#natsu fluff

[arixella]

When the Calm Breaks

╰┈➤ pairing: Natsu x female! reader

a/n: first one backkkkk <333

summary: After defying orders to save Lucy, your normally unshakable composure finally cracks under pressure, and Natsu is the one who catches you when everything spills over.

wc: 2.1k

contains: action, angst, hurt/comfort, emotional breakdown, team conflict, protective Natsu, light romance, tension, comfort, character vulnerability

Missions with your team usually followed a pattern. Chaos, fighting, yelling, then victory. You were used to it. Used to the noise, the unpredictability, the way things rarely went exactly as planned.

But you?

You were the steady one.

Calm. Level-headed. Hard to shake.

Even when things went wrong, you didn’t panic. Didn’t break. Didn’t cry. Everyone knew that about you. Especially Natsu.

“…You’re thinking too much again.”

His voice broke through your thoughts as you walked alongside him, the dirt path stretching ahead toward your target. The rest of the team wasn’t far, Lucy chatting with Happy, Gray and Erza discussing strategy.

“I always think,” you replied calmly.

“Yeah, but your ‘thinking face’ looks like you’re about to fight the air.”

You glanced at him. “Maybe I am.” He grinned. “Tell me if it swings first.” Despite yourself, you huffed a small laugh. Everything felt normal.

Easy.

Like it always did before things went wrong.

-----

The mission was simple on paper: investigate a rogue group of mages hiding in a ruined stronghold just beyond the cliffs. They were supposed to be small-time.

Unorganized.

Easy to handle.

That illusion shattered the second Lucy screamed. “AH- !” You turned just in time to see shadows coil around her, dragging her backward into the ruins before anyone could react. “LUCY!” Natsu roared, flames already igniting.

“Wait!” Erza snapped sharply.

Everyone froze, barely.

Erza’s eyes were sharp, calculating, already piecing things together. “It’s a trap,” she said. “They’re trying to split us. We move strategically, Gray, Natsu, with me. We clear the front. You-”

Her gaze locked onto you.

“-circle around. Find an opening. Do not engage directly. We regroup before attempting a rescue.” You nodded automatically. Outwardly calm.

Inside?

You already knew. It wouldn’t work. Not fast enough. Lucy didn’t have time for “strategic regrouping.” You could feel it. That quiet instinct you always trusted. So when the others moved forward-

You didn’t follow.

---

The back of the stronghold was barely guarded. Which confirmed your suspicion. They wanted you all focused on the front. Good. That made this easier. You slipped through the shadows, movements quiet, controlled. Voices echoed deeper inside, laughing, confident.

Lucy.

You found her quickly, bound, struggling, magic suppressed.

“Hey,” you said softly, stepping into view.

Her eyes widened. “You- ?! Where’s everyone else?”

“Busy,” you replied, already working to break the restraints. “You weren’t supposed to come alone!”

“I know.” The restraints snapped.

Lucy stumbled forward. “Erza’s going to- ”

“I know,” you repeated calmly. “Let’s go.”

But of course- It wasn’t that simple. The moment Lucy was free, the air shifted. Footsteps. Lots of them.

“…Well,” Lucy said weakly. “That’s not good.”

“No,” you agreed. “It’s not.” The enemies poured in. More than expected. More than planned for.

But you didn’t hesitate. You moved. Fast. Precise. Controlled. Lucy backed you up, her magic flaring as the two of you fought your way out.

By the time you reached the front-

Natsu and Gray had already noticed.

“NATSU—!”

His head snapped toward your voice. Relief hit his face instantly when he saw you, then Lucy. “You got her?!” he shouted. “Yeah,” you called back. Then the enemies flooded out behind you.

“…And brought company,” Gray muttered.

Natsu cracked his neck, flames roaring to life. “Good.”

The fight that followed? Messy. Loud. But quick. Because despite everything-

This was still your team.

And no one stood a chance against that.

---

When it was over, the dust settled slowly. Lucy leaned against a wall, catching her breath. “Okay… that was… way worse than expected.” Gray exhaled. “No kidding.” Natsu glanced between you and Lucy, clearly checking for injuries. You gave him a small nod.

I’m fine.

He relaxed, just slightly. But Erza? Erza wasn’t looking at the battlefield.

She was looking at you.

And that was your second warning. “You disobeyed orders.” Her voice cut through the air. Sharp.

Cold.

You turned to face her, expression steady. “I saved Lucy.”

“That was not the plan.”

“The plan wouldn’t have worked in time.”

“That was not your decision to make.”

Your jaw tightened slightly. “It was when Lucy was running out of time.”

“You compromised the mission.”

“I completed the mission.”

“You endangered everyone.”

“I made sure she didn’t get taken further inside!”

Your voices rose, neither of you backing down. The tension snapped tight between you. Erza stepped closer. So did you.

“You acted recklessly,” she said, eyes blazing. “You put the entire team at risk because you chose to ignore strategy.”

“And you were willing to risk Lucy for strategy,” you shot back.

Her expression hardened.

“I trusted you to follow orders.”

“And I trusted myself to make the right call.”

The space between you disappeared.

“You are not above the team.”

“And I didn’t leave her behind!”

“ENOUGH-”

Her hand shoved against your shoulder. It wasn’t hard. But it was enough. Enough to break something.

Your calm snapped.

Before you even realized it, your fist clenched, your arm moving. You were going to hit her. You. The one who never lost control. Never.

“HEY!”

Natsu grabbed you. Lucy grabbed Erza. “Stop, both of you!” Lucy shouted, holding Erza back. Natsu’s grip on you was firm, arms locking around yours to keep you from moving forward.

“Knock it off!” he snapped. “Let go,” you said, voice low, shaking.

“Not happening.”

“Let go, Natsu.”

“No.”

Your chest rose and fell sharply. Everything felt too tight. Too loud. Too much. You ripped yourself out of his grip. And walked away. Fast. Before anyone could stop you.

---

You didn’t know how far you went. Just far enough that the noise disappeared.

Far enough that you could breathe—

Or at least try to. Your back faced the path. Your hands trembled at your sides. You hated this. Hated how your chest felt like it was caving in. Hated how your thoughts wouldn’t slow down. Footsteps approached.

You knew who it was before he even spoke.

“…Hey.”

Natsu.

Of course.

