Natsu tapped his fingers sharply on the long marble dining table. A maid stood by him, ready for instructions.
"You, there!" He snapped.
"Yes, Master?" the timid girl asked politely.
"Tell the bitchy cooks in the kitchen to hurry up."
"Yes, Master."
The girl hurried off to the kitchens. Natsu was having a bad day- he hadn't even fired a single servant. He would've done that girl, but she was new and his dad would kill him. He puffed out his cheeks in frustration. The girl tottered back up to him.
"The cooks give their utmost apologies and ask for your forgiveness. It is almost done." She reported.
"Did I ask?" Natsu said dangerously.
"No." The girl looked kind of burnt.
Natsu snorted. This new girl had cheek.
"No, what?"
"No, Master. I'm sorry."
"You better be."
Another maid with a silver platter brought a massive meal out, setting it on the table and unloading all the dishes perched on it. She left without a word. The Dragneel's were a rich family, with a mansion and lots of land. There were no make servants inside the house- only maids were accepted inside. Men worked the fields outside. Natsu ate, letting the servants waiting on him watch enviously while trying not to make it obvious. It amused him to see them do this.
"Master," another maid called.
"Yes?"
"Your friends are here, Loke-sama, Gray-sama, and Gajeel-sama!" Said the maid.
"Well, let them in, you stupid whore." Natsu growled.
"Y-yes, Master!" The maid cried.
She opened the door, letting Natsu's three friends come in. They were leading another maid in, one Natsu had never seen before.
"What's with the girl?" Natsu asked his friends.
"Since I fired one last time, I brought a new one from my house." Loke said.
The girl bowed, and awaited an order.
"Go to the kitchens." Natsu said dismissively.
The girl nodded, and silently left the room, though she did not know where the kitchens were. She would find out eventually, by asking some other slave.
"Treat her well, she's sensitive." Loke noted.
Natsu waved an airy hand.
"Loke, you get too friendly with your servants. They're objects, made to be ordered around."
"Really, Natsu, you ought to at least know their names." Gajeel grunted.
"They're not worth the trouble." Natsu said.
He clapped his hands twice, and the newest maid, still being the closest one, came back in. Loke and him had a similar call for their maids.
"Y-y-yes, Loke-sama?"
"That was me, idiot." Natsu said, and Loke winced.
"Oh, sorry..."
"You shall address me as Master."
"Master. What would you like?" The girl asked.
"I want some sodas. The kitchens are a floor down right below here." Natsu explained.
The girl left at once.
"What a scatter-brain." Natsu joked. "What is her name, anyways?"
"She used to be a homeless girl named Lucy. That's all we know, but she's been working for my family for a few years." Loke said, but his eyes didn't tell the truth. No one noticed.
Gray nodded, running a hand through his navy hair.
"And, she's best if you don't insult her. She has quite a temper, and my dad used to give her lashings." Loke added.
"Maybe." Natsu said.
"It's unusual to give girls lashings." Grey said, interested.
"Well, she became more calm eventually, but really, I think it broke her spirit." Loke look surprisingly troubled about that.
"Oh, well, there's an endless supply." Gajeel said.
"What's taking that girl so long?" hissed Natsu angrily.
As if on cue, the blonde girl walked in with a try and set it down. On the small table between them.
"Do you have any stuff, girl?" Natsu asked grudgingly.
She shook her head.
"Nothing but this outfit, Master."
"Not any other clothes, or possessions?"
The girl shook her head.
"Okay, well, just wait outside." Natsu said.
The girl left and closed the door quietly.
"No items, huh?" Natsu asked.
Most maids had a few more outfits, trinkets, books, whatnot, but she didn't have anything.
"No." Loke confirmed. "But she gives a heck of a back rub."
The guys laughed.
"Dammit, Loke, you brought me the most fussy maid I have ever had." Natsu said.
"I know." Loke grinned.
Later that night, Lucy sat on a bed in a bare room, but it was better than the street. She had also been given some pajamas that, unlike the maid outfit, were very comfortable. She didn't look her new Master. Lucy liked Loke because he was nice, and always dreaded the day when she might get fired. This new one didn't look or act friendly. She laid down, singing a simple song that her mom sung to her on her death bed:
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine,
You make me happy,
When skies are gray,
You'll never know dear,
How much I love you,
So please don't take my
Sunshine away...
And when I'm long gone,
I'll see you smiling,
Sweeter then honey,
Bright as the sun,
Don't worry a thing, dear,
Don't ever stop smiling,
And I'll be there,
When I'm gone.
By the end of the song, Lucy was feeling miserable. Her mother had died a few years ago, and she was found in the street by a young man out for a walk. Ever since then she had been employed as a maid in his service, and he was always nice, but her new one wasn't. Lucy turned and cried into her pillow miserably.
