Chapter 1: Fateful encounter
"Hello darkness my old friend," Natsu belts out as he enters the elevator. His pink headphones are firmly placed on his ears, being hidden by his spiky pink hair. He's finally free of this place. Natsu has done nothing but put in 80 hour work weeks for the past three years at Fairy Tail Law Firm.
Don't get Natsu wrong, he loves being a lawyer, and enjoys climbing the ranks as fast as he has but it's all come at a cost. He's exhausted, and now he's finally going to take a much deserved, and needed, break.
"I've come to talk with you again," Natsu closes his eyes as he continues to bellow out the catchy words; voice filling the small elevator with his vocals. He feels the elevator stop and decides to open one eye, only to see a semi-petite blonde enter from the fifth floor-two floors under where he got on.
Her blond hair is long, falling way past her shoulders and over her eyes to cover her face; head bowed. Natsu doesn't have to see her face to notice the tears staining her cheeks, or the way her shoulders are hunched in rejection.
"You didn't have to stop on my account." Her voice calls out into the tiny space. Natsu can barely hear her over the music, so he takes one headphone off his ear. "It wasn't so bad," she gives a half hearted smile. A pang breaks through Natsu's chest as he hears how broken and dejected her voice sounds, like stepping on a porcelain doll. Even through her obvious pain she's trying to make small talk; impressive.
"What happened?" He finally finds his voice to ask the question, after realizing that just staring at her could be considered rude. The elevator dings to let them know they've reached the first floor. The door opens and he follows her off and the left side of the elevator, away from the masses.
"Well," she begins before pushing some run away strands behind her ears. "I went up to try and get an appointment with an attorney but apparently everyone is really busy and the regular assistants and paralegals are all too busy to speak with me right away and that I should just call later or email." She keeps talking, her speech becoming more rapid by the second.
"But the problem is that my father monitors everything I do, and if I even thought about sending an email to this firm his people would find out somehow, and I tried to go to the public library once but one of his guards was there and I finally escaped his guards but now everyone is busy and…" She stops talking to blush, probably realizing she's been rambling a bit.
Natsu can't help but stare at the woman before him, lips parted. Her eyes are large and brown; face a nice oval shape. She's wearing a blue and white mini skirt with a matching blue and white crop top. If Natsu was into dating, or bedding, women he would definitely be flirting with the busty blond before him. Be that as it may, he's sworn himself off the feminine touch ever since that horrible night all those years ago.
He shakes his head to clear his mind from plagued thoughts. If he allowed himself to keep thinking about that night he'll be joining the female in sadness. He clears his throat instead, walking up to place a hesitant hand on her shoulder.
"What are you trying to sue for?" He dares to ask. She looks up, and her eyes glance around the lobby before back to Natsu's face.
"Fraud," she whispers almost as if a secret. "I believe my father is committing fraud and I wish to bring him down." His eyes widen, brows raising high enough to reach his hair line. She wishes to turn on her own father? He can't help but think in surprise.
"What's your name?" He finds himself asking, out of curiosity. She narrows her eyes, taking a step back.
"I should ask you that question." She states back in a distrusting manner. Natsu should feel a lot more offended than he does.
"Natsu Dragneel, attorney for Fairy Tail Law Firm." Her eyes seem to brighten just a bit; the dullness slowly fading.
"You," she trails off with what sounds like hope. "I'm...I mean my name is Lucy. Lucy Heartfilia. I've heard all about you after you won that huge case last year." Now it's Natsu's turn to be surprised. The Heartfilia corporation is the largest in the region; the family worth well into the billions. No wonder she's so terrified, the daughter of Jude Heartfilia is trying to expose the man for his illegal ways.
Natsu was looking forward to taking time off but there's no way he can turn his back on her; not now.
"Listen, if you have the proof I'll take you on as a client." He admits. She claps her hands together in a squeal before lunging herself forward and wrapping her arms around his neck. Natsu freezes, stunned by the sudden action, before gently responding to her action. He takes a step back, scratching the back of his neck as he does so.
"You're incredible, like seriously. Thank you so much Natsu, I owe you everything." He blushes at the praise. "When can we meet again?" She sounds eager as she speaks.
"Umm, why not go out to eat? I love food and that way it won't seem suspicious to be seen with me." She looks happy with the suggestion and nods her head.
