"The second Lucy Heartfilia's bow touches the strings, the world seems to stand still in patient anticipation for what comes next."

They meant it as a compliment. It and variations of the phrase were penned in almost every interview, every review no matter how retroactive. It became a model for aspiring musicians to follow, each performance just another attempt to recreate what the judges had already decided only Lucy Heartfilia could accomplish. For her part, she never actually made comment on the frequent review. Smiled and nodded along just as she was supposed to and thanked them for taking the time to speak with her. Exactly as she was supposed to.

The fact of the matter was, however, that it simply wasn't sure. The world didn't stop when she started playing. For Lucy, the world could only ever begin when everything else fell silent around her except for the practice perfect draws of her bow. It was the only time she felt safe, the only time she had ever felt alive. Heart pounding in beat of the conductor's wand and fingers dancing across the neck of her violin as if nothing else mattered – and nothing ever did. Not as much as the music. No, the world only came to an end when her bow was gently lifted off the strings and pointed back to the ground.

But there wasn't a good way to convey that in a magazine interview.

For years, Lucy thought that all there could ever be in life was the violin. She played until her fingers cracked apart and then bled through the glue meant to hold them together. She perfected every song from every symphony she ever performed until she could play it blind and deaf. There was nothing else; there could be nothing else. It all made so much sense, until the day it didn't.

Suddenly, at the peak of her career and with no end in sight, she cancelled her upcoming performances. Disappeared from the public eye. Reports went up around the city, asking where she went. People suspected foul play, more than a few suspected she had been murdered. She hadn't cared what they said, wouldn't have addressed it at all if not for the insistence in which it was covered. Finally, her father stood before the press and announced that Lucy would be taking a short hiatus from performing so she could focus on her studies.

She was seventeen the last time she picked up a violin.

Friday

(08:17) Hello Lucy. As you must be aware, I will be forced to move the estate soon, and I would like you to come and collect your violin and music collection. Please come by as quickly as possible. Regards, your father.

The phone had just turned dark again when Lucy finally understood the text she had just received. "I'm sorry, what?" she hissed, smashing her thumb against the button to once more unlock it. Levy and Cana both looked up when she spoke, but Lucy was too focused on her phone to notice her friends. Just as before, the words flashed across the screen, caged by the first gray box in their text thread. Part of her expected a follow-up text to appear saying that it was just a joke, but her father rarely joked in person, let alone through a text that was sighed 'regards'.

As both of her companions asked what was going on, Lucy practically jumped out of the wooden seat, thumbs swiping the screen to call him. Jude answered after only a couple rings, his voice sounding more exhausted than she could recall. "Good morning, Lucy."

"What do you mean you're being forced to move the estate?"

The words slipped out of her a little louder than intended, and Lucy quickly moved outside the small coffee shop for privacy. There was the slightest rustle on the other end, a deep sigh. "I'm afraid the Heartfilia Konzern has not been doing well these last several years," he explained. "Nothing terribly serious, but enough to warrant a change. Something perhaps a bit smaller, more modest."

Admittedly, she didn't much follow her family's business all too much, but it wasn't much of a surprise. With air travel so readily available these days, it was a wonder any of the old railroad families had stayed profitable. At least he wasn't totally bankrupt. "What about Mama's grave?" Lucy asked, swallowing thickly. That was the most important part, to her. Who cared about the acres of land and state of the art restructured mansion? "That won't be staying behind, right?"

"Of course not. I've already arranged to have it moved. I don't have the address in front of me at the moment, but I'll be sure to send it you once I do."

Lucy exhaled shakily, not realizing she had been holding her breath. "Good. Thank you," she said, leaning against the building. Her friends were still watching her, staring at her back through the window as they formulated questions to bombard her with the second she returned. "I don't know when I'll be able to return to Crocus, I have work every day for the next week or so. Couldn't you just mail it to me?" Lucy fidgeted slightly, tugging at the bottom of her jacket. The idea of sending her violin through the mail felt repulsive, even after all this time – too many things could go wrong, even in the highest quality case. She might not have any desire to continue playing, but she certainly didn't want the treasured instrument to return to her in pieces.

Jude huffed. "And risk having such a valuable instrument shattered by a careless postal worker?" he scoffed. "Nonsense. Surely you could speak to your supervisor and request today off."

Of course she could. It wasn't a matter of could, it was a matter of wanting to be nowhere near the old family estate. "I have class."

"You missed class all the time when you were in high school, and I have no recollection of such absence affecting your grades."

She felt her face flush a little, scowling at the parking lot as if it were to blame. "I didn't enjoy missing those classes, father," Lucy snapped, feeling her patience running thin. So typical of her father to expect her to drop everything for his demands! For his part, he seemed to understand the annoyance in her tone and did not push it. Instead, all she could hear was another rustle, a sort of shift in the earpiece as he repositioned the cell phone from one ear to the other. Finally, after a terse few seconds, Lucy sighed. "I will speak to my supervisor and professors. How long will you be at the estate?"

Another rustle. "We've planned to leave tomorrow afternoon."

Tomorrow afternoon.

"Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?!" Lucy cried, pushing off the building. "First you text me out of the blue telling me you're moving as if I'd have somehow known that all the way over here, and now this? That doesn't give me a whole lot of time to get back, father." The last word was practically spit, a deep-seeded resentment surfacing as it so easily did when they spoke.

"I know, and I am sorry." Jude's voice dropped a little, and Lucy closed her eyes to calm herself. "Please let me know as quickly as possible if I need to mail it to you."

And with that, the line disconnected. She pulled the phone away from her cheek in disbelief, watching as the call faded away to her home screen. It had been almost five years since they were last in the same room, and Jude still somehow found a way to dismiss her! This was no better than briskly telling her she had permission to leave the room. Lucy glowered at her phone for a few seconds longer before shoving the device into her jacket pocket and storming back inside to where her friends were waiting. The questions began as soon as she took a seat, groaning loudly and allowing her forehead to smack down against the table. "I can't believe this is happening to me," Lucy whined.

"What is happening to you?" Levy insisted, crossing her arms against her chest. "Did something happen? Who was that you called?"

She groaned again. "My father wants to come back home so I can pick up my violin. Apparently, he's moving and decided to wait until the literal last opportunity to let me know." Still pouting, she lifted her head so that her chin was resting against the hard surface. Cana and Levy gave each other curious looks. They knew of her family – it was impossible not to when signs of Heartfilia railroad were still prominent across Magnolia – and her uncomfortable relationship with her father, but something else seemed to pique their interest.

Lucy realized too late what it must be, but they didn't give her the chance to backtrack. "You played the violin?" Cana asked, dark eyebrows raised. "I didn't know that."

"I...yeah, I played a lot as a kid and a teenager," she replied, glancing at the pattern on the table. There was a coffee stain not far from her that she focused on, shifting a little uncomfortably. "I stopped when I was about sixteen so I could focus more on school."

"How could playing the violin take away from your studies that much?"

God help me. Lucy rose once more, shoving the textbook she had been attempting to read through into her bag and mumbling some excuse about needing to talk to her professor. "Wait! Lucy!" Levy called, reaching for her bag. Her fingers brushed across the material, but she was faster, already out of arms reach.

"I really need to talk to my supervisor and let my teachers know I might not be in class," she said, forcing a nervous laugh. "I'll see you guys tomorrow!"

With her name echoing behind her, Lucy was gone. She moved quickly, glancing once over her shoulder to make sure Cana hadn't decided to go running after her. Her friend was surprisingly agile when she wanted something, but there was no sign of either of them. Breathing a small sigh of relief, she slowed down, reaching into her pocket to find her phone already alight with frantic messages asking what all that had been about. She didn't bother opening them, flicking the small switch on the side to silence any further texts while she halfheartedly asked her boss for the day off.

The walk to the library was quiet, and the few other students she passed looked like walking zombies. Students who had taken a morning class and had decidedly skipped every other one due to waking up late and then giving up rushing in favor of coffee. It had become familiar over the last few years, and she wouldn't trade it for the world. Certainly not a day trip back to Crocus.

Inside the library was even quieter, and she nervously glanced around the front desk to see if her boss would be sitting at his desk. "Hey Hibiki," Lucy called, pushing the small door open. He looked up at her voice, eyes blinking as if he was still lost in the world of whatever book he had been reading. "Sorry to bother you so early."

"Not at all!" he said cheerfully, swiveling in the chair to face her. "Though I am a bit surprised to see you here so early. Your shift doesn't start for another few hours, is everything alright?"

No. "Sort of," she said with a shrug. "There's been an unexpected emergency back home, and my father needs me to get over there and pick up the last few things I left behind. Today." Lucy watched him carefully, hoping her tone would be enough to suggest how very much she'd rather not. Hibiki only watched her carefully, a frown decorating his handsome face so she could continue. "I need the day off. But I'll make it up to you! I can work a double tomorrow, or come in next Thursday."

"Nonsense!" Hibiki said, jumping up to his feet. "Of course you can have the day off! Is everything alright back home? It's nothing too serious, I hope." His concern was so genuine, it nearly caught the girl off guard, but she carefully rose her hands and softly explained that it was nothing major, just an unexpected relocation. "Well, either way, don't worry about the shift. I'll make sure to get it covered soon. Will you need someone to cover your class today, too?"

"I was actually going to just send an email and cancel it."

He shook his head, frowning at her like the idea was totally outlandish. "Don't you worry about a thing. Send me the lesson plan for today and I'll personally see to it."

After some time going back and forth, Lucy finally relented. Hibiki was a good boss, but he was an even better friend, so after a quick hug as thanks, she was off once more. The ride to Crocus would be about six hours or so with the various stops and personnel changes along the route, so she'd need at least a good book or her laptop to keep her amused. Lucy was a little lost in her own thoughts, half dreading the surprise trip home and half excited to see the older staff she had been close to. Ms. Spetto still sent her flowery emails every year wishing her a good birthday and such, and she knew it'd warm her heart to see for herself that she was doing just fine.

Her apartment was on the other side of campus, and the quickest route would be to cut through the Center for Performing Arts rather than walk the winding pathways around the quad. Lucy knew Magnolia University well, having lived on campus and in the general area ever since she left home in the middle of the night all those years ago.

