What's up everyone! Tati here and welcome to the next chapter! I warn you, this one has attempted sexual assult (a warning if it's some sort of trigger for anyone of you).

Chapter II

The sounds of happy merriment rang throughout the bar. Songs were sung at every table. The older men from my village were happily drunk and trying to grab the long-haired waitress. My team was joining in the relaxation, taking a well deserved break from being look-outs for most of the day.

Erza was sitting between Gray and a blue-haired man with a red tattoo over one of his eyes. The blue-haired man I knew to be Jellal, someone who has worked with my team before and often partners up with Erza…A lot. Jellal had feelings for Erza, it was obvious to everyone who saw the way he looked at her. It was obvious, except to the maiden in question. As Jellal was talking to the others at their table, Erza was concentrating on her cake in front of her.

Gray was tinkering with the scopes of a couple of my rifles…and doing so in his boxers…Only in his boxers. It was a strange habit of his, stripping off his clothes at any given moment. Especially during fights with Natsu or on hunts since he eased into the team four months ago. How does he find the time to actually wake off his clothes and finding them quickly is unknown to me. But, at least it gives him attention from the opposite sex. Currently, he was surrounded by a group of drooling girls. He pays no mind to most of them, only focusing on a task at hand like Erza and her cake. But, there was one girl that he goes out of the way to tell her to leave him alone. Gray says it's 'cause she' so clingy, the rest of the teams thinks that he has a thing for bluenettes behind pillars.

Natsu was in the middle of the bar surrounded by woman. Girls from all over Sector Unknown knew who Natsu Dragneel was. An excellent fight and defender for his village. More than qualified to become the leader of a village. A good husband candidate (being 20 and all), especially being the son of the Head Swordsman. Girls, warriors or not, always flock around him, especially if his blonde-haired partner wasn't beside him.

He didn't really pay much attention to them, sometimes he looked annoyed to some extent. On those days, once Natsu locked eyes with mine he'd immediately join my side. But, he was too occupied by another waitress holding a tray of his favourite, spicy chicken.

I huffed out a breath, apparently loud enough to be heard and to bring out a series of giggles behind me. Turning around, a taller version of the white-haired waitress talking to Natsu stood behind the bar holding an empty tray. Her long white hair was down other than her tied up bangs. Her sapphire eyes had a glint of mischief in them.

"Jealous Lucy?" she asked, playfulness evident in her voice.

I rolled my eyes before grabbing my book from the pocket of my jacket, scribbling something down and holding it at her eye-level.

It's not like that Mira.

Mirajane and her younger siblings, Elfman and Lisanna, run the bar and inn my village usually stay at when we're in town. Mira, as everyone calls her, used to be on her village's armada with her siblings until recently when Lisanna was badly injured on a hunting trip. All three of them started working for their family inn, with Elfman as the cook while Mira and Lisanna waitress.

"Ara, ara Lucy. Then why are you glaring daggers at my little sister and every girl with Natsu?"

I nearly spat out my drink. Mira was very observant being the eldest of three and knew how to get the answers she wanted from others. It shouldn't surprise me by now.

MIRA! I'm not glaring!

She giggled, "You're cute when you're denying your obvious jealousy and feelings Lucy."

I sighed before writing again.

I…I don't mean to glare at Lisanna. I know I shouldn't, since she's your sister and all. And it's Natsu's choice in the end.

Mira paused before pushing my hands down. "I know you don't but it's completely natural to feel jealousy, even if it's towards my little sister. You're with Natsu all the time, right? And sure, it's mainly because he has the need to keep you safe. But that's how your relationship with him is. I wouldn't be surprised if he felt the same way about you."

I sighed, I didn't have that right to be jealous of other girls around him. They gave him what I couldn't, connections through conversing and a peace of mind. I know it was difficult for the rest of the village to deal with a mute girl as their future leader. Imagine how hard it is to be the one looking after her. That's Natsu's job, babysitting the mute girl.

"And as her older sister, I want Lisanna to be happy over anything else. But…" Mira's voice trailed off as I followed her gaze, landing on a somewhat pushy white-haired waitress and a slightly irritated Natsu. "Lisanna and the other girls are fighting a losing battle against you Lucy. You have Natsu tied down to you, whether you meant to or not."

I didn't mean to have Natsu tied down, it never crossed my mind. But I know that he shouldn't be tied down, much less to mew. I…I didn't have the right. Especially when there were more suitable mates for him.

I looked back at Natsu who was desperately looking for a way out before locking eyes with me. He excused himself from Lisanna and walked away from her with a smile, making his way over to me. I watched as Lisanna's puppy dog look changed to an annoyed glare when her sapphire orbs landed on me before walking to other customers.

"Hey Luce, hi Mira," he said sliding into the stool next to me.

"Ah Natsu, we were just talking about you," Mira said, putting a glass of brown liquid in ice in front of him.