“I’m sorry about her,” he said, quieter than usual. “She didn’t mean it like that. She’s just- y’know. Stressing.”

You didn’t respond. You couldn’t.

Because the second you tried-

Your throat tightened. Your shoulders shook. And that’s when he knew.

“…Hey.”

His voice changed instantly. Concern. Sharp. Immediate. You heard his steps quicken.

“Turn around.”

You didn’t. You couldn’t. Your vision blurred. Damn it. Not now. Not this. You never cried. Not like this.

But when you were angry-

really angry-

it always came out wrong. Silent. Shaking. Uncontrollable. “…Hey, look at me.”

His hands gently but firmly turned you around. And the second he saw your face-

Everything in him shifted.

“Whoa—hey—”

No hesitation. No teasing. He pulled you into him immediately. Arms tight. Protective. One hand pressing against the back of your head, tucking you into his shoulder. “It’s okay,” he said softly. “I got you.”

That did it.

The tears spilled over. You grabbed onto him without thinking, fingers gripping his clothes as your composure completely fell apart. “I didn’t- ” your voice broke. “I didn’t have time- I couldn’t just- ”

“I know,” he cut in gently.

“I couldn’t leave her—”

“I know.”

“She would’ve—”

“You did the right thing.” Firm. Certain. Your grip tightened. Your face buried against his chest as your shoulders shook harder. He held you through it. Didn’t rush you. Didn’t try to fix it. Just stayed. One hand rubbing slow, steady circles against your back.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured again. “You’re okay.”

You shook your head weakly. “I almost- I almost hit her…”

“But you didn’t.”

“I wanted to.”

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “I know.” “That doesn’t make you bad,” he added. “It just means you were pushed.”

You didn’t respond. Just held onto him. Gradually, your breathing slowed. The shaking eased. But he didn’t let go. Not even a little. “…You never cry,” he muttered softly after a while. “…I hate it.”

“Don’t.”

You pulled back slightly, wiping at your face, frustrated.

“It’s stupid.”

“It’s not.”

You looked away.

“…Feels like it is.”

Natsu reached up, gently tilting your chin back toward him. “You saved Lucy,” he said. “That’s what matters.” Your eyes flickered. “…Erza- ”

“I’ll talk to her,” he cut in. “She’s just… intense about plans.” A weak huff escaped you. “…That’s one way to put it.” He smiled slightly. “There you go. That’s better.”

You leaned into him again, this time quieter, calmer. And he let you. Arms wrapping around you just as securely as before. “You’re allowed to get upset, you know,” he murmured. “You don’t gotta be the calm one all the time.”

“…I know.”

“But you still try.”

“…Yeah.”

He huffed softly. Then rested his chin on your head. “Good thing you’ve got me then.” A small smile finally pulled at your lips. “…Yeah.”

Because right now, held in his arms, steady and warm.

You finally felt like you could breathe again.

♡♡♡

© 2026 arixella | please do not plagiarize or translate any of my work without my consent.

[thatlotuscookie]

Hi Hypno. I'd love a Natsu x Reader (Female) where he’s being overprotective and kind of clueless about why it’s embarrassing her in front of the guild, but it turns into this cute confession in the end and they start dating

✧･ﾟ: a/n : hihi! I hope you enjoyed this super cute and protective Natsu! I wanted to capture that fiery energy of his, but with a dash of sweet fluff. I'm also not too familiar with Fairy Tail, so apologies in advance. Thank you for the request<3

✧ Title: ✧ Overprotective Flames ✧ ✧ Characters: Natsu Dragneel x Fem!Reader ✧ Genre: Fluff, Romance, Humor ✧ Rating: T ✧ Summary: You asked Natsu to walk you to the guild hall, and what you got was an overprotective dragon slayer scaring everyone off. You didn't expect his actions to lead to a heartfelt confession, but maybe there’s more behind his behavior than you thought. ✧ Content/Tags: Overprotective Natsu, Fluff, Confession, Mutual Pining, Slight Embarrassment, Best Friends to Lovers, Guild Dynamics ✧ WC: 987 words // 5.5k chars

You were starting to regret asking Natsu to walk with you to the guild hall today.

What had started as a normal day had quickly turned into a public display of just how protective your best friend could be. The moment you two had stepped into the guild, Natsu had stuck to you like glue—literally hovering over your shoulder, making comments whenever anyone so much as glanced your way.

“Oi, Gajeel! What do you think you’re lookin’ at?” Natsu growled when the Iron Dragon Slayer walked by, offering you nothing more than a passing nod of acknowledgment.

“Relax, Flame Brain,” Gajeel grumbled, not even bothering to look back as he made his way to the bar. “Ain’t nobody interested in your girl.”

Your cheeks flamed at that. Your girl? Gajeel’s words stuck with you, even though you knew that wasn’t how Natsu saw you. At least, you thought he didn’t. He was just being… well, Natsu—fiercely protective over his friends. You knew that much about him.

Still, today felt different. Like maybe he was going a little overboard.

“U-Um, Natsu, it’s okay,” you whispered, trying to wave off his aggression with a nervous smile. “Gajeel wasn’t even—”

“Wasn’t what?” Natsu interrupted, turning to you with a serious expression. “He was lookin’ at you funny. You think I’m gonna let that slide?”

You sighed, feeling the familiar weight of eyes from across the guild hall. You could practically hear the others whispering amongst themselves, and it only made your face heat up more. Why was Natsu acting like this in front of everyone?

You loved him—liked him, you corrected yourself quickly—but this was just embarrassing. The last thing you needed was for the whole guild to think you were helpless and needed a dragon slayer to fight your battles for you.

“Lucy, help me out here,” you pleaded under your breath, shooting a desperate glance at the celestial mage sitting nearby. Lucy gave you a sympathetic smile, but she clearly wasn’t going to interfere. She probably thought it was cute.

Well, you didn’t.

“Oi, Gray, keep your shirt on and your eyes off her,” Natsu barked, his eyes flashing as Gray walked in your direction, hands in his pockets.

“I wasn’t even—” Gray began, but Natsu cut him off with a huff, stepping between the two of you.

“Yeah, well, you better not be,” Natsu snapped, crossing his arms over his chest.

You groaned, burying your face in your hands. “Natsu, please,” you whispered, “you’re embarrassing me.”

Natsu blinked at you, his sharp gaze softening slightly. “What? Why?”

