the bars. "Thanks so much!"

"Yeah, thanks so much!" Happy chirps.

"You know, you really didn't have to go back to the cell," I mention.

"We weren't gonna keep you locked up after for all you've done for us!" Happy chirped.

"I can't believe you actually beat Jacob," Brandish hummed. "Makes sense now- Why Emperor Spriggan old us tha we shouldn't underestimate you as an enemy." Natsu just grins. "But now you're outta luck... Because August is coming."

"What's that mean?" Lucy asks. "Like the month?"

"It's already September." Happy hums.

"Back in Alakitasia, August is a fearsome month- one that brings disaster and misfortune. So everybody prays, puts on their best behavior, and tries to maintain whatever righteous lifestyle gets them through it." Brandish hums. "August always brings some kind of reckoning. It's been thought of that way for generations."

I feel a tick of irritation burn against my legs. I shift slowly and lean against the wall. "Miss, do you want to go upstairs and rest?" Ballad asks cautiously.

I snort lowly and grimace at her for bringing attention to my wounds. "Not really, going upstairs means I gotta get scolded for wreckin' the guild hall..."

Natsu turned his gaze up at me before his eyes automatically zeroed in on the red skin exposed under my cloak. "Hey-" Natsu grunts as he stands up and nudges at my arm. "Let's go put ointment on those burns."

Lucy suddenly hums and peers around Natsu, that curious look in her eye ever so present. I grumble irritably and bid Brandish another thank you before striding down the hall.

Once again in the healing room, I feel a bit better, having discarded the heavy cloak that made my body feel hot. Now that Natsu is alert, and not on the verge of passing out, as he was earlier, he'd finally taken notice to the horrible injuries. "I'm sorry," He murmurs gingerly while dabbing the horrible smelling ointment on my skin.

"I'm the one who grabbed you while you were all fired up." I retort quickly. Natsu doesn't respond right away.

"No, it's mine. I should've listened to you faster." Natsu hummed. "It's just... I was seein' red... all that crap he was sayin'."

I nod. "But we can't rule it out, Natsu..." I mention softly. Natsu grimaces and sits on his haunch, peeling my pants up my legs to spread ointment there. "Whether or not what he says is in fact true, then you need to know that I don't care. You're Natsu, through and through." I feel his finger inch further than it needs to, so I plant my foot against his face and grumble. "I thought you were helping me with my injuries, not trying to play grab ass."

Natsu grunts irritably. "I wasn't! My hand just slipped!"

"Oh, boloney!" I exclaim. "You're totally riled up from that stupid act we put on to dupe that weird Jacob guy!" I exclaim.

"So what if I was?!" Natsu exclaimed back, face flushed. "You can't blame me; I think you're super freakin' hot!" I push harder on his face with my foot until he topples back. I grunt and cross my legs and sit further on the bed.