"I hope praising how awesome I am," Natsu said, picking up his glass and taking a sip from it. He flashed that childish grin of his. "Right Luce?"

I rolled my eyes, scribbling into my book before sliding it to him and taking another sip from my own drink.

If that helps you sleep at night, then fine by me Natsu.

I let a smirk slide on my face when Natsu erupted into protests. Mira leaned over the bar top to read my message and laughed.

"It's not funny Mira."

"Whatever you say Natsu." Mira's blue eyes wandered over the tables until she stopped and they widened. "Oh. My. God."

I raised an eyebrow, following her gaze. My eyes landed on a beat-red Erza and a smiling Jellal who had his hand intertwined with hers as he carried out a conversation with some others of our village. A sly grin formed on my lips.

"Even in the dark that our world is covered with, we can find the brightest of light," Mira said with a warm smile.

My sly grin turned warmer as Erza's fingers clasped on to Jellal's. I glanced over to Natsu, who continued to stare at Erza and Jellal's interaction. He turned around, glancing at me.

I only noticed then that I was staring. My eyes widened, knowing that he'll point it out. Instead, he grinned.

"Hey Luce, you wanna go-"

"Natsu!" a girl whined. I turned my head, only to be blocked by Lisanna leaning against the bar, between Natsu and I. "We weren't done talking."

I heard Natsu let out a huffy sigh as I watched Mira frowned at her younger sister.

"Lisanna, Lucy and Natsu were in the middle of something. It's rude to interrupt them," the older waitress scolded with a hand look.

"But Mira-nee! I was talking with Natsu first!"

"He excused himself, didn't he? Leave them be and go get the used mugs from tables."

"Mira-nee! But-"

"No buts Lisanna. Go-"

I waved my hand in front of Mira, cutting her off. I wrote in my book before standing up.

It's okay Mira, I have to go check up on patrols before it gets late.

Mira looked me questionably, "Your sure Lucy? It's awfully late for you to go outside right now."

"Then I'll go with her," Natsu said, standing up. "It'll be quick with the two of us Luce."

I shook my head before writing in my book.

No it's fine Natsu. I'll be quick enough to get back before anything happens.

I rummaged my hands in my pockets, finding two gold coins. Paper money was a luxury only used up north. Sectors used coins made of coloured metals as currency. I placed two gold coins on the counter next to my nearly empty drink.

I nodded to Mira and briskly walked passed Lisanna and Natsu, practically burning because of the younger sister's heated glare. Behind me I heard Natsu placing coins on the counter and catching up to me.

"Luce! Wait up!"

I turned my head, my blonde locks fanning around me. I gave Natsu a hard glare: Don't follow me!

The music stopped, everyone stared at us. It wasn't surprising, our 'fights' were always a spectacle, mainly because flailing arms were on my part and arson was on his. I began hearing murmurs from the girls in the bar.

"I can't believe he lets her be his partner."

"I know, what does he see in that mute girl?"

"How can she be a Head if she's like that to her partner?"

Their words weren't anything new either. It happens a lot when we're in neighbouring village.

"Luce…"

I walked towards the door. Noticing Erza and Gray stand up from their table, I raised my hand: I'm fine, wait here. With that, I left the bar.

Once I left the warmth of the bar, I was met with the chilly late autumn air. The sky was black with brown clouds covering the stars and crescent moon. Most of the homes lining the road were dark, with few exceptions that had flickering on the windowsills. Other inns were loud as muffled music and laughter leaked from the wooden doors.

The streets were quiet. That is, as quiet as it can be with the groans of the drunks and addicts in the alleyways. The people who live in complete poverty, well worse off than most Sectors, and ruin their lives with bad drugs. They cause other Sectors problems, assaults, robbery, rape. They cause the most crimes in Sector Unknown.

They wouldn't touch someone from an armada and anyone visible armed. But, like in any slum, there are those who are desperate and would do anything for their problem.

Like the man behind me. I smelled the heavy piercing scent of alcohol in his breath and the pure rancid smell of sweat mixed with drugs. His breathing was unsteady, a heavy user. Probably wanting to rob me of my guns to sell.

I picked up my pace. The entrance gates were five minutes away, if I got there the man would back off. But, I didn't know if he was armed…Or even alone.

"Hey Puureetty Laaadeey!" His words were slurred, extremely drunk or extremely high. I ignored him and kept walking. "Oi! Gurlie, didn't ya hear meh?!"

Huffing out a break, I stopped in my tracks. I pulled out my gun and turned on my heels, aiming the barrel of my pistol at his neck. He held up his hands in mercy. I narrowed my eyes.

"N-Now now, Lil' Lady. No need to get aggressive with this poor soul." I tilted my head as if he was testing my patience. "Y-You're part of the armada, yes?" You wouldn't never place a bullet in me.

