I opened my eyes to a sea of unfamiliar faces swimming above me. Multiple voices tried to catch my attention all at once, asking me if I could hear them, what my name was, who was the president. Groaning, I tried to sit up, only to be pushed back down by a sturdy hand.
"Woah there, Blondie. You're pretty messed up. You need to stay down." I scrunched my nose up at Gajeel.
"I'm fine." I attempted to sit up again, and this time they let me. "Just a little sore."
"A little?" Gajeel demanded, looking at me incredulously. He looked like he had more to say, but was luckily cut off by an EMT.
"Detective, it is my professional opinion that arguing with the victim isn't the best course of action at the moment." I flinched at the word victim. "I'm sure you will have plenty of time to take down a statement once we are done."
Gajeel opened his mouth to tell him off, but was cut off yet again by a uniformed officer calling for him. He shot me one last look over his shoulder before turning to walk away, "This discussion isn't over."
"I know," I mumbled back, looking away. With Gajeel out of the way, the EMTs tended to my wounds (which, luckily, didn't require a trip to the hospital). The next hour was spent having pictures taken of my various scrapes and bruises, during which I took the opportunity to tune out and really think about what just happened. My boyfriend had hit me. He had threatened to kill me. What would happen to me now? I couldn't stay in the apartment. Dan might come back.
When the officers were done with me, I was turned over into Gajeel's custody. I expected him to start into me immediately, but he kept his lips pressed into a thin line as he led me to his car. Instead of helping me into the passenger seat like I was expecting, he opened the back door. I glanced up at him, raising an eyebrow, but he refused to look at me. That's when it really hit me. In that moment, I wasn't Gajeel's friend. I was a victim. I climbed into the backseat, facing straight ahead as he softly shut the door. On the way to the precinct, my gaze followed cars, trees, and buildings. Somehow, it was soothing; like going on autopilot. Before I knew it, Gajeel was pulling into the parking lot and opening the door for me to climb out.
I had only been to the precinct twice during the two years I'd dated Dan. The first time was to meet up with him after his shift for our third date. That was also the day I met Gajeel. The second time was a few months back. Dan had to work late, so I had decided to make him dinner and surprise him. He was certainly surprised. Dan had pulled me into an interrogation room, where he criticized my skirt and tank top and requested that I not show up at his workplace and "flaunt my goods." That was the last time I wore anything that didn't cover my arms, legs, and chest. Needless to say, the rest of the summer had been hell.
"Wait in here," Gajeel said, opening a door. I stepped past him into the room, obediently sitting on the couch. The door clicked closed, and I allowed myself to survey my new environment. He'd left me in an office, not an interrogation room, so I was facing a large wooden desk. Paperwork was strewn about haphazardly, as if someone had been sifting through them. A cushiony desk chair was situated behind the desk, pointing slightly to the right, as if the occupant had abrupted lifted himself from it and walked straight out. From my vantage point on the couch, I could see a lone picture frame; a photo of an older man with red hair with his arm slung across the shoulders of a brunette woman who looked to be about my age. The longer I looked at the mess of a desk, the more anxious I got. I was just about to start organizing it in my mind when the door swung open again.
"Miss Lucy Heartfilia?" the red-haired man from the picture questioned, glancing up at me from a folder he held in his hand. He was well-built, with gray threading through his hair. I placed him in his late forties, at the oldest.
"Yes, sir," I answered. I kept both feet planted firmly on the floor, my hands resting in my lap. I made sure not to make eye contact, keeping my eyes locked on my knees. I heard more than saw him shut the door and move across the room, resting in the desk chair.
"My name is Gildarts Clive. I am captain of this precinct. I would like to begin by apologizing. I am sorry that this happened to you. Unfortunately, I would like to ask you to recount the events of this evening. Please don't leave anything out."
I took a deep breath and began to tell the story of my evening, starting with the text messages and ending with my phone call to Gajeel. Throughout my entire story, Captain Clive remained silent, taking notes. It was only after I had stopped talking that he began asking questions.
"You said Detective Straight was pounding on the bathroom door, and then suddenly stopped. Do you have any idea where he could've gone?" Captain Clive asked me, reading through his notes.
"No, I'm sorry. I thought he was still in the apartment until Gajeel showed up."
"And what is your relationship with Detective Redfox?"