"Where umm, where?" She calms down some as she looks up under her lashes.
"Have you heard of Magnolia's Bar and Grill?" She smiles brightly and nods emphatically.
"Of course, I've always wanted to go there but never had the chance." She answers quickly. "How about at seven?" He checks his watch, noticing that gives him three hours.
"I'll meet you there Miss Heartfilia." A pink color tinges her cheeks as she nods.
"Thanks Natsu." She covers her mouth to say. She's leaning into her body a bit and if Natsu didn't know any better he would say she was shy; almost as if she found Natsu attractive. Not good, he mentally thinks. He wants to help her but he also knows he can't get too close; his heart can't take anymore.
"See you." He croaks out and rushes out of the large lobby and out onto the sidewalk. He was going to go home first but now that he's thinking about it, he's going to head straight to Magnolia's to wait and drink until she arrives.
X
"Hit me bartender," Natsu slams the empty beer bottle on the counter.
"Okay," Natsu hears Cana say before he receives a slap in the face. Natsu lifts his head up to glare at his childhood friend, and neighbor.
"What the hell was that for?" He groans whilst rubbing his cheek.
"You told me to hit you." She sing songs as he glares.
"I said bartender hit me," he waves his empty beer bottle. "Last time I checked you are no longer a bartender, nor do you work here." He deadpans. She lifts her own beer up and empties it in one go.
"Meh," she shrugs whilst teetering on her bar stool. She almost falls off and glares at Natsu for not catching her.
"You hit me and expect me to catch you? I'm plotting your demise." Natsu jokes in a monotone voice.
"Mira, Natsu is being mean to me." Cana lies with a drunken shout. Natsu gasps and glares.
"Not true, she hit me." Natsu defends with a pout. Mira comes up to them with tired looking eyes, a dish rag over her right shoulder.
"Can you two play nice? I've had a bad go of it lately." She smiles slowly, the smile not reaching her eyes.
Natsu takes in her appearance and shifts his gaze to the empty bottle in his hands. He knows she's looked more tired lately, probably having to deal with being a single parents but he can't do anything about it. Every time he tries to ease her discomfort she actively refuses, and it's not like he can make Laxus do anything about it…
He shakes his head instantly, needing to stop that train of thought right away. Laxus and Mira were always a train wreck waiting to happen, both too strong spirited and quick tempered to be anything other than friends; now both of them are paying the price.
"When can I see my little goddaughter?" Cana coos, arms held wide. Natsu shakes his head at the sight; the beer connoisseur is completely wasted at only five in the afternoon. "I," *hic* "miss her cute little chubby face."
"Right, because calling a little child chubby is great for their self esteem." Natsu deadpans as Mira comes over with a fresh beer bottle. Cana responds by taking Natsu's new drink and finishing it for him, leaving the young attorney to stare at her with grave disapproval.
"You can stop by anytime Cana, you know that." Mira responds kindly as she wipes down the bar top.
"That's like inviting a stray into your home, you feed it once and it'll never leave." Natsu mumbles as he reaches over the bar top to grab his own new bottle of beer.
"Referring to yourself in the third person again? Natsu?" Natsu lifts his head up to glare at the person intruding in on his personal space. Gray grins as he takes a seat beside his friend/enemy. They love to fight but at the end of the day they'll die for each other.
"What are you doing here so early ice princess?" Natsu narrows his eyes. "And why are you shirtless?" Gray looks down and sighs heavily, not even realizing he'd taken off his top-it's a nasty habit he can't seem to break.
"You really should just move to a nudist colony." Cana adds in her opinion. Natsu shivers in disgust.
"Please don't bring back horrid memories." Natsu mock gags at the thought of spring break back in his senior year of college. Natsu, Laxus, Gray, Erza, Cana, and a group of others all went to Ibiza for spring break, and whilst there they encountered a group of nudist who lived in their own mock colony. Natsu has never seen so much wrinkled skin in his entire life. There really should be an age limit on being a nudist.
"I had a good time," Cana slurs as she hiccups.
"Only because you enjoyed getting felt up by tall, dark, and creepy." Gray mutters under his breath. Cana points an unsteady finger at Gray.
"Keep quiet," Cana demands. "Bacchus is an incredible guy." She defends her on again, and off again, boyfriend/drinking partner. "Besides, he's the only one who can keep up with me drinking wise, and he moved to the States for me." She boasts.
