Black Dragon's Prince (Natsu x Reader)

Part 17 (Calm before the strom)

"Brother?" Wendy whispered out. To anyone other than Natsu it wouldn't have been heard over the crackling, but with at sensitive ears his he easily picked it up.

Natsu gritted his teeth. "If that spell fires, it won't just destroy us. It will demolish all of Magnolia."

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Lucy stared wide-eyed at the gigantic robot. She was horrified. All of Magnolia- All of the people living there would die, just because she was here. Her neighbors, the nice people who greeted her on her way home, even her rent lady, they would all perish because of the spell.

Lucy felt her chest tightening, guilt sweeping through her body. Her vision blurred and she felt nauseous. How many lives would be on her hands? How many would die because of her own selfishness?

"It's... It's all my fault..." The sentence was barely above a whisper but the whole guild picked up on it. "If I hadn't left then Magnolia would've been safe... I... I should go back." Lucy sniffed, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Erza bit her lip, eye burning with fury as she stared at the Phantom building. The temperature around her dropped several degrees as magic aura oozed out of him.

The sounds of approaching steps broke the conflicted atmosphere. They were weirdly calm but barely noticeable. Collectively all of the Guild tensed as the teen passed them. No one dared to stand in his way.

"Brother?" Wendy whispered, preparing to run up to Natsu. However, an s/c-hand prevented her from leaving her spot.

"Don't." Y/n said, looking straight ahead towards Natsu's figure. "He might be blunt, but... I think that's what Lucy kind of needs right now. She knows he doesn't play around or sugarcoat things."

'Well... not to anyone but us...' Y/n added, eyes never leaving his bandaged arm. 'I'm sorry Wendy...'

A cold finger poked Lucy's shoulder, making her jump. It didn't feel like Gray's touch, because he despite being an ice wizard still held some warmth in him. This one felt bone-chilling. Almost like the person wasn't human.

"You have a family here..." An all to familiar voice said, making Lucy turn around. A pair of dark onyx eyes stared right back at her. So unwavering that the celestial mage had to keep herself from flinching.

"You won't have to go back, Not if you don't want to." Natsu continued, and somehow his eyes seemed less empty. For a split second, Lucy swore she saw something akin to sadness flashing over his face. Still... it didn't feel like that sadness was meant for her.

Almost like a magic spell, Natsu blinked and the emotion vanished, leaving something that looked like a slight annoyance.

"Your father is a rather moronic individual if he thinks he can take a Fairy Tail member against their will," Natsu stated, eye boring into Lucy's brown ones, and somehow it didn't feel intrusive.

Lucy's eye softened slightly. She knew Natsu didn't play around... or at least not that type of play. When it came to matters like this, matters that revolved around family, he would never take it lightly.

Maybe, underneath all the stoic facade was a misunderstood guy. Someone who's suffered through life and been forced to live with as little attachment as possible. A person who had seen death rip away someone loved. Maybe, Natsu was just starting to open up. Maybe... maybe he wasn't so bad after all.

"Thank you," Lucy whispered, as Natsu faintly rose an eyebrow at her.

"Don't thank me," Natsu said, voice still lacking any compassion. "Thank them," he said pointing a finger at all the Fairy Tail members behind him.