"He's my friend," I answered defensively. After my last fight with Dan, I didn't want anyone else thinking I was having some illicit affair with the black-haired detective. Captain Clive put up his hands in a submissive gesture.
"I meant nothing by that, trust me. I was just considering who to put on this case. Since Detective Redfox has a personal connection to both you and Detective Straight, he is obviously out. I need a team who can handle the case, but also don't have a personal connection to it…" Captain Clive trailed off, obviously speaking more to himself than to me. I was just beginning to let my mind wander when a sudden exclamation startled me.
"That's it!" Captain Clive shouted, snapping his fingers. He quickly raised himself from his chair and made his way to the door. Throwing it open, he leaned out, cupping a hand over his mouth. "Are Fullbuster and Dragneel back yet?"
"Do you hear fighting?" someone called back cheekily, and I couldn't help but grin. Captain Clive didn't seem too offended.
"Well, when they get back, tell them to—"
"Seriously?! What made you think that was a good idea?!" an incredulous male voice interrupted him. The voice was low and slightly condescending.
"It worked, didn't it?" another male voice argued. This voice was rougher, and a bit more carefree.
"You damn near blew up a building," the first voice snapped, obviously not placated. A snort answered him.
"Okay, but did you die?" the second voice retaliated, dripping with sarcasm. I decided I liked the second voice.
"Fullbuster! Dragneel! My office. Now," Captain Clive ordered, halting the angry conversation. I was mildly disappointed by the interruption until I realized the two voices were headed this way. After a short moment, two men slipped into the room. One was lean and pale, with dark hair and perpetually bored-looking eyes. I flushed when I noticed he wasn't wearing a shirt, a peculiar blue tattoo stamped onto his right peck. He wore a silver sword pendant around his neck on a thick silver chain, which clinked faintly each time he shifted his weight. His hands were shoved into the pockets of his slacks, causing him to slouch.
The other man was slightly shorter, with tanned skin. He wore jeans and a button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. A white scarf was looped around his neck, even in the middle of August, and I had to wonder if he was hot. I knew I was sweltering in my turtleneck and jeans. The scarf wasn't even the weirdest thing about him. The weirdest thing was the dusty pink color of his hair. It stuck out in every which way, as if he had just run his fingers through it. His hazel eyes were locked on me, sliding over my face, taking inventory of the injuries he could see.
"All right, you two. I would like to introduce you to Lucy Heartfilia. From today on, she will be your responsibility," Captain Clive explained, gesturing to me. Both men shifted their attention to look at me, causing me to avert my eyes to the floor. Captain Clive let out a long-suffering sigh. "Fullbuster, where the hell is your shirt?"
"What?" the dark-haired man, Fullbuster, asked before looking down. "Damn it!"
The pink-haired man scoffed, his eyes finally leaving me. "Perverted popsicle."
"You wanna say that to my face, Pyromaniac?" Fullbuster shot back, grabbing the front of the other man's shirt. The other man, who I assumed by process of elimination was Dragneel, curled his hands into fists.
"Like you could beat me, Ice Queen," he taunted back, invading Fullbuster's personal space. I stood up from my chair and took a step back, not too keen on getting involved in a testosterone-fueled brawl. Before it could come to that, Captain Clive took control of the situation again.
"That's enough!" he commanded, causing the two men to snap to attention. "I'm giving you two a very important case." This seemed to pique both of their interests, as both men abandoned the fight for the time being to listen. Captain Clive, appeased, turned back to me. "These men are Detectives Gray Fullbuster and Natsu Dragneel. They are two of my best. You will be in good hands."
"Wait a minute," I said, raising my hand to stop him. "What do you mean I'll 'be in good hands'?" I asked, throwing up air quotes. An anxious knot settled in the pit of my stomach. Wherever he was going with this, I wasn't sure I was going to like it.
"Miss Heartfilia," Clive began, voice calm, "due to the circumstances of your situation, we have decided to put you into protective custody for the time being. Until Detective Straight can be located and arrested, you will be placed under 24 hour surveillance, under the watch of Detective Fullbuster or Detective Dragneel."
"Captain Clive," I started, mimicking his tone, "I assure you that is unnecessary. It was one incident. I hardly think that constitutes 24 hour surveillance. I've given my statement, so I'll be returning home now."
