A few days later...
Lucy's POV

Natsu and I had been training together for a while now, and frankly, he'd made me stronger.

My body had finally adjusted to my slayer magic, all thanks to him.

Recent events had left me on edge, ready for an attack at any moment.

Other members waited around as well.

The guild had become a serious place in the past few days.

No one had time to relax.

I stood in my room, panting and sweating.

I'd been attacking a punching bag Erza lent me for the past hour.

I walk over to the table, picking up my water bottle for a chug.

As I get back to it, I hear the opening of my door.

"Yo!" Natsu calls.

"Hey..." I add, punching the bag again.

"You've really been pushing at it the past few days, haven't you?" He asks me.

"I'm not taking any chances."

"I know, but... why don't you take a break for a little? Save your strength for the real fight."

Natsu takes a seat on my couch.

I stop my kicking and punching, looking over to him.

"I guess I could use a small break."

I go to sit next to him on the couch.

"So, why'd you drop by?"

"I don't know. I was bored, and I guess hanging out with you is always fun."

I feel a slight redness in my cheeks.

Maybe it was the heat of my workout, or maybe it was him...

Either way, it made me feel awkward and uncomfortable.

"Your training definitely paid off. You've improved." He mentions out of the blue of the silence.

"I had a great teacher!" I respond with a smile.

We both laugh before trailing back off into the silence.

Finally, he sighs.

"The real reason I came here was because I'm worried about you."

I felt my heart skip a beat at this comment.

"I know all this stuff is complicated, and that your family is involved, so I wanted to know you're okay."

"I-I'm okay, really... I'm used to it by now."

I look at my feet with a frown if disappointment.

I know Natsu noticed this when he reached his hand over and held mine.

"Hey, Luce, it'll all be okay. All of Fairy Tail has your back, including me. I won't let them take you away for anything."

A smile crosses my face again as I look back to him.

"Natsu... thank you..."