“Because…” you trailed off, biting your lip. How were you supposed to explain that everyone was staring, that your crush on him was already making it hard to breathe, and now he was drawing even more attention to the both of you?

Natsu frowned, his expression genuinely confused. “I’m just lookin’ out for you, (Y/N). You know I don’t want anyone messin’ with you.”

“I know that,” you mumbled, staring at the floor. “But you don’t have to scare off everyone. They’re just our friends.”

He scratched his head, looking utterly clueless. “But I don’t want any of ‘em getting ideas. You’re too important to me for that.”

Your heart did a little flip at his words, and you glanced up at him, eyes wide. “I… I am?”

“‘Course you are,” Natsu said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. His gaze softened again, a warm grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Why else d’you think I’d be so protective? You’re… special.”

Your breath caught in your throat. There it was again—another hint that maybe he didn’t just see you as a friend. Maybe all this overprotectiveness wasn’t just about keeping you safe; maybe it was because he cared about you in a different way.

But you still weren’t sure, and the uncertainty gnawed at you. “Natsu,” you began cautiously, “are you being overprotective because… you like me?”

He stared at you for a moment, and you could almost see the gears turning in his head as he processed the question. Then, a slow, sheepish grin spread across his face. “I… yeah, I guess I am.”

Your heart skipped a beat. “R-Really?”

“Yeah,” he repeated, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “I didn’t realize it at first, but I think… I’ve always liked you, (Y/N). I just didn’t know how to say it.”

You blinked at him in disbelief. Natsu Dragneel, the guy you had been crushing on for ages, liked you back?

Before you could respond, Natsu took a step closer, his expression serious but warm. “I don’t want anyone else even thinkin’ about you that way, y’know? You’re mine.”

His words sent a shiver down your spine, and you felt your face heat up all over again. “I… I’ve liked you for a while too, Natsu,” you admitted shyly, your voice barely above a whisper.

Natsu’s eyes lit up, and his grin widened. “You do?”

You nodded, feeling a smile tug at your lips despite your embarrassment. “Yeah.”

Natsu’s expression softened, and before you could react, he wrapped his arms around you in a tight, warm hug, pulling you against his chest. “That’s awesome, (Y/N),” he murmured into your hair. “I’m so glad.”

You laughed softly, your heart swelling with happiness as you hugged him back. “Me too.”

“Guess that means we’re dating now, huh?” Natsu said, pulling back just enough to look you in the eyes, his grin as wide as ever.

You blushed, but nodded. “I guess it does.”

Natsu’s smile turned even softer, and he leaned in, pressing a quick, warm kiss to your forehead. “Good. ‘Cause I’m not letting anyone else get close to you from now on.”

You couldn’t help but laugh at that, feeling lighter than you had in days. “You’re still overprotective.”

“Damn right I am,” Natsu said proudly. “But now I’ve got a reason.”

[flwerie]

𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 . . . BOYFRIEND!NATSU !

BOYFRIEND!NATSU who’s protective of you, always keeping a watchful eye on you to ensure your safety. He's like a dragon guarding its treasure.

BOYFRIEND!NATSU who loves bringing you on spontaneous adventures or picnics as a date.

BOYFRIEND!NATSU who may act tough, but he's surprisingly very attentive to the smallest details. He remembers the way you light up around your friends or the way you pout when something isn’t going your way.

BOYFRIEND!NATSU who uses his flames to wraps you in a comforting, cozy fire blanket when the two of you are just relaxing together during the cold season.

BOYFRIEND!NATSU who despite his reckless nature in battles, becomes surprisingly gentle when he's helping you heal from injuries. He's there with a warm smile and encouraging words.

BOYFRIEND!NATSU who loves celebrating your achievements, either big or small. He's the first one to cheer you on and shower you with compliments and his enthusiasm is always contagious.

BOYFRIEND!NATSU who is a firm believer in the power of teamwork, and always includes you in his plans. You're his partner in crime, on and off the battlefield.

BOYFRIEND!NATSU who’s competitive spirit extends to playful challenges with you, whether it's arm-wrestling or a friendly sparring session. But in the end, he always makes sure it's all in good fun and that you feel appreciated.

This was my first work after months, I hope you liked it. <3

[kusaka6e]

PRIDE

boxer!natsu x gn!reader

modern au

sfw

———

“and down goes dragneel! the dragon king is really giving the salamander a run for his money, i’m surprised he’s still conscious!”

bastards

you wish the announcers could hear you from your position in natsu’s corner of the ring, choice words brewing in the back of your mind for them.

please just stay down

this is the longest ten seconds of my life

the referee gets to seven before natsu signals that he’s okay to continue, making your stomach lurch. it wasn’t that you didn’t believe in him or his skills. you knew he’d sooner die than lose the fight. it was how his physical state would hold up after that you were worried about.

you rub your palms on your pants as the round ends, your custom jacket with “dragneel” plastered across the back suddenly feeling entirely too warm.

natsu’s left eye was swollen almost completely shut, and if you looked hard enough you were sure his jaw was out of place.

“are you okay to keep going?” makarov scowled, holding natsu’s water up to his face and trying to grease his ever-swelling eye.

“i’m good!” he nods, taking a swig.

“i can call it, you’ve done more than en-” natsu gives makarov a fiery glare, making the older man cut his sentence short. in any other setting, the size difference between them would be absolutely comical.

he spits the water into a bucket held up to his face by another member of his team, staring makarov down.

“i’m fine!” you let out a sigh, a sick feeling sinking in about how the next few rounds would go.

and somehow, miraculously, the announcers are holding up natsu’s fists and adorning him with a ridiculous sized championship belt, the arena roaring with praise for him. you had your camera-ready smile down to a science, but natsu knew you were upset.

you stayed in natsu’s locker room when a trainer came to see him, fighting the urge to scoff upon hearing he had another concussion, possible broken ribs, and probably needed a trip to the eye doctor to make sure he’d keep his sight in his left eye.

natsu had tenacity, nobody could deny that. that’s part of what made his name so popular in the boxing community so quickly. you’d been able to bear witness to him going from small matches in you two’s neighborhood boxing gym to selling out matches as the headlining fighter. you couldn’t be prouder. but you also couldn't be more worried. because for every ounce of tenacity natsu carried, he had just as much (if not more) recklessness to bring to the ring. his tunnel vision and hyperfocus on victory was his strength and very well could be his demise.

natsu’s father had been the one to teach him to fight. for unknown reasons, igneel never got into the big leagues, but he raised one hell of a prodigy.

so, you can see why natsu took igneel's sudden absence to heart. he wasn’t dead, or injured, or missing in action. just simply flew halfway across the world to start a new life with a woman half his age, completely abandoning his then-teenage son and training him. and no matter how well natsu did, how much he excelled or how many wins he had under his name, nothing ever made his father break his silence towards him.

makarov bringing natsu into his gym to continue his training was probably the best thing that ever happened to him. he saw natsu as one of his own, which is part of why he was so hard on him.

