Good Intentions

Time Off

Disclaimer: All Fairy Tail Characters Belong to Hiro Mashima

Chapter 5: Time Off

First Day Off

Natsu slowly opened his eyes as the first rays of daylight leaked through his window. He still felt very tired after the long and mostly sleepless night he had endured but he could not go back to sleep. He decided that today would be a good day to go fishing with Happy. They hadn't spent too much time together lately and he missed their easy companionship.

"Hey Happy, would you like to go fishing today?", Natsu asked the young Exceed who was awake but snuggled in his own hammock.

"Would I, I'll go get the fishing rods!", Happy answered joyously. He liked the idea of having Natsu to himself for a change. He knew something was bothering his friend but he would not ask. He knew better than to push Natsu until he was ready to talk. Natsu had a short temper and a stubborn streak a mile long. He could not be forced.

"Hang on, let's at least eat some breakfast first.", Natsu got up and padded towards his small kitchen where he got busy preparing food for the two of them. They quietly ate their breakfast and left their small house shortly after, fishing rods and bait in hand. They headed to their favorite spot that no one else knew about and sat down patiently waiting for the fish to start biting.

"Natsu, this was a great idea. I have really missed doing stuff like this.", Happy said.

"Yeah, ever since we have been going on all these jobs with everyone there's been no time to just relax. I'd almost forgotten how much I enjoy doing this", Natsu allowed himself to not think about anything in particular. His tense muscles started to relax a little at a time.

"Hey Natsu, do you think that Carla will ever accept my fish?", Happy asked hopefully.

"I don't know? I hope so. I know you want her to. I'm not really the best person to ask about these types of things.", Natsu replied. He wished he could be more comforting to his little friend.

"Why not?", asked Happy

"Uhm, I guess because I don't have anyone that I would like to give a fish to.", Natsu tried to answer in a way the Exceed would understand.

"Not even a little?", Happy pried gently.

"Not even a little. I guess that means that you are more mature than me.", Natsu smiled fondly at his Exceed and gave him a hug.

"Doesn't that make you feel lonely?", asked Happy looking intently at his friend's face.

"Not really, Igneel told me that I will have only one person I will give a fish to in my life but they will be my everything and we will be spiritually bound to each other. That sounds pretty intense so I want to make sure I find the right one and make them happy. So yeah, sometimes I feel like I would like to have someone like that, and other times it seems like it is so complicated and I have enough trouble with simple emotions. So for right now I am fine with things the way they are. I have friends and they are all like family so why would I be lonely? How come you are asking me about this now?", Natsu asked curiously.