Natsu, What's Wrong With You?

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Lucy self-consciously touched the mark on her neck.

"Natsu," she began calmly, talking to him as she would a wounded animal that you weren't sure was going to attack you or not, "you're all invited to dinner - not just Grey. Just a friendly dinner. With friends. As a thank you. We're all your friends," she stressed. She slowly approached him, wary of his sudden change of temperament.

Erza followed her example, shoving Grey behind her so he was out of sight. Was the mark on Lucy's neck more than just a love bite? Was it the legendary dragon mark? Could it be more than just an urban legend? She had not known any dragon slayers "marking" their mates before. She would have to ask the master more about it. If Lucy just making a friendly remark to Grey made Natsu violent, what were they in for?

"Natsu," Happy asked in a worried tone. "What's wrong with you?"

Natsu felt his body start to cool as he calmed down. "What?" he asked his blue friend, feeling confused. "Why are we all standing here?" He turned to Lucy. "Why do you look like that?" He noticed her holding her hand. "What's wrong with your hand?" He started towards her, wanting to take her hand and examine it, but he noticed she instinctively shied away from him.

"Lucy?" he asked, the hurt evident in his voice.

"Natsu? Don't you remember what just happened?" asked Happy, floating in front of his best friend.

Natsu scratched his head. "What just happened? You mean that creepy guy Mak-what's his name?"

Erza approached Natsu, confident that he was no longer dangerous. Grey stood, arms crossed, looking at Natsu with a smirk. So, Lucy and Natsu, huh? About time the numbskull figured it out.

Erza grabbed Lucy's arm and showed her hand to Natsu. Although it was fading, you could still see the red mark in the shape of a partial hand. "Do you remember doing this?"

Natsu looked horrified. "I wouldn't hurt, Luce! Why would I hurt her?" he cried, looking at the group as a whole.

"It's okay, Natsu, it was an accident," Lucy said in that same calm tone. Natsu was really upset about this!

"But-but-I don't remember any of this!" He pulled at his hair, as if that would help him understand the situation better. He sat down in the middle of the dusty road, burying his face in his hands.

Lucy sat down beside him, putting her arm around him. "Natsu, it's okay! It was an accident. I'm not mad."

"Luce, you gotta believe me! I'd never hurt you. At least, I don't think I would. No, I wouldn't!" he declared, as if arguing with himself.

"I know you would never willingly hurt me or any Fairy Tail member. It's okay, Natsu. Really." She wrapped both arms around him in a hug.

"Lucy," Erza spoke in a serious tone. The celestial mage looked up at her. "I think it would be best if we talked about this later." At the guild with the master, she mouthed.

Lucy nodded in agreement. She was really worried about Natsu. Not only was it out of character for him to act this way, but to black it out? Something was definitely going on. Hopefully the master had answers!

She glanced up at Grey and Erza. "If it's okay, why don't you two go ahead. Natsu, Happy, and I will be along shortly."

"Are you sure, Lucy?" asked Erza.

"If anything happens, I'll send Happy to find you," answered Lucy. She patted the pouch attached to her belt, hoping she would get the message. Should anything happen, I have my spirits to protect me.

"Okay then," Erza nodded, knowing that if anyone could snap Natsu out of this, it would be Lucy. There were times when Natsu needed discipline, like what she could do, or even teased and distracted, like what Grey did by picking fights and name calling. However, right now, Lucy had the right idea. What he needed was good ol' TLC - obviously an area that Lucy knew most about.

Erza and Grey disappeared down the road.

"Come on, big boy, let's get you up and out of the road," Lucy said, standing up and putting her hands under Natsu's arm to help him up. However, it was like he was a stone that refused to move. "Happy? Some help?" groaned Lucy, straining under Natsu's weight. The exceed flew over and between the two of them, got Natsu standing and helped him walk to the side of the road. He sunk down under a nearby tree, still looking distraught.

"I bet you're hungry!" Lucy sang out at him, trying to get him to perk up. She fished around in her bag and came up with a granola bar. She waved it in front of his face. "How about a snack, until we get to town and get some real food?"

"Like fish?" Happy perked up. His wings had disappeared and he was now standing in front of Natsu.

Lucy smiled. "Of course! How could we not have fish?" she teased Happy.

Natsu picked up his head and looked at Lucy. "I don't deserve fish. I don't deserve anything," he said in a monotone. "Lucy..." he began, but couldn't seem to finish.

Lucy dug around in her bag and found a canteen. "Happy," she said, holding it out to the cat. "Would you mind getting some fresh water for Natsu?"

"Hai," the blue cat replied, his wings once more appearing as he sailed away to the nearby stream.

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