“you can’t keep doing this, natsu.”

“winning?”

“can you stop being a smartass for two minutes? you need to care for your body, not just train to swing hard. if you lose your sight in your left, then what?”

you suck in a breath, watching natsu’s non-injured eye narrow in annoyance.

“both of my fists will still work. i’ve fought plenty of times with a fucked up eye before.”

“you are insufferable.” makarov sighs, giving you a look that suggested you might have more luck than he did, closing the door behind him.

“love you too!” natsu shouts, grinning as he pulls a hoodie on his sweaty torso.

you two’s drive home is uncharacteristically quiet, natsu staring at you in anticipation. you’d snatched the keys out of his duffel before he could even think about insisting he could drive, knowing how casually he treated his concussions.

“why do you keep hurting yourself in your fights?” your voice is quiet and even-toned, staring at the brake lights ahead of you. traffic leaving the arena was nearly standstill, masses of cars surrounding you in every direction.

“it’s not like im punching myself in the face babe.”

you kiss your teeth in annoyance, refusing to look at him.

“you know that’s not what i mean.”

“why does everyone keep asking me that? this entire sport is based around beating the shit out of the other guy in the ring with you, i don’t see the problem.”

“the problem is you don’t know when to stop, natsu.”

“i stop when i win, that’s all that matters.” your grip on the steering wheel tightens, knuckles beginning to go white.

“what about you?”

he sighs heavily, cracking his knuckles.

“i’m fine, (y/n).”

“your fifth concussion in a year is fine, natsu? your broken ribs that are gonna make it hurt to breathe are fine? the possibility of you only being able to see out of one of your eyes, that’s fine to you?!” guilt washes over you when you watch him wince at your increase in volume, remembering that his concussion would make him sensitive to sound.

he opens his mouth, then closes it. he knows you’re right, and fighting with you is the last thing he wanted to do. soon enough, you pull into your driveway, thankful to get out of the car.

you park the car, yanking the keys from the ignition as he hastily follows you into you two’s home. you set the keys on a table by the front door, taking a breath.

“you can go to the eye doctor by yourself tomorrow.” his eyes widen, double taking to make sure he heard you right.

“what?!” it was an unspoken rule that you always came to his appointments with him. press conferences, interviews, photoshoots, his only request was that you were always right there.

“i’ll order the uber in the morning so you don’t have to dri-”

“why aren't you coming?”

“i’m not gonna listen to you try to fight the advice of another person who only wants the best for your health. justifying it with winning isn’t enough.”

“my eye is fine, i’m really not hurt that bad.”

“yes you are! i’m listening to you wheeze every time you inhale, don’t try to give me that bullshit. you’re either going to start taking care of yourself or i’m done. i’m not gonna sit around and watch you destroy yourself over a title.”

his eyes darken with anger, staring you down.

“yea? what happened to you being proud of me for fighting through all that shit? for being an underdog, for making a name for myself?”

“none of that is worth your well being, natsu! if you never winning a match again means you’re not going to get permanent brain damage from all these concussions, on top of partial blindness, so fucking be it! i care more about you than i do some stupid shiny belt.” you spit.

“that belt is worth everything to me, why don’t you get that?”

“why do you always act like you have something to prove?!”

“because i do!” him raising his voice rattles the entire house, regret rising in his chest at the sharp pain that shows up behind his temples and watching you jump in surprise.

“i do have something to prove.” his voice cracks when he repeats himself, much weaker than the first time.

you finally look at him, raising an eyebrow for him to continue.

“i have to prove that him leaving wasn’t my fault. eventually, he has to see how good i’m doing and say something about it.”

your chest pangs as you watch him wipe away a tear before it can fall, his usual massive stature suddenly looking so small and fragile in you two’s foyer, light from the moon illuminating behind him.

there’s tense silence for a few moments, but you know you can’t keep it up.

“baby…” you cautiously reach an arm around him, gasping when he throws himself into you, failing at trying to hide his crying.

“i-i’m sorry, i’ll be more careful. i just wanted to make everyone proud, to prove that i deserve to be here. i’ll go get my eye looked at, and i won’t fight when i get hurt like this anymore, just please don’t leave me too, i can’t-” the rest of his sentence is cut off with a choked sob, making you gently shush him as you move one hand to play with his hair.

“i’m right here, it’s okay.” you give him a few minutes to let everything out, cradling his tear-stained face in your hands and giving him a reassuring smile.

“i’m so proud of you. and so is anyone else who’s in your corner. anyone who’s not doesn’t deserve the honor in the first place.” he nods, sniffling quietly.

“i’m sorry.” he whispers, unable to meet your eyes.

it was easy to forget that natsu was sensitive under his goofy and nonchalant exterior, especially seeing him in action. you press a quick kiss to his lips, finally getting a small smile out of him.

“we should probably go shower and go to bed, yea? we’ve gotta be on time for that appointment tomorrow.”

his face lights up like a kid on christmas, taking your hand in his and tugging you upstairs to you two’s room.

“i’m sorry i’m a pain in the ass-” he kisses your nose, interrupting his statement “-i love you-” another on both your cheeks, “-so much.” he finishes with kissing your lips, lingering there for a few moments. you playfully roll your eyes, snuggling up to him so you can fall asleep.

“i love you and your stubborn ass more.”

[delirious-donnaarchived]

A Knight's First Kiss [Natsu Dragneel]

an: this request has been sitting in my pile for literally months, I feel so bad about how much I fell behind with them but the creative inspiration was pulling me in other directions. Who can resist Natsu as a knight in shining armour?

pairing: Natsu Dragneel x female reader

warnings: SFW, fluff, suggestive behaviour, cute adorable interactions, knight AU, Natsu is simply delicious, first kiss, mentions of arranged marriages

Masterlist

The comforting weight of darkness awaited your slowly flickering eyes. Black velvet blanketed your room, all except for the dying embers from your fireplace. The candles had long been snuffed out and the absolute stillness of the hour was peaceful and calm.

