Wheels of Fire

Salamander's Gullibility

Natsu Dragneel sat on a cliff overlooking a sea of clouds. Behind him, Edolas' Fairy Tail was in the midst of a noisy party, having just escaped from the Knightwalker's Fairy hunters again and landed in this place of mists and clouds. Living another day was a damn good reason to celebrate, so despite a shortage on food, there was music and wild dancing. At least that was the same about this guild: they partied with vigor. He did not think he could handle it if they were prim and proper. Edo-Cana's teetotaling and that annoyingly blunt schoolboy Edo-Romeo were bad enough.

He heard footsteps approaching and looked around to see Edo-Wendy creeping up. She gave him a sweet smile, then settled down beside him, close enough so their legs were touching.

"Hey, Salamander. Are you still feeling sick from the jump?" she asked.

"I'm better," he muttered, staring off at the clouds. "It was just a bit rough."

"Sorry. I didn't have my web up."

"That's my fault," Natsu acknowledged. "Ashley pounded me because of it. Knightwalker got so close, I could see her red hair." His face looked uncharacteristically pensive. "She looks exactly like Erza Scarlet. I didn't think I could miss that scary woman, but I guess I miss all of them ... even Gray," he reluctantly admitted with a soft grunt. "I wonder what everyone is up to back home. I hope Happy is okay."

"Your Exceed, huh?" Edo-Wendy said softly, smoothing the short skirt that showed off her shapely thighs. "Sometimes you talk about him like he's your best friend, sometimes like he's your own son."

Natsu wondered about that complex relationship. "Well, he is my best friend," he agreed, "and I raised him since he hatched from an egg. I guess ... maybe he's like a son."

The blue-haired woman tittered softly. "That's sort of sweet. I imagine you'd make a wonderful father."

He blushed and scratched the back of his head with embarrassment. "Aww, it's nothing. Happy's easy to care for. I'm just worried for him. We've never been apart for this long."

Edo-Wendy hummed as she examined him. "You miss your guild a lot, don't you?"

"Well, yeah! They're my family. I'm getting used to the others in this guild, at least. Cana is really smart, although she likes to use big words I don't understand. Gray Surge isn't half bad, although he's annoying. Lucy Ashley is still scary."

Edo-Wendy giggled. "That's true."

"I don't mind being with you guys, but seeing Erza reminded me of how much I miss home." Natsu sighed and sank his chin onto propped fists, staring out as the setting sun changed the sea of clouds into many colors, from flaming red to royal purple. "I wonder if I'll ever get to see them again."

The blue-haired beauty wrapped an arm around him and rested her head on his shoulder. "Sure you will. You can't give up hope. It might take a while, but we won't stop searching for a way. In the meantime, you're happy here, right?" she asked hopefully.

"I guess," he muttered, ignoring that she was hugging him so intimately. "At least you're fun to hang around. Wendy back home is too young."

"But she's cute in a way, right?" the older Wendy prodded.

"Yeah, maybe. Way different from you, though."

"Oh?" she smirked, scooting closer. "Different how? Is she cuter?"

"Nah, just ... different. She's like ... kid-cute and you're ... you're..." He glanced over, and although this was Natsu, he was still a healthy teen. This older, more mature woman had breasts that were impressive, and looking at them made Natsu feel strange inside, especially since she had those soft mounds pressed right up against his arm with her head resting on his shoulder. "You're ... mature-cute."