"Pretty sure he moved for all the free beer you provide him with, not to mention the easy access to sex." Natsu whispers to Gray, who agrees with his own life.
"I'm a professional beer taster," Cana pouts. "People pay me a lot of money to write good reviews of their products. Can you blame Bacchus for wanting to go with me?" Natsu and Gray roll their eyes in unison before turning away from their friend.
"I'm here for a little drink before I go back to finishing the ice sculpture for my client's party tomorrow." Gray explains, answering Natsu's earlier question. Natsu gives the guy hell, but he can't help but admit that Gray's work is absolutely incredible. He's an amazing artist who specializes in crafting ice into different sculptures. People pay top dollars for his work.
"Ah, drinking on the job. Sounds very professional." Natsu teases. Gray reaches over and places the young adult in a headlock. Natsu scrambles, having been caught off guard, before ducking out of the hold only to jump up and return the favor. He grabs Gray's neck and drags the man down as his hold tightens.
"Not in this bar," Mira warns. She slams the rag down on the counter and glares at the two men until they bow their heads and release each other. Serious Mira is not someone you want to cross; she's seriously got a demon inside of her or something. "I have a troublemaker little daughter to worry about at home, I don't need the two of you adding to my annoyance."
Natsu sombers at this, fidgeting in his seat uncomfortably.
"How's my niece?" He asks quietly; voice coming out barely a whisper. There's a hint of shame in his tone, and he knows exactly where it comes from. You see, Natsu was adopted by Makarov after his own adoptive father, Igneel, died. Natsu was raised with Laxus, and two are more like rival brothers than anything else. Keeping up with Laxus is what drives Natsu as much as it does, but it also means Natsu feels a bit loyal to the guy.
It's this loyalty that has kept him away from Mira and her daughter, because if he was highly present in both of their lives it would only add to Laxus' grief.
"You would know if you actually went to see her." Cana speaks on Mira's behalf. "Just because that good for nothing Laxus…" Natsu is quick to cut her off.
"You don't know the half of it." He defends on Laxus' behalf. It's true though. Laxus never told anyone, except Natsu, the truth that happened between he and Mira; the truth that ended up with broken hearts all around. To everyone else Laxus knocked up Mira and abandoned her, after having cheated on his boyfriend, Freed, of four years. That's hardly what happened, but Laxus didn't want Mira to receive any backlash so he's taken all the blame, even at the expensive of his own happiness.
"Dare to explain it then?" Cana raises a brow. Mira swallows hard at the scene and knows that Cana working Natsu up isn't going to work out well in the end.
"Drop it Cana." Mira pleads. Cana looks like she's itching for a fight but relents anyways. "And to answer your question Natsu, she's doing okay. She has a bit of a cold right now but she'll get better soon." Natsu secretly wonders if Mira truly has enough funds to take care of Azmay, her daughter. He knows the bar does well but it's costly having a child, especially as a single parent; if only Laxus would help out more. If only Laxus could forgive Mira.
"Do you need any money?" He leans across the bar counter to ask. He can tell by the way her shoulders stiffen that the answer is yes.
"Of course not, I'm fine." She pastes on a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. Natsu tightens his lips. He won't say that it's from him but he'll make sure she receives an anonymous card with $1,000 in it. She's way too proud to ask for help, a trait that was unfortunately passed down to all the siblings.
He stares at Mira a bit longer, can't help but see Lisanna is her features. He swallows the lump in his throat and relaxes back in his seat. He can't look Mira in the face any longer; he's not strong enough-maybe he never will be.
"While you're here I was wondering if you wanted to go to the church with Elfman and I next Sunday?" He freezes at the question and is glad for Gray's sudden hand on his shoulder, acting as an anchor to keep him from drifting away-allowing him to remain grounded. He feels winded at the question; wasn't prepared for it at all. He's spent so many years trying not to think of it, and now here he is faced with it.
"I can't…" he's not sure how to finish the sentence. I can't go, I can't breathe, I can't answer...he's not sure which one fits best. What he does know is that his chest feels tight and his breathing is getting so heavy that it feels like oxygen is barely getting into his body at all.
A phone is quickly thrusted into his face; it's a picture of a colorful stress ball extended and folding in on itself. Natsu watches, and breathes in with the animation; not even realizing he's calming down instantly. He still feels heavy but more at ease at the same time. He lifts his eyes away from the screen to see red nail varnish. He looks to see the hand holding the phone and it's Lucy.