Rolling to your side, the stiff fabric of your many bedsheets rustled softly. It sounded thunderous given how quiet everything had been until you had dared to disturb it, and you winced by way of apology. Your eyes were slowly adjusting to the darkness, able to more clearly outline the pieces of furniture within your chambers.

A faint snoring sound ripped your gaze away from the bureau you had been looking at, swinging to the left and finding the slouched form of your personal guard. He was half hanging out of the chair he occupied, his frame far too large to be comfortable and yet he was most definitely fast asleep.

The dim embers cast a soft glow over his sleeping features; the pink of his hair appeared darker than was normal and the dying light clinging to his sharp jawline and whiskered cheeks. You giggled, pulling the covers up to your chin as you continued your vigil.

Natsu Dragneel had been your personal guard for the last two years, but your friendship had been far longer than that. Before he had been promoted to watch over your security, he had been a lowly ranking knight serving your family’s kingdom and even before that, your respective mothers had been dear friends. To say that you had been close since you were both in diapers was completely true, and although you belonged to different worlds, that had never held either of you back.

The son of your mother’s seamstress turned loyal confidant, he was an ever-present person in your life, and you would have it no other way. You well remembered his mischievous smile, how it would decorate his entire face and could blind even the most strait-laced within the household.

His energy appeared boundless; his small fingers interlinked with your own as he tugged you along on his latest adventure. There were always part of the castle and surrounding buildings to be explored; to weave your fairy tales from the abandoned bits and bobs you unearthed, and studiously avoid your duties as such naughty children in the process.

Now, you were both twenty and the idea of settling down to ensure the future of the kingdom was being spoken about far more frequently. It was considered a given that you would marry someone approved by your parents, likely a political or strategic manoeuvre to gain more favourable alliances with the surrounding territories but the mere idea turned your stomach.

Your mother reminded you constantly that her marriage to your father had been an arranged one and it had ended up in true love. Your parents were adorably sweet when together, the love obvious to all but that was a once-in-a-blue-moon outcome. There was no way of knowing if you would be as lucky, for all you knew, the man selected to be your husband could be a violent brut masquerading as a proper gentleman.

Shuddering, you forced those terrifying thoughts away, choosing instead to refocus on your sleeping guard. You were unsure on how many nights he would slip into your chambers simply for his own peace of mind, often waking with the dawn chorus to find him asleep in the chair or slumped on the floor from falling out of said chair.

Natsu was your fierce protector; he took his job extremely seriously and it was the only time that you witnessed the more mature side of his character. His eyes were ever vigilant, obsidian depths scanning from left to right to identify dangers in any form. His jaw set with determination as he always strode only two steps behind you. An expansive, battle-hardened hand resting on your elbow if he wished for you to pause in your strolling. Bending to speak in your ear discreetly, questioning you about the identity of someone he did not recognise the face of and constantly checking on your state of health and wellbeing.

You smiled at him, feeling that familiar fluttering in both your stomach and chest. It started out gentle, the first flapping wings of newly hatched butterflies, but soon it was a cacophony of hummingbird wings that beat wildly in your chest. It wasn’t the first time this had happened, and you reminisced over the events that led to these feelings being born into the world.

~

It had been a miserable winter’s day.

The rain had lashed the castle in endless sheets so forceful that shook the well-fortified walls. You had been beyond bored; your book lay discarded at your feet, your latest embroidery left untouched by the fireplace and the chess set showing a game that was not near finished. Natsu leaned against your arm, his head almost nuzzling at you like an affection-seeking cat as he sat on the cold stone floor.

His armour had been removed hours ago when it was evident that you would not be venturing out this day. He sat in his plain inner clothes; the brown trousers tight against his strong thighs and the white tunic unlaced at the cuffs and neck.

“I’m bored,” you drawled to him.

“I’ve noticed,” was his only response, along with the cheeky grin on his face.

You pushed him away in jest, not truly annoyed by his snide remark. He pouted, his bottom lip jutting out and wobbling for added effect, which only served in making you laugh at his clowning.

An idea hit you squarely between the eyes, why not relive those precious childhood memories with a favourite game from your shared past?

“I know, why don’t we play chase, like we used to do when we were tots?” you asked, rising to stand before he could answer. He was sure to oblige, he rarely refused you anything unless he deemed it to be unsafe.

Yet when you looked at him, still seated and unmoving on the floor, hesitancy was prominent in his inky black eyes. You caught your lower lip between your teeth, worrying the plump flesh as concern welled up.

“You don’t want to?”

“It’s not that, y/n. Is… I mean, would it be proper?”

He looked at you sheepishly, finally rising to his feet where he towered over your diminutive figure.

At the time, you had not understood his meaning, but you would come to learn it soon enough…

“You’re being overly cautious Sir Dragneel,” you crooned, teasing him with his official title and rolling it exaggeratedly off your tongue.

His answer was a growl, low and ominous. His smile was back yet it was tilted to one side, and this was no mischief that shone through, this was wickedness, pure and simple.

You squeaked, eyes widened as you only just had time to gather your skirts and make a dash for the door before he was lunging for you. Your pink-headed predator meant business as he crashed after you, ripping squeals from your throat as you tore along the corridors you knew like the back of your hand.

The problem was that he too knew these halls well, and when you turned to see how far behind he was, only to discover the hallway deserted, you should have panicked rather than rejoiced. Your footfalls became whisper quiet as you tiptoed down the silent walkway, eyes shifting constantly for a sight of Natsu.

You truly were prey; your predator stalked the hidden passages that he had traversed as a child until he reached the place he was aiming for. Instead of grabbing for you silently, he gave out a battle cry that made you jump and run in the direction he had intended.

A dead end.

You were trapped, a timid mouse cowering in the corner as he loomed over you. More than a foot taller in height with a wide, well-muscled torso, he caged you in with ease.

“Looks like I’ve caught myself a princess,” he growled.

His mouth was so close to your ear that shivers broke out along your skin. Warm breath tickled in an almost delicious way. Your heart rate, already racing, increased tenfold as you dared to peer up into his face. Never had you seen him look so raw, even when he practised in the yard with his fellow knights, there was not this aura radiating from him.