"I'm afraid things aren't that simple," Clive insisted.
"How so?" I argued, annoyance trickling through me. "I know how these things work, Captain. You take my statement, I go home." Dan had told me about these situations frequently. It was rare for the perpetrator to return to the scene of the crime that quickly. Not to mention, Dragneel's gaze was beginning to make me feel uncomfortable. He was watching me closely, as if waiting for something. If he wanted to see me break into tears, he would be sorely disappointed.
"The perpetrator in this case is a detective, whom you were living with. He threatened your life, and his firearm was not recovered at the scene. Detective Straight has access to things most others don't, which makes this a special case." Something about Captain Clive's explanation didn't add up. My eyes narrowed as I realized there was something he wasn't telling me. My shoulders slumped in defeat when I realized he wouldn't be telling me what that was tonight, and that I probably wouldn't be talking my way out of this.
"Fine," I sighed, defeated. I was tired, sore, and I just wanted to take a bath and go to bed. I would let Captain Clive win…for now.
"Thank you, Miss Heartfilia," Clive said, relieved. "If you make your way back onto the floor, I'm sure Detective Redfox will be more than happy to get you something to eat or drink while you wait just a little bit longer." Turning back to the two detectives, he said, "I would like to speak to you two privately for a moment."
Taking that as my cue to leave, I thanked Captain Clive for his time and left the office. I wasn't surprised when I saw Gajeel waiting for me.
"Did he really put those two on your case?" he asked, lip curling. Gajeel noticed my look of discomfort and backtracked. "Don't get me wrong, they're great detectives. They're just idiots, is all. The Captain is sending you to a safe house, yeah?" I nodded. "I'll take you to pick up your stuff."
The drive back to the apartment was stony silent. The silence continued throughout the elevator ride up to my floor, where Gajeel explained the reason for our visit to an officer before gesturing for me to go inside. I crossed the threshold then paused, looking back at him expectantly. He stayed firmly in place, and I realized he was giving me space. He was going to let me do this on my own.
I walked into the living room, taking notice of how nothing had been moved. Nothing had changed, yet everything had. I shook my head as I made my way through the dining room to the bedroom. My stomach twisted and turned as I passed the table. Refusing to look anywhere but at the closed bedroom door, it was in my peripheral vision that I saw the blood on the floor. My blood. My stomach gave another uncomfortable lurch.
Finally reaching the door, I reached for the knob and turned. The sight I saw before me was the last thing I had expected. Dresser drawers had been ripped out, their contents spilling all over the floor. Clothing had been pulled from the closet and haphazardly thrown across the room. It looked like a tornado had hit. Carefully stepping around debris, I approached the closet. Inside, under a pile of my clothes, was my suitcase. Dan's duffle bag was gone, along with some of his shirts and pants. He only ever wore khakis. Never jeans. No slacks. Just khakis. Only one or two pairs remained. He had ransacked the bedroom, packed a bag, and ran. How had I not heard any of that?
Taking deep breaths, I pulled my pink suitcase out from under the avalanche of fabric and began filling it, folding each article of clothing carefully before setting it inside. Finally, after I had packed enough jeans and long-sleeve shirts to last me a week without doing laundry, I picked up the case and gently set it on the unmade bed. My underwear drawer had been removed from the dresser, so I leaned down to pick my favorites from the floor. Dan may have criticized what I wore outside the apartment, but I never let him say anything about what underwear I wore. Not that he didn't try.
When I was satisfied with my full suitcase, I zipped it up and walked to the door, casting one more glance over my shoulder at what used to be my bedroom. I would probably never see it again. My heart cracked slightly at the thought.
"You ready to go?" Gajeel asked me when I rejoined him at the front door. I turned to look at my apartment one more time. I had been living in it before I'd started dating Dan. After being together for about four months, he had convinced me to let him move in. I had made good memories in that apartment. Resting my hand on the frame, I said a silent goodbye before turning back to Gajeel.
"Yeah. Let's go."
Oh shit, two chapters in one night? Yeah, that's probably not going to happen again. I had this chapter about halfway written when I posted the first one, and decided to finish this one and post it, too. I have a thing for Lucy/Gajeel brotp. Also, Natsu and Gray make an appearance! Hopefully, I'll get the next chapter written soon. Inspiration can be such a fickle creature.
