Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.
Lucy was the only person she knew who hated her soulmark. She would happily go through life without the dreaded, so-called fated meeting.
She didn't dread it out of embarrassment like Levy (but who could blame her when the words on her best friend's shoulder blade read Well I never expected to have a soulmate who was so damn tiny!) Lucy had witnessed their first meeting. It was awkward and angry all around.
No, Lucy hated her soulmate. Even though she had never met them.
When Lucy was five, she determinedly copied down a word from the back of her right hand. She knew what most of the words meant, but there was one she didn't recognize.
"Mama," she said, handing her the piece of paper. "What does this word mean?"
She froze, eyes fixed on the scrap of paper. "Where did you read this word, honey?"
"On my hand."
Layla grabbed Lucy's hand, where she could see the slight discoloration that indicated the words only soulmates could read. "This hand?"
"Yes."
Layla dropped Lucy's hand, but not before Lucy felt her mother start shaking. "Go to your room for a little while, sweetheart. I need to talk to your father."
Lucy went, but was unsatisfied with the answer. So she stopped in her classroom and pulled the large dictionary off the shelf and lugged it back to her room.
She flipped through the pages, found the entry, and started to read. One in particular stuck out to her.
Murder, verb. To kill or slaughter.
Lucy couldn't help it. She screamed.
Her parents came running and as soon as they saw the dictionary, they knew what had happened. They held her tight.
"Lucy, love, we have to ask," her father said. "What do the words on your hand say?"
She managed to tell them between her tears and the next day, she was sitting across from a therapist. And over the years, she had owned 22 fish, all with the same name. It was a long shot, but she was clinging to whatever hope she could.
She shook herself slightly, bringing her focus back to the present. Book signings.
They were a mixed bag of excitement and frustration. On one hand, Lucy loved meeting her readers. On the other hand, there were always those superfans who met her and expected to say her words and hear theirs in return. It was flattering, but also creepy.
She had just finished signing a book for a sweet young girl named Wendy when the guy behind her slammed his copy of Aligning Stars (the final book of her Zodiac series) onto her table.
She stared at him in awe. Partly because of his rude treatment of the book, but also partly because of his bright pink hair.
He scowled at her. "I can't believe you murdered Henry. He's the nicest person ever, why'd you have to do that to the poor guy?"
Lucy jumped out of her chair, leaning across the table to poke him in the chest. "You asshole! You know I've been in therapy since I was 5 because of you?"
His expression cleared as he examined her face. "Wait, really?"
She sat, anger abandoning her as she ran a hand over her face.
"Yes really. And come on, the character's name is Harry, not Henry."
Natsu isn't good with names.
Hey friends! I'm back! I know this was short, but it was an idea that demanded to be written.
I'm in a show right now (Oliver!) but once it's over, I'll be back to writing more regularly.
Special thanks, as always, to star-eye for beta-reading and being amazing. (Congrats again, my friend!)
Catch ya later, lovelies!
-FD