He was beast incarnate, crowding you further into the stonework behind your back. You were barely aware that your chest was heaving, each breath forcing you to press up against his own chest and you did what came instinctually.

Your fingers clutched into the shoulders of his tunic, the muscles shifted beneath your grip and his lips parted slowly. A wet, pink tongue graced his lips, wetting them with deliberate intent. His eyes met your own, the colour of starless skies glazed over as his face inched close enough that his nose rubbed along yours.

Could he feel it too – this strange, unfamiliar sensation that swirled in the pit of your stomach?

“Natsu…”

Your voice was whisper quiet, a plea but for what, you didn’t know. His hand moved to hold onto your waist, large enough to curl around almost half your torso. He made you feel even smaller than you were, but his grip was gentle, reverential.

What might have happened if you hadn’t heard the approaching footsteps, you weren’t sure. Perhaps you might have kissed, your first kiss and with your loyal guard – how shocking. The pair of you had jumped apart as if shocked by lightning. Your cheeks burned with embarrassment and when you finally had the courage to look at Natsu, his ears were aflame.

It had taken some time for the uncomfortable atmosphere to dissipate.

There were more stretches of silence than there were of chatter or laughter. Natsu was more formal in his interactions for many days following, and his gaze pointedly hid from your own. You had known that he was annoyed with himself, for letting his emotions get out of hand and it prickled at your heart.

Would it really have been so bad?

~

Now as you lay here gazing at him, the revelation unfolded much like a blooming flower.

Emotions along with memories fought against each other for priority; Natsu wiping away your tears when you tripped and fell, skinning both your knees in the process. The pink-haired teenager teaching you how to hold a sword along with insisting you learn some amount of self-defence. Interjecting whenever he sensed your stress, but never overstepping the mark. Talking to you openly about his hopes for the future, the wife and children he wished for. Natsu teasing you without fear of reprimand, you were friends more than you were princess and guard.

Natsu was your friend.

He was your best friend.

Your favourite person in the entire world.

Tears sprang to your eyes, slowly trickling towards your pillow as love unfurled fully. It had taken root many years prior, twisting into the depths of your heart and spreading to cover every inch of the beating organ. It belonged to him, and no one else would ever be able to claim it.

He shuffled in his sleep, his brow creasing as if he could sense your emotions even whilst in slumber. You couldn’t bear it any longer. Without further thought for what this might mean, what you could break beyond repair if the feelings were not returned, you slipped from the bed and padded towards him.

Each patter of your bare feet against the frozen flagstones sounded like the tolling bells of a church spire. You walked towards the crossroads and eyed both directions before you chose your path. Lifting the hem of your lavender nightgown, you crawled into his empty lap.

~

He came awake instantly; his spine straightened and his hands moved as if to raise them in defence. Natsu stilled as he realised what was happening. Sweetness invaded his nose, soft curves pressed against his steel-cut torso and silky hair rubbed against his chin.

Was he still dreaming?

Quiet sobs made him frown, his frozen limbs draining of their tension as he wound his arms around your side, clutching you to him as if you were his anchor in a stormy sea. Concern laced his sleep-heavy voice, “what’s wrong my princess, nightmares?”

You shook your head, burying your face further into the crook of his neck. He could feel your dainty little fingers clutching him just as tightly as he clutched you. Two souls adrift in an ocean of emotions. He had an inkling of what might be going through your mind, he would be lying if he hadn’t harboured similar thoughts of late.

You were his precious princess, and not because of any sense of duty he had to you or your family or kingdom. You were perfect in his eyes, even when you argued with him. No matter how many times he scolded you for daring to leave his sight unattended. Your pouting face was adorable. Those sharp, observant eyes were beautiful. Your plump little lips that formed a perfect cupid’s bow were exquisite.

Natsu had fought tooth and nail to rid himself of the majority of his impulsive behaviours in order to rise through the ranks and secure this position. He had been driven by the need to stand by your side and fight for your safety and honour.

Could he sweep it all away by sullying you?

It was excruciating to swallow past the lump in his throat, it felt as if he swallowed shards of glass as he fought once more to speak.

“Y/n, talk to me.”

Your glassy tear-filled eyes lifted, the room was dark but he could easily see you. Light always seemed to radiate from your presence and he wiped away a tear with his thumb, smiling fondly at the wobbly lips that trembled with the swell of your emotion.

“I – I just realised something, and it’s going to change everything,” you whispered to him as if you were afraid by voicing it aloud you would shatter the comfort of his embrace.

One hand held you by the hip, securing your side on position on his lap whilst the other lifted to stroke your silken strands. His head cocked to the side, urging you to continue with a gentle hum that he was listening carefully.

“I don’t want my future husband dictated to me. I want to marry for love and not for what the marriage could bring to the kingdom. I refuse to be bound by traditions that are outdated and barbaric.”

Natsu chuckled as he listened to your speech, amused by how your timid voice had risen as fire ignited in the depths of your soul. You would do it, he knew it to be true. You were never to be denied what you wanted, and this was no different.

“Admirable. Whoever you…” he paused, trying not to give himself false hope by assuming you meant him, “whoever you give your heart to is the luckiest man to walk this land.”

Your body trembled in his tight embrace, the embers of the fireplace should have long died but they remained as a soft glow as if they wished to see the outcome of this conversation. Warmth cascaded his cheek as you cupped it so tenderly.

“My heart already belongs to someone,” you breathed softly.

He barely dared to breathe as your face inched towards him, warm skin met his own as your noses rubbed gently. Natsu watched as your glistening lips neared the corner of his mouth.

“Oh?” he murmured, hoping that his heart would not beat out of his chest from how frantically it pounded against his ribcage.

You nodded and he felt the action as your skin danced across his.

“It belongs to you, Sir Dragneel.”

His soul soared like a majestic songbird and the vines that wrapped around his heart clenched as if to say ‘told you so’. This was the point of no return, Natsu knew that if he kissed you, there would no battle he would not fight to keep you. He would face every trial, every hardship and he would be victorious. He was a knight and not meant for marrying the princess but he would be forever yours if you took this step.

“My heart belongs to you, my sweet princess, it always has. But I am a knight, I could sully your reputation if I do not find the courage to hold myself back,” he admitted through gritted teeth. It pained him to say this, but it was true and you needed to know.

