It was unnatural yes but it was also safe for the current situation. Or so he thought at least. Even so just because he decided to keep quiet didn't mean he wasn't paying attention to Lucy herself. Quite the opposite really. The absence of her smile now adding another weight to the pile already bearing down on his shoulders.

So when she called his name and subsequently tripped on the stair, his reflexes kicked in and he reached out with one hand to grab hold of Lucy's wrist to steady her. Unfortunately he might have pulled a little too hard meaning Natsu then found himself with his back pressed against the wall of the corridor and Lucy very much pressed against him.