Hello, readers! I know that I still have to finish 'Let Me In', but there's no harm in posting other stories, is there? I hope you like it! (The rating might change as the story progresses, but for now it's K+).
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail; it all belongs to Hiro Mashima.
Lucy Heartfilia sat beside her window, looking at the outside world. How exciting it would be, to know that you were free and able to go wherever you wished? Having been trapped in a tiny house on a mountain all her life, her books, and imagination, were her only solace.
She heard the door creak, and stood up. It had to be him. Her heartbeat sped up.
"Hey, Luce!" Bright pink hair peeked through the doorframe.
"H-Hi, Natsu! You're early." She said softly, trying to calm her heart. She waited as he walked in, smiling, as always. Apart from her books, he was her only link to the outside world, and her best friend.
"Yeah, well, I don't want you gettin' lonely." He grinned at her. She smiled back, hoping he wouldn't notice her blush.
"Do you want something to eat?"
"That'd be great; thanks!"
Could you have a best friend if he was the only person you had ever met?
She busied herself making food for him, while internally panicking over her appearance. Her blonde hair was tangled, she was dressed in a baggy shirt and shorts, and she-
"You look great, as always." His voice was soft.
She looked at him, startled. Was he a mind reader?
"Thanks, I guess?" She smiled, bringing over a plate of sandwiches to her small dining table. She watched in fascination as he devoured all of them.
"Does everybody in the outside eat like this?" She inquired. He paused, looking up.
"Oh, no. It's just that you cook so well, I can't help myself."
"O-Oh."
They sat in silence for a while, before she worked up the courage to ask him a question. She asked it every time he came, and he always gave the same answer.
"Um, when will I be able to go outside?" She asked, hoping against hope that he'd give a different answer.
"I don't know yet. I'm sorry, Lucy." There was genuine pain in his oynx eyes. She blinked away tears, not wanting to appear weak. It was always the same thing. Never any way of knowing when she'd be able to get out, no hope.
"It's alright. It's just that...that I've been in this house for seventeen years already. Will I live my whole life imprisoned in here?" Despite herself, she felt tears running down her cheeks. He stiffened, and moved to sit next to her. He put his arms around her, and she sunk gratefully into his embrace.
"Luce...I will get you out of here. I promise." He looked straight at her, and she nodded while running her sleeves across her face.
"T-Thank you, Natsu. Sorry for being such a crybaby."
"You're not a crybaby, Luce. In fact, you're one of the bravest people I have ever met." She felt a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"You always know how to make me feel better, don't you." She said, now laughing.
"It's a talent of mine." He chuckled.
"Do you want to read my draft? I started a new story." She offered bashfully. He nodded eagerly. She walked over to her desk, where a sheaf of paper lay. Picking it up, she handed it to him. He began reading it.
"Um, Natsu?" She said, curious about something.
"Yeah? This story is great, by the way."
"Thank you. I was just wondering; what's the outside world like? Is it all mountains and valleys?" She questioned innocently. He sighed, running a hand through his pink hair.
"Well, it's hard to describe, but I'll try." She leaned forward, interested. "There are cities, with tall buildings called skyscrapers. They're like mountains, but made of metal and glass. And the streets are always really busy, with people, and cars."
"Cars? You mean like those box things with wheels?" Lucy asked. She felt excited about the outside, yet intimidated as well.
"Yeah. They come in different shapes and sizes. It's really noisy, but it is also very fun. And when you exit the cities, you go into the suburbs. The suburb's are quieter, and they have more house like this one. You have schools, where children go to learn, and offices where people go to work and earn money. It's not all mountains; you have oceans, deserts, plains, rivers, and other things."
"I wish I could go." Lucy sighed to herself. Skyscrapers, cars, offices, schools. The ocean was a special dream of hers. A ...it all sounded like a dream. How could she, a girl on a remote mountain who'd never even stepped outside her backyard, experience all these things?
"Don't worry, Lucy. Someday, you will go into the cities, and everywhere else. I promise."
"You are psychic! How'd you know I was thinking that?" She exclaimed.
"You're really easy to read." He smirked.
"Hey, Luce? Is that fence still functioning?" He asked. She nodded sadly. When she was young, she had tried to escape. They (she still didn't know who took care of her when she was young) had caught her, but as an added precaution, a 24/7 electric fence had been installed around her house. She couldn't go out, no matter how badly she wanted to. All she knew was that it was some kind of experiment, and Natsu was the only one who was allowed to talk to her.
"Luce, I've got to go, sorry." He guiltily said, looking at his watch.
"Oh, okay! B-Bye, Natsu." She said, feeling sadness drill a hole in her heart.
"I'll see you in two weeks?" He asked. She nodded and tried to smile.
She watched him go, a small dot on the horizon, getting smaller and smaller.
When will I finally be free?
"Hey, flame-brain? Where were you?!" Gray Fullbuster, a member of the organization Fairy Tail, and sworn frenemy of Natsu Dragneel demanded.
"None of your business, stripper. And put a shirt on!" Natsu said shortly. Gray looked down in surprise.
"Not again!" He said in exasperation. Taking advantage of Gray's distracted state, Natsu slipped away.
"Oy, come back, ash head!"
"Why should I listen to you, snowman?" Natsu retorted. As they both began punching each other, a shadow loomed over the two.
"Are you two fighting?" Erza Scarlet asked. The two gulped, and threw their arms around each other hurriedly.
"O-Of course not, ma'am! Why would we fight? We're good friends!" Gray said.
"What he said!" Natsu replied.
"Hm. Natsu, where were you? You didn't come to the guild this morning." The Fairy Tail Guild was a detective agency, which offered trained agents to investigate crimes throughout Magnolia, and, in fact, Fiore.
"Yeah, I had something to do." Natsu said awkwardly, and it was clear he wasn't going to say anything more.
"Anyways, there is a job on the request board for 1 million jewels. I thought you two, Wendy, and I could take it." She handed the paper to Natsu. Gray read it over his shoulder.
"Uh, Erza?"
"Yes?"
"This is a request to sample cake!" They both yelled at the same time.
"Yes! Think about it! Getting paid to eat all that cake..." She had stars in her eyes. They sighed. What could they do?
"I already asked Wendy. Begin packing at once! Natsu, are you going to take Happy this time?"
"Course! He's a part of the team!" Natsu's cat, Happy, usually came on jobs with him. For reasons nobody could fathom, he treated it like a sentient person who could talk. They just accepted it as one of his quirks.
Even though Natsu talked and joked with the guild, as usual, a certain blonde was still on his mind.
When will she finally be free?
How is it? Good, bad, horrible? Please review and give me feedback! I'll probably make this a multi-chapter story, so please review so future chapters are better. Hope you enjoyed it. =)
- random103