I cocked the gun, loading a bullet in the chamber.

"Playing around are we?" The man's eyes darkened and looked behind me, nodding his head slowly.

My eyes widened when I noticed the scent of another man behind me. I turned around, finding a large man behind me, he had the near exact same scent as the other man unbeknownst to me, I tried to point my gun at him before he grabbed me, but he knocked my gun from my grasp, dropping it to the ground, and slipped his meaty arms under mine, restraining my movements.

"Now, let's have some fun." The man holding me dragged me to a dark alley as I tried to kick him with flailing legs.

I was pinned to the wall with my hands above my head. A hand was on my mouth, irrelevant as I was mute and wouldn't scream. I watched the disgusting smiles of these creeps fill my vision. I twitched as I felt a hand running along my leg and stomach.

One of the men leaned in to my ear. "With a body like that, you must play nice, eh?"

I felt my breathing sharpen as I felt fingers graze my chest. I let out a whimper and I heard a dark chuckle from one of them. I clenched my hands into fists and my eyes shut.

"You like that? There's more coming y-"

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" A deadly calm voice dripping with venom came from the alley's entrance. I looked and saw Natsu with his blade drawn, resting across his shoulders.

Natsu!

His onyx eyes locked with mine for a moment before walking into the alley. He switched his gaze from me to the men, for a moment I saw fire in those onyx orbs of his.

Natsu moved his sword from his shoulders to his side. "I'd let her go if I were you. Especially now that you pissed me off."

One of my captures laughed. "And what happens when yo-"

In two seconds, Natsu's fast feet reached the man. His eyes were dark and his jaw was set. "Didn't I fucking tell you to take your fucking hands off her?!"

Natsu grabbed the hand from my mouth, knocking the man unconscious to the ground with the hilt of his sword. Thee other man, holding my hands, let go of me and lunged at my partner. Natsu ran past the man, elbowing him in the back and swinging a kick to his hip, knocking him into the wall. Before the man could get up, Natsu pinned his head to the rough brick. He was probably holding hard him against the wall as he man's blood ran down the stone and gleamed in the torch light.

"And that's what happens when you piss me off." Natsu grabbed the back of the man's shirt and pushed him out the alley. "Get the fuck out of here!"

The man's face flinched with fear at Natsu's booming voice and ran out of the alleyway, where Erza and Gray showed up.

"Lucy!" Erza yelled.

I waved my hand and flashed a small smile: I'm fine.

"I got her," Natsu said walking in front of me and sheathing his sword. "You two check patrol and I'll take Luce back to the inn."

"You sure?" Gray asked.

"Yeah, I got it."

The two nodded ad they headed towards the entrance gates. Natsu sighed and ran a hand through his spiky pink locks. He turned around, crossing his arms over his chest. His eyes held the reprimanding look he always gives him.

"And this is why you shouldn't go out in a big village like this alone at night Luce."

I lowered my gaze to the ground, nodding my head slowly and making my hair fall in front of my face. I felt tears beginning to well in my eyes and sniffed.

I heard Natsu take a few steps to stand in front of me. He placed a hand on my shoulder and his other on my face, lifting it up to face him.

My brown eyes were probably glossy as I was on the verge of tears. Natsu stared into my eyes, knowing what I was trying to convey through my silence: I'm sorry.

Natsu brought my head under his, resting his chin on me. His hand on my face went to the back of my head as his other slipped to my back.

"I know Luce, I'm sorry too."

I shook my head under his chin and slipped my arms around his torso: You shouldn't be.

"I'm suppose to protect you Luce, ever since you ran out to the middle of that field." He pulled away, grabbing my hand and leading me out of the alleyway. "Let's go back and get some of Mira's chicken."

I let out a smile at Natsu before stopping to pick up my fallen gun.

"Oh," Natsu said as he dragged me behind him to Mira's. "Mira told me what you guys were talking about before you left."

I let out a mangled sound that was a cross of a choke and a gag, surprising Natsu…And myself to nearly drop my loaded gun. I gave Natsu a wide-eyed look that made him laugh. My anxious look was replaced by an annoyed one.

"Don't worry Luce, I won't leave you for some of those village girls." We started walking to the inn. "Besides," Natsu slipped his fingers through mine, lacing themselves together, "I'd rather be with you till the end."

I started at Natsu with an awe face as we walked. A small smile formed on my lips as I moved closer to Natsu's side and gripped his hand tighter.

Mira was right, I thought. I do have him tied down to me. And I was beginning to think it wasn't all that bad.

I'll probably upload the next chapter in a week or two, I have a lot of other one-shots I wanted to get out of the way. These chapters will be fairly long, or at least I plan to have them as such.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to check out some of my other content! As always, let me know what you guys think by leaving a review or sending a PM. That's all for know, but I'll see you in the next chapter, Tati