#ch95

One of the most likeable, dearest things about Natsu Dragneel is that, in times of struggle and hardship, he doesn’t go straight to rage mode and ‘how dare you hurt my nakama’ mode. Here, and when it was Gray, and when it’s Lucy, what he does first is act like himself. 

If this scene looks familiar to you, it’s because Natsu does the same thing to Gray in an anime-only scene in Galuna. 

When Gray is breaking down, Natsu picks a fight. When Erza is down, Natsu comes to make her laugh. When Lucy is down, it's affection of some sort (assurance, a hug, or a piggyback). the only difference is that with Lucy, it’s straight to protect. With Gray and Erza, it’s ‘make sure they don’t be reckless’ first, before he goes to protection. 

For Lucy, is because they all acknowledge that Lucy is someone that requires saving from their enemies. Gray and Erza need saving from themselves first.

One of the things I love most about Natsu is that he puts his friends first. Not saying no other MC does this, it’s just that Natsu specifically makes sure they’re out of the way, safe, and in this case, unconscious and away from her self-depreciating thought-- before he actually lets his anger loose. 

He makes sure Erza is okay first, he makes her laugh and assures her of his presence first, before he actually lets his temper take over.