Caught in Motion

Risking Everything For Nothing

A/N: Sorry this isn't entirely GrayZa or whatever you came here for. I'm building up to that and, once again, sorry if you hate NatZa, but I figured it would be a good lead in to the situation and a decent way of clarifying her relationships with people. Apologies for any OOC behavior, I'm just a bit too used to writing my own characters.

Anyway, enjoy le first chapter, bros!

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Erza felt a certain pull when she met Natsu, though she'd never known why. The day he'd walked into her gym, told her to help him get stronger. Nothing specific, just stronger. But she'd agreed, thinking it'd be better for her to keep him around, seeing as he was an entertaining customer, to say the least. Sure, he and Gajeel never got along, but Gajeel wasn't easy to get along with in any regard, except to the little cardio bunny that always hung around on his work days. Somehow, that little blue-haired girl, Levy, always brought out the best in him. As much as the redhead teased him about it, she found it plenty endearing, though she'd never admit as much to the either of them.

After Natsu saw Erza practicing in the ring with Gajeel while the gym was fairly close to empty one day, he wanted to fight her instead of the burly, wild-maned man he was used to brawling with. He seemed thrilled when she beat him in an extremely one-sided match, unlike most of the guys she'd trained with. He just got up and wanted another go. Day after day, they trained together. Natsu started hanging around during her breaks and taking her out to lunch under the rule 'losers pay, winners eat for free', even as, to his dismay, she turned out to be capable of keeping pace with him when it came to eating after a hearty workout. Eventually, their breaks and after-work meals turned into dates as they learned more and drew one another in further. Somehow, after months like that, it seemed like common sense to take things a step in a more intimate direction for them.

Erza knew that, if she'd been honest with herself, Natsu was likely one of the most passionate lovers she'd ever had. It was easy to see, always obvious in the way he walked, talked, and acted. She hadn't realized he wasn't just passionate about fighting and growing as a person, but about her as well, until she saw him defending her at the front desk from one of her private clients.

By the time she had properly processed and understood, though, it was too late. He noticed she'd been receiving little notes at her desk and locker at work about two years into their relationship, and when she refused to share them over and over, he'd thrown his hands up and told her he gave up. That she was too much for him right then.

She couldn't blame him, even now, because of all the things that man deserved, it wasn't an unfaithful girlfriend, whether it be true or just rumor. But that wasn't up to her anymore.

And yet there she was, holding a party invite in her hands as she toweled at the water left from the showers on her neck and chest. Her heart thumped hopefully but her mind whispered wickedness in her ear. Why should you assume he still gives a damn? He gave up on you, they snarled furiously.

You should bring Jellal or Kagura to prove you've moved on, that you're still better than him, her thoughts purred before she could shake them away. Dropping the puffy towel to the tiled floor, she pulled her bag from her locker and set about dressing herself.

"Yo!" Called the redhead as she stepped around the front desk and poked her head around the corner into the open gym. There, she saw just the guy she was looking for, scratching at the back of his neck nervously, grinning down at the usual girl. "Hey, Metalhead!" Erza tried again. This time, he craned his neck in her direction, alert and suddenly very embarrassed.

"Yeah, Red?" Gajeel shouted back, brows raised curiously as Levy laughed and turned to wave at the gym manager happily.

"Hi, Erza!" Greeted the blunette from across the gym, grinning so widely the redhead could almost see her smile clearly even from that distance. The smaller girl was enough to make her walk over. Almost immediately, the bookworm wrapped her in a tight hug that definitely caught her off-guard. She'd only ever seen her doing cardio, but her arm strength definitely said otherwise, that was for certain as the smaller girl squeezed her waist tighter persistently. Maybe I should get Metalhead to convince her to start training with one of us instead of just Mira. Smiling, she hugged back gently before pulling back with a chuckle on her lips.