Jude had been furious. How dare she spit on all the work he'd done for her, he demanded. But Lucy was steadfast in her decision, reminding him that she could finish high school on a laptop and took money only out of her own personal account. Legally, he could call the police and have her returned home since she was a minor (a fact mysteriously changed on her lease), but after three days of screaming at one another, he finally told her that she was on her own. They hadn't spoken about it or much of anything in the years following, and she'd been a happy resident of Magnolia ever since. Returning home felt like a strange step backwards, a dive into the past she had so willingly abandoned.

But what else could she do?

The CPA was normally quiet this early, as most classes didn't start until after at least eleven, but as Lucy pushed the heavy doors open, the unmistakable sounds of a piano rang through the halls. She paused in the entrance for a second, trying to name the tune, but while it certainly sounded familiar, there was something about it that escaped her. Pursing her lips, she checked the time on her phone and tried not to pay attention to the line of texts waiting to be read. Surely she had enough time to listen for a little bit, perhaps find the musician and ask them the name. Curiosity eventually won over and she quietly made her way through the maze of a building, following the sound of the piano. Her search eventually led her to the stage entrance of main auditorium, where she found the doors cracked open with a black and a red backpack propped between the doors. Lucy stared at it for a while, still trying to name the melody that was playing. Once or twice she thought she'd got it, but then it would suddenly shift, the notes taking an entirely new direction.

Whatever it was, it was unlike anything she'd ever heard before. And whoever was playing was unlike anyone she'd ever heard before. Trying not to disturb the musician, Lucy carefully squeezed between the doors, finally catching sight of the magnificent grand piano center stage. On the bench sat what appeared to be a young man, his back to her as he swayed and shifted with the music, hands moving across the keys without reserve. Lucy couldn't help but watch, half of her attention caught on the pretty shade of his pink hair while the other lost itself in the music.

There was no sheet music, she realized after a few minutes. Nothing except the boy with pink hair and the fiery dance his fingers performed across the ivory. It was beautiful, whatever it was. Lucy closed her eyes and allowed herself to simply enjoy the music, foot instinctively tapping to the beat. For a second, she was no longer twenty-three and dreading the rest of her day.

Suddenly, she was thirteen and losing herself in her instrument. Her skin flushed under the lights of the stage, the slightest tremble of her leg as she tried to ignore the hundreds of eyes watching her. Life had been defined by the stage at that point, the cleaning black wood more a home than any aircraft recliner. It was a constant in a life where few others existed, and Lucy had to remind herself that she had been the one to walk away.

Taking a deep breath, she turned to leave, but her foot was closer to one of the curtain levers than she realized and she swiped across it in the process. The curtain shifted, just enough to make a noise, and the music cut off. "Fuck," someone hissed, and Lucy watched as the pianist jumped to his feet, hands up and at the ready defensively. "I didn't think you'd be here…this…early?"

He stared at her, and Lucy stared right back. They were close enough that she could see the olive green flash of his eyes and the matching pink of his cheeks as he flushed a little. Everything around them seemed to still, an empty silence where an audience should have been giving a standing ovation after such a brilliance performance. But there was no audience. "You aren't Erza," the boy finally said, relaxing his stance a little. "You aren't here to, like, report me, are you?"

"Why would I report you?" Far as she was aware, so long as you were a student at the university, the instruments were free to use with professor approval. Perhaps not the grand piano in the main auditorium, but she could understand why a musician would prefer this to one of the public uprights littered across the building and campus.

He blinked, a hand reaching up to rub the back of his neck. "If you aren't, I don't think I should tell you. Just in case you change your mind," he finally said, tilting his head to the side. "What're you doing here anyways? Auditorium is locked."

Lucy looked around. "Yeah, I know it is," she said, placing her hands delicately on her hips. "Do you?" He stared at her for a second before laughing.

"Guess you got me there, huh?"

She smiled a little before glancing back at her phone. "I was just passing through and heard the music so I got curious. What were you playing, anyways?"

The boy shrugged. "Whatever I felt like, mostly." He glanced back at the instrument and lightly dragged his fingers across the edge, expression softening a little. Lucy watched him for a second before turning away, feeling as if she had unintentionally interrupted some private moment. His love of the music was almost physical, exuding off of him in waves. "You play?" The question was soft, uncertain almost but not at all unwarranted. Why else would she have been in the CPA this early if not for practice? Lucy felt her fingers twitch a little, but she shook her head.

"No."

"Not just piano, I meant. Anything."

"Still no."

Lucy cleared her throat, turning once more to leave. "Sorry to have disturbed you. I promise not to tell whoever Erza is that you picked the lock and hijacked the piano," she called, waving once. The pianist huffed a little in response, but he didn't stop her from leaving. Lucy stepped over his backpack carefully so as not to disturb the placement or accidentally slam the doors on him and quickly moved back through the building. The tune he had played was still echoing in her thoughts, and by the time she was unlocking the door to her apartment, she had started to hum along.

Author's Note: hey everyone! I've had this idea in my head for a while now, so I really hope you like it! feel free to check me out on tumblr under the same username!