“No one can sully me without my consent.”

He was broken by your assured words, by the soft smile you gifted him and the gentle pressure of your forehead pressed against his. His eyelids fluttered shut, the last sight was that of you mirroring his action, long lashes fanning against your cheeks.

Warm breath tickled his skin and he wet his lips in anticipation of the union to come. The second your lips connected it felt like you found your home in each other. It was as soft as the petals of a rose in full bloom, with gentle movements that were sweet and tender. Innocent and honest.

Natsu sank backwards into the chair, bringing you with him. A shared first kiss, a kiss of many more to come. Your fingers curled around his neck, daring to play with the strands of his hair as you explored this new experience together. It wasn’t perfect but it was real.

Longing sparked in your twinned hearts, and at long last, you had to part for much-needed air. Natsu’s eyes sparkled with the burning fires of a million stars, and the languid smile that stretched upon his face was utterly joyous to witness. He chuckled to himself before speaking out loudly;

“Looks like I really have caught myself a princess.”

[hellisoursalvation]

The funniest thing is the high school AUs where Natsu is a playboy.

Man isn’t a playboy, he’s that class clown in the back of class that has undiagnosed ADHD and was the type of kid in middle school to stuff all of his food in his milk carton and drink it for 15 bucks.

He’s that dude who once cut his ass open while hopping his neighbors fence while escaping the police cause he accidentally lit a trash can on fire.

He’s the dude that is friends with every girl in school cause he’s just that sweet and the designated “big brother”.

Natsu carries kids books to class, or helps them reach stuff on the top shelf, or sneaks into the concession stand to get some pops for some freshmen in his study hall.

Not a playboy, just a homie.

[genesisrose74]

Ship Shenanigans

A/n: ohmygosh I’m so sorry about not being super active for a while!! School kinda sucks butt at the moment and I got smacked with a bit of writers block at the same time, but I promise that I’m on track and almost ready to post some of the requests I’ve been working on. I can’t promise my upload schedule will be as consistent, but I’m going to do my best to make sure I’m still putting out stuff, because I really love doing this and am so glad you’re reading what I write! Here’s a little Fairy Tail Natsu oneshot that I’ve had in my drafts to maybe hold you over. Hope you like it!

Pairing: Natsu Dragneel x Reader

Words: 1530

*******

Sitting in a chair on the boat deck, you fanned yourself with your hand. Strands of drenched hair stuck to your forehead, and you already started to regret not bringing any sort of shade on the vessel.

Why did Master Marakov make you come on the boat with the S Trial contestants again?

The rest of your fellow S-Class mages were already on the island, so why were you stuck on this stupid ship? Gramps said something about helping him control this year’s contenders on their journey to the guild’s island, but half of them were either dying of heat or of motion sickness anyways, leaving you unnecessary and miserable.

“Humidity sucks,” you complained, laying your head on your arms to stare out at the ocean.

“Not for Juvia, it doesn’t,” Cana stated, pointing to said water mage staring in awe at-

“GRAY! I DID NOT NEED TO SEE THAT!” you shrieked, shielding your eyes and turning away from the ice mage’s naked figure.

“It’s so hot…” the male groaned from the opposite end of the boat.

“Thanks, Captain Obvious,” glowered a nauseous Gajeel, head hanging off the side of the ship. Near to your sitting place, another Dragon Slayer seemed to have it just as bad, if not even worse.

“You think Wendy would use that Troia spell on me this time around?” Natsu groggily questioned aloud.

With his tousled salmon hair and permanent pout on his face, Natsu would have looked incredibly cute - if not for the excessive amount of times he had leaned over the boat to hurl. Everyone was very much aware of the boy’s hatred of vehicular transportation, especially yourself. Being one of his closest friends caused you to be quite knowledgeable of his motion sickness when you would go on jobs together. It had been a while since you’d seen it up close, though, since you were out working by yourself for a few months.

“She’s technically your enemy, though,” a lounging Loke pointed out to Natsu, referring to the trials about to take place.

“Sorry Natsu,” Wendy agreed sadly. “Hang in there.”

“That’s – okay,” the Fire Dragon Slayer gagged.

A pang of guilt shot through you at the poor boy’s state. Would it be wrong of you to try to comfort him, seeing as he was a trial contender?

When Natsu whined out with one of the most adorably pitiful noises you’d ever heard, you decided that you might as well offer him some company. The trial hadn’t started yet, after all.

“Hey, Natsu,” you spoke up, trying not to make any jolting movements that might shift the boat around more. He stared up at your concerned face with a pained expression.

Natsu drew out your nickname with a tone pleading for help. “Please help me out here.”

A fiery blush arose on your face. The Dragon Slayer knew that you always melted for him when he used that old name. Damn him for knowing that weakness.

“How do I do that?” you asked, slowly sitting down behind Natsu’s head. He was taking up the whole edge on one side of the ship, and you didn’t want to block the middle deck.

“I don’t know,” he whimpered.

“Well,” an idea came to mind as you spoke, “a woman I encountered during my last quest did something when I was dazed, but I’m not sure if it will work for you.”

“Try it, please, literally anything to get me out of this hell.”

You shifted forward from where you sat and gingerly lifted Natsu’s head into your lap. He stared up at your face with curiosity in his onyx eyes, and you gestured for his hands, which he lifted up in compliance.

You placed your index, middle, and ring finger of your right hand on the inside of one of his wrists and applied light pressure for about five seconds, switching over to his other hand before looking down at the pink haired mage for a response.

“Did it work at all?” you inquired softly.

“Yeah, actually. It’s not as bad now,” he sighed, body relaxing slightly.

“Good. I think you can try focusing on a fixed point somewhere on the horizon, or you could try closing your eyes if that helps instead.”

Natsu’s eyes fluttered closed and you couldn’t hold back your smile. There was that cute face, his relaxed features and easier breaths softening his expression.

“Why does the flame baby get special treatment when I’m over here dying?” Gajeel cried as he hung over the boat’s edge.

“I thought you said you didn’t have motion sickness, Gajeel,” you recalled. “If you do, though, just tell me and I can certainly help you out as well.”

The Iron Dragon Slayer grouched. “Nevermind.”

