Her Dragon Slayer (NaLu)

2 - TIRED

"Hey everyone! Look who's back!" Lucy yelled into the room. The heads of their guild mates all turned with surprise.

"Natsu!" A few of his friends called out his name in acknowledgement.

"Welcome back, Natsu!" Mirajane greets from behind her place at the bar.

He gets a few more welcomes, along with a few claps on the back. Everyone seems excited to see him back safely, and Lucy's heart warms at the sight. Fairy Tail wouldn't be the same without its Salamander.

Usually, he would try to pick a fight with Gray, or Erza, or even Gildarts. But Natsu didn't have half the heart to even bother. He couldn't stop staring at the girl next to him, wondering when she would realize how he truly cares for her.

He never thought she saw him as anything other than a friend. In her defense, he never let her see him as anything but a friend.

He couldn't bear the thought of ever losing her. What if she decided that one day she could do better? That he truly was a heartless monster incapable of love?

It would kill him. He wouldn't want to live without her. He would never do anything to threaten the smile to slide off her face. She needed to be happy.

She needed to.

If she wasn't happy, then Natsu had failed her. Fairy Tail had failed her.

No, that wouldn't happen if Natsu just kept his damn mouth shut. What she doesn't know can't hurt her.

Right?

"Lucy!" Happy calls, flying over to her and letting her squeeze him. He chooses to rest on top of her head as we slide into a table across from Erza and Levy.

"So, Natsu, I assume the task was harder than planned?" Erza asks the Dragon Slayer.

"Yeah, it was a real pain in the ass. The bandits were way tougher than they looked."

"But still, three months? That kind of job usually takes us a matter of days, if even."

Natsu shrugs, hoping no one sees though his lies. "They kept getting away. Had to keep tracking them down."

Happy glares at Natsu, knowing the real truth that he would never tell. Natsu just ignores him, far too tired to act his usual self.

Lucy seemed to notice this. "Are you sure you're alright, Natsu?" He loved the way his name rolled off her tongue.

He gave a nod. "Just tired, I guess."

"Not hungry?" Erza chuckles. "Who are you and what have you done with Natsu?"

He wished he could answer that himself.

Natsu gave a half-hearted smile to the red head, before drifting off into a land of his own. A land where he deserved the girl he loved, and everything was perfect.

He couldn't keep his eyes off of her, though he didn't really try to. He didn't want to try. Every move she made was enticing, every laugh that bubbled up her throat made a burning sensation occur in Natsu's fiery heart. He longed to laugh with her, like they used to, but he couldn't find it within himself to do so.

He was sure that everyone else in the guild knew his true feelings for the Celestial wizard. It was quite obvious, really, he never stopped staring at her. The only one who couldn't see it was the only one who mattered.

Being this close to her and not touching her was driving him insane, so he slung his arm over the back of her seat. Every so often his arm would brush the skin on her neck, sending the hairs standing up straight.

Both of them loved the way the touch of their skin felt. It was like the nerves would hyperventilate, causing the sweetest sensation.

Natsu could only imagine what it felt like to press his lips against hers. Part of him hoped he would never find out. Once he went down that road, there was no going back. Once he went down that road...he knew he would lose her. All good things must come to an end. It was better to keep it mediocre than good, that way it didn't have to end.

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Hey! Here's the second chapter! Hope you guys liked it, vote and comment if you did!!