He almost falls off the stool in shock. Lucy is looking at him with those brown eyes, wide and filled with misplaced concern. Her phone is clenched tightly in her hand as if she's not sure if she should show Natsu the animation again or not.
When did she even arrive? Why is she seeing me like this? Natsu can't help but think.
"Feel better?" She breaks through his thoughts by asking. Natsu nods dumbly, not really trusting his own voice right now. "I used to have anxiety attacks after my mother died; so I kept this on my phone for easy access to help calm me down." She explains as if she's not in a crowded bar talking to a practical stranger.
"I really appreciate it." He grasps out, voice groggy and rough. Gray's hand tightens on his shoulder and Natsu pats it twice before standing up on shaky legs. He feels like he's just ridden the world's longest and dangerous roller coaster.
"I know I'm a bit early but I was bored and decided to check the place out." She continues on with her explanation, a tint of pink slowly creeping up on her cheeks. She must realize the awkwardness of the situation.
"It's fine, really." He tries to assure as he reaches for his wallet. "This should cover my tab, and the rest is for your tip." Natsu leaves no room for argument as he places a one hundred dollar bill on the counter top. "And I'll probably be busy on that day." He speaks directly to Mira, knowing she knows what he means.
Truth is he'll be completely free but there's no way in hell he can go to the church and...he just can't.
"I understand." Mira says kindly and grabs the money but turning around to close out Natsu's tab at the register. Natsu clears his throat again and nods towards Gray.
"I'll text you later man," Natsu addresses his friend before gesturing for Lucy to follow him. He suddenly realizes how rude of him it was to not introduce Lucy. He scolds himself all the way to the back together, in the far corner of the bar-the table that's away from the crowd.
"I now realize I should have introduced you or something," Natsu points behind himself. Lucy smiles kindly as she sits in front of him, facing the bar.
"I came in on a bad situation, I understand if you're not all the way there yet." She admits honestly.
"Yeah, I…" he doesn't know how to finish his thoughts right now. "You know what? Right now I'm here with you, and I'm going to make sure I help you win this suit. But first, why Fairy Tail?" She blushes for real this time, full on red cheeks.
"I've always wanted to become a journalist but it's a dying field now a days what with the internet, and people wanting more gossip than actual news." She starts. "So I read very few news sources anymore, but one of my all time favorites is Sorcerer's Weekly and they did a bit on the behind the scenes of Fairy Tail and I fell in love instantly." She's practically gushing by now.
"Anyways, there was a calender shoot you guys did and I may have a copy, or two." She looks down at the table and now it's Natsu's turn to blush. He remembers doing that calendar shoot-against his will mind you-and he was Mr. July, all hot and full of fire. There were flames behind him as he was standing shirtless, wearing a pair of red flame pants. His pink hair was spiked up, and he even had a bit of makeup on. No wonder she keeps blushing around him.
"That calendar will haunt me till I die." Natsu groans, hands covering his face.
"Don't be embarrassed, it was nice." Her face must be on fire it's so red. "At least you weren't naked and having to hide your stuff behind a lightning bolt." She offers as she refers to Laxus. Natsu leans his head back and emits a loud cackle. How could he have forgotten about that? Natsu smiles to himself, already having decided he's going to print out a bunch of those photos and post them all around his and Laxus' shared home.
"Thanks for the reminder." He says earnestly. She gives him a gently smile before reaching in her pocket. She pulls out a small black flash drive.
"This has all the proof on my father," she whispers as she slides it across the table. "I know that once you see this evidence you'll draft a complaint and submit it to a judge." She says with confidence. Natsu takes the offered drive and twirls it in his fingers, eagerly wondering what is on the device.
"Once I file the complaint, your father will be notified and within sixty days he must respond. As soon as your father is notified there's no turning back. Have you decided how you will proceed? An exit plan? Will you be safe?" Silence fills the table and Natsu doesn't like that one bit. If he goes through with this suit will he be putting Lucy in danger? If something happens to her will it be his fault? How will he be able to handle that, especially considering...he can't even think about that.
"I'll be fine." She says with resound determination. Natsu stares at her, and nods but doesn't believe it for a second. He wasn't able to save Lisanna, but maybe he can save Lucy.