You sat on the deck and continued to hold Natsu’s head, occasionally repeating the same routine of applying pressure to his wrists whenever he started to tense up in discomfort. After some time of just listening to the gentle waves of the ocean, he opened one of his eyes to gaze up at you.

“Thanks for the help,” he offered a small grin, sharp canines just barely poking out.

You smiled back, gently patting the boy’s head. “It’s no problem.”

The pink strands of hair under your fingers were undeniably soft, just how they always looked to you - even in the most action packed of situations. Without really thinking of it, your hands started to weave gently through Natsu’s hair. The Dragon Slayer opened both his eyes at this point, surprised at your actions, but he was basically purring when you started to scratch gently at his scalp.

“Jeez, you’re really good at that,” he hummed, bringing on a warmth in your body that stood completely unrelated to the day’s humidity.

“You think so?”

“Heck yes; I want your hands in my hair for the rest of eternity.”

Your movements stilled for a moment, wanting to engrain that sentence in your mind as quickly as humanly possible. It would be a flat out lie if you said that you weren’t attracted to Natsu, so his words poked at your stomach and prompted it to flutter in all sorts of ways. The oblivious idiot didn’t appear to notice your embarrassingly flustered state, though, simply nuzzling his head further into your lap.

And honestly, that was completely okay with you at the moment.

“Did you happen to bring any mints?” Natsu inquired as you continued playing with his hair. It was pretty common of you to bring along some when you went on jobs with the Dragon Slayer, just to help freshen his breath if he got sick - which was quite often. You rummaged around in the bag that was slung across your shoulders with one hand, checking to see if you had left any in there before leaving the guild. Your hand brushed against a small metal container, pulling it out triumphantly. “You’re in luck, flame brain.”

Natsu sat up slowly to take a mint from you, popping it into his mouth as you ruffled his hair fondly. “Better?”

He nodded a bit. “Yeah, but I think I need one more thing.”

“I don’t know if I’ll have anything to help, but what would that thing be?”

Suddenly, Natsu looked over to the other side of the ship and pointed out into the ocean, catching everyone’s attention.

“Hey, is that Tenrou Island right there?” he called out, which caused everyone to shift over to search the horizon. You also turned your head in the direction to which he gestured, but didn’t make any movement to stand.

“I can’t even see anything, are you sure-?”

Before you could finish your sentence, Natsu had pressed a soft kiss to your cheek and instantly shut you up. You brought your face back to him, who shamelessly grinned at your shocked expression. “Now I’m good to go,” he quipped.

You just stared at him for a moment, completely unsure of what just happened, but as soon as you recovered you instantly grabbed him by his scarf and crashed your lips together. The unusual taste of mint mixed with a scent like smoky firewood was oddly intoxicating as the Fire Dragon Slayer kissed you back with a feverish intensity.

The moment was quickly gone after you urgently pushed him away, noticing Lucy turning back around with a slight frown pulling at her lips.

“Natsu, there’s absolutely nothing over there,” she whined, throwing her hands up in tired aggravation. “You gave me hope that we’d finally be able to get off this thing.”

“Oh my bad, I thought for sure I saw something,” he shrugged nonchalantly, laying back down and settling easily into your lap once more. The smug glint dancing across his eyes made your nerves go haywire, but you didn’t move a muscle until everyone’s attention returned to the unbearable heat radiating onto the ocean’s surface.

“Just because that just happened,” you murmured softly under your breath, “it doesn’t mean I’m going easy on you if I see you on Tenrou.”

He simply flashed a kiddish grin in response. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

[junevnti]

natsu dragneel

fairy tail

Sick

you groaned as you weakly lift your arm, trying to whack the headache out of your head. "don't burn down the house." you weakly warned to the particular pink-haired male who gave you a confident grin.

"i'll make you the best soup you've ever had!!" he exclaimed, not answering her previous warning. it was unfortunate that wendy had just gone out for an quest. "oh my mavis, where is lucy?" you muttered in anguish.

"happy said he could cook, oh i wish that's true." you coughed, snuggling further into your comfy covers. 'where is happy anyways?' before you could dwell any further into the absence of an talking cat, another wave of headache came.

"ugh, don't think, don't think." you mumbled to yourself, taking a deep breath hoping it would ease the pain. you shut your eyes, with intentions of sleeping before another wave of pain would come over. however, you weren't given the luxury of choosing.

natsu came back with your metal tray, on top was an decent-looking soup emitting an nice scent. your annoyed glare was replaced with an look of surprise, but like they always say, 'don't judge a book by it's cover'. you rose up from your previously laying position and leaned back onto your headboard.

natsu sat on your bed with a large grin, "i'll feed you!" scooping a large scoop of soup onto the wooden spoon. 'if i'm going to die, please tell happy that he has bad tastebuds' you reach for the spoon wanting to feed yourself but natsu moved it away.

"nope. i'm feeding you today!"

"natsu, what 'today'? you feed me every single time you get ahold of my food-"

natsu refuses to let you feed yourself and continued his attempts to feed you the hot soup, you sighed. you had no energy to argue with an child right now, you opened your mouth and allowed him to feed you. completely forgetting that it was just recently made.

you choked, painfully swallowing down the substance before fanning your burned tongue. "w-water!" you managed to get out, natsu immediately rushed to get you water. quickly snatching it from his grasp you gulp it down. you slump down, heaving a content sigh.

"did'ya like it?!"

as if you did not just burned your tongue, you wanted to snap back because you were extra emotional today, was it the sickness? perhaps. but could you possibly snap at the excited baby looking at you with sparkly eyes? no. you bit back down your words.

"let me try again." it wasn't that bad actually, you couldn't really taste it because you were too busy thinking about your burned tongue. you swallowed it down, "it's decent. congrats! I guess happy wasn't lying when he said you could cook." you ruffled his hair, feeling your mood getting better.

in a few minutes, the bowl was wiped clean and natsu invited himself under your covers. his sturdy arms wrapped around your sick body. "you're going to get sick." you mumbled, scratching his head. you could've sworn you heard him purr. "I don't get sick easily." his words muffled by the fabric of your clothes.

"that's true. well I don't mind this either." giving him a kiss on his head. natsu lifted his head, shuffling around to change your position. he cup your face and showered your face with kisses. saving the lips for the last. "you're so gentle today I think I'm dreaming." you laughed, burrowing your head in his chest.

"wait I just realised, where's my medicine?"

"oh right! medicine!"