Lucy Pov~
Yawning Lucy rose shakily to her feet still sore from yesterday, she was sure she had sprained something in her arm from how it tensed whenever she moved it. With a glance around to make sure nobody was awake yet Lucy slowly walked out of the room and went downstairs to set the stove to heat up before going up to her room and closing the door carefully behind her making sure to lock it.
Once inside Lucy turned to the wall panel she had made and carefully pried a piece of wood from the wall and taking out her savings. She had started saving up money last year when her father broke Asuka's arm in one of his abusive fits. Enough had been enough for Lucy and from then on she had taken more of their beatings than she could count, it often came to a point where she had jumped into their fights and taken his hits when she couldn't possibly bear it. Only months before she had taken every single one of her brother and sisters beatings by hitting her father to distract him on top of the ones he gave her almost daily whenever he was mad, he ended up cracking her ribs.
Lucy held back a sob as the flashback tried to rush forward only to be held back by her will to keep from losing it. Now was not the time to break down. She had to be strong, for Haru and Asuka, for their sake. Looking back down at the box Lucy frowned and dropped the $2.00 in she had found on her way home form school today. 'Only $300 so far, that will never get us a good house, or even an apartment for long.' Furrowing her brow Lucy realized she would have to start working more, her previous job she had quit because her father found out and had beat her until she couldn't make it to work even if she wanted to.
Placing the lid back on her money stash she placed it in the wall panel and secured the cover, looking it over to make sure it wasn't obvious Lucy proceeded to grab a piece of paper and a pencil on her way down the stairs. She turned the stove up and looked at the clock, 4:30 a.m. nodding Lucy looked around before making a quick list of possible places she could work to raise money towards moving her siblings out of this horrid house. Once finished and proud of the long list she had made Lucy stuffed the paper in her bra and washed her hands before starting to cut onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes for the omelets she was making for today's breakfast.
She continued making the breakfast in a stride until she heard a cough and a door closing signaling her father was awake. Quickly setting four plates she left one on the table with a glass of juice, which she may or may not have wanted to spit in... And made her way upstairs with the remaining plates and the jug of juice making sure the stove was turned off. Upon hearing her father sit at the table and start to eat Lucy passed her brothers and sisters room frowning at the broken door frame and made her way into her own room locking the door behind her.
Setting the plates down on her bedside table Lucy gently shook the two kids awake handing them their breakfast before gathering her things and taking a shower to get ready for school in her own bathroom attached to her room while getting Asuka and Haru's clothes ready as well. Today they were going to start going to school for 1st and 2nd grade where they would stay after school until Lucy went to pick them up. After showering she helped them to bathe and got their school items ready. When they were ready Lucy applied makeup to cover her bruises and touched up her darker ones so they were covered more frowning when she came to her busted lip.
"Well there's nothing I can do about this" She sighed fixing her hair and new uniform before grabbing her stuff and escorting her siblings out of the house and to school, luckily missing their father and leaving without trouble.
Lucy pondered on her plans and took out the list she had made in looking for work jotting down suggestion and plans as well as tips for when they did move out. She was so deep in thought she almost didn't notice the small hand tugging on her skirt.
"Hm?" she asked Asuka looking up from her paper and putting it away before turning to her younger sister.
"When can we leave daddy?" Asuka asked, and that single question alone wretched a piece of Lucy's heart as she smiled sadly down at her and her brother answering.
"Soon okay. But remember you can't tell him or else he won't let us leave." Her sister nodded her head in response, tears falling down her small cheeks.
"Good, because I don't want to get hit anymore" she whimpered softly stopping to cry into her little fists where Haru soon joined her. Kneeling down she offered comfort to her two younger siblings.
"I-I know I don't want you to get hit either but I'm really try-"
"But what about you?" Haru asked looking at her with wide sad eyes, "If we don't get hit you will. We don't want you to get hit anymore Lucy!" They both burst into a fit of tears again and Lucy looked around for any people before shushing them calmly.
"I know but I'd rather that happen then you two get hurt, now I'm trying really hard to get us out of there alright? Just... give me a little bit, we'll be happy again okay? I promise." She smiled bringing the two into a hug which they snuggled into before pulling away.
"Pinky promise?" Haru asked tears still at the corners of his eyes. Lucy smiled a sad smile her own tears threatening to fall.
"Pinky promise." she answered at last taking their small pinkies in her own. "Now come on let's get you to school before your late." She smiled standing up as they wiped away their tears and nodded running along with her.
Natsu Pov~
Natsu furrowed his brow as he walked to school and sighed digging his hands into his pockets. It still bugged him how those guys had targeted Lucy yesterday in the cafeteria and he couldn't figure out why she had run. Groaning he turned the corner and collided with a very small shapely person.
"Eeek!" She screamed as he reached out his hand and caught the girl by the arm, wait, girl?
"Lucy?" He lifted her up gently by the arm and helped her get her stuff off the ground as he waited for an answer. "Hey what happened to you yesterday? After me, Gray, and Gajeel beat up that guy you just took off on us. We all got kinda worried, Levy and Erza even went to go check up on you but they didn't know where you lived. They checked the entire school...Well tore the school apart looking for you to be honest"
He rose to his feet with Lucy's things to find her squirming uncomfortably before plastering on a smile.
"Oh.. that... I was just really embarrassed so I decided to head home, not to mention I needed a change of clothes since food got thrown all over mine." She laughed bitterly and grabbed her things from Natsu as they continued on their trek to school.
"Okay then, but I wish you would have said something to us we were all worried." He frowned turning to look at her before stopping and stepping closer.
"What happened to your face?" He asked referring to her busted lip.
"W-What do you mean?" She stuttered fiddling with the hem of her school uniform skirt.
"You have a busted lip..." He said reaching out for her to which she nearly flinched but held her composure. His questioning gaze turned to confusion as she quickly started walking ahead.
"Nothing happened Natsu I just hit myself leaving school yesterday." She said over her shoulder not waiting for him. He quirked a grin and jogged to catch up to her as they turned the corner to the school.
"You should be careful then, you might seriously hurt yourself worse next time." He said watching her carefully, he couldn't get the idea that she was hiding something out of his head and he tried to ease into getting a reaction out of her. She only stiffened at his words and nodded smiling at him. Bidding goodbye Natsu smiled his signature toothy grin at her before jogging up to the guys and heading to their first class. He would just make sure to look after Lucy here and there to make sure she was okay. Be a good friend ya know?
