Chapter Text
Finding out that Gray and Lucy where fucking during Grays' ruts was like a fist right in his face. Or his guts. Or his heart.
Presenting as an omega had never bothered him. Sure, heats were kinda annoying but luckily for him, he felt hot anytime anyways. The heat was no problem. The cramps, the arousal and the need to get fucked was more complicated.
Or the fact, that he wanted Gray to fuck him during this times.
He always felt drawn to the ice mage - even their eloquent verbal battles where some kind of affection torwards the ice mage. Especially after they presented. Natsu wasn't a complete fool, like some liked to paint him - he knew about their dynamics.
About attraction, heats, ruts, mating - he always seemed a little lost in those aspects, but he knew his shit. Mainly, because Makarov had insisted he learned more about dynamics after he presented as an omega.
But he knew and that was all that mattered.
He wasn't direct in his interests - mainly, because everbody assumed that Natsu liked Lucy and Gray liked Juvia and the other way around - but he liked how Gray smelled always like grass covered in fresh rain and wood. It was calming and remembered him back to the time before Fairy Tail, when it was Igneel and him. In the woods. Being Father and son. Training, fighting, hunting - being comfortable and happy.
Grays' scent gave him back these happy times and made him feel safe and comforted. But also their familiar benter and how good they knew each other and could work with one another - when they weren't yelling creative insults at each other - made him feel warm in his stomach and his chest. Made him smile and kinda blushy.
But now, knowing his childhood friend slash rival slash crush was fucking his best friend - it hurt. More, than he thought.
He hadn't even planned on hearing that. Cana just had to much to drink - like always - and pointed out that Lucy smelled so much like Gray, that she could be his shadow. They didn't even blushed or felt embarassed about the fact they fucked on a regular basis.
"I asked her to help with my ruts - so what?" - Had been Grays' monotone answer to that. Lucy just shrugged and didn't said much more to it. It hadn't been anyones buisness - or so they said.
Natsu, who had been a few feet away on a table talking with Lisanna about Mirajanes' bonding to Erza - because Natsu was still curious about that - had freezed right on his spot. He felt like vomiting, heart wildly beating in his chest while pictures of his friends rushing trough his mind. Pictures, that made his heart break.
After that, Natsu distanced himself.
He didn't want to go on missions with them - even when Lucy whined about her rent, as always - and liked to spend time alone.
Lisanna always looked worried whenever Natsu wore scent patches to cover up his scent - which would always reek of sadness and hurt. He made the guild suspicious. Mirajane - the worried, big sister and kind soul she was - talked intensive with Erza about her worries.
Her mate knew what she ment. Erza was just as kind - maybe a bit clumsy and rough in some aspects - but she understood her omega and also the omega of her childhood. She loved Natsu like a little brother and was fiercely protective of him.
She hated seeing him like that - that wasn't Natsu. Natsu was always a loud being, full of energy and always eager for food. Or destruction.
But in the last time, he was always out - and if he was in the guild hall, he wore scent patches. Was silent and completely uninterested in his surroundings.
His smiles came over as forced. His mood, too. Lisanna was his companion, if he decided to show up. But even she didn't knew anything.
And Erza hated it. She disliked the fact that Natsu seemed to have problems. Firstly, she thought it could have been an omega-thing. Like, his nest didn't co-operating or his pheromones affecting his mood. Maybe his heat would start soon. Maybe he needed something. Or was he hurt?
She looked at her Omega, pretty Mira preparing their lunch. Nervous, she bit her thumbnail. Her scent smelled worried and frustrated, and Mira caught it up. Of course.
"Is something wrong?"
Her voice was soft, worried and she stilled her movements and looked at Erza with a frown.
The alpha sighned.
"I am worried about Natsu, you know."
A smile formed on pretty, pink lips.
"So you caught up on it, too hm?"
Erza looked kinda offended at that.
"Of course! I know him since we where kids!"
Mirajane was smiling now, hands stopping whatever she was doing over there. Her eyes sparkled with something.
"You do realise that this also applies to me, right?"
Pouting.
"Yes yes - i know." Another sighn followed after that and she looked worried again.
"It's just - he seems so distant. For a while now. Like - like he is trying to avoid us. His family."
"Maybe he.. has something he can't talk to us about? Or - maybe he met someone!"
In an instant her eyes began sparkling. Erza just groaned.
"Mira! Please! Focus!"
Giggling followed.
"I know, i am sorry. But.." She bit her lip.
"What if it's true? Maybe he did found someone."
Now it was Erzas' turn to frown.
"Hm. I mean, he has.. he-heats." She started blushing and her mate laughed full force at her expression.
"Natsu is also cute. And he can be so adorable without noticing it." Cooking completely forgotten, Mirajane was cooing.
"Ha~ he was always so lovely! His grin always shined like the sun and his cheeks were so full, i just wanted to pinch him!"
Then, her expression turned dark. Erza almost had an heart attack.
"Whoever hurt him, i will end their life and eat their hearts."
"Mira!"