Everything Is Wonderful
By. Fanficer21
Chapter 3
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Disclaimer: I don't always write Fairy Tail fan fiction, but when I do...I am the most interesting woman in the world! JK :P
Rated: T
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It had been two weeks since Igneel met Natsu. He was currently on his way to the school to pick up his daughter and Natsu. He'd been dropping the boy off at home after school every day, giving the boy a nice break from reality. He was happy that the pinkette started to be more comfortable around him and Wendy. He wasn't so closed off anymore, and actually smiled more. Though the smile was small, it was progress.
Wendy and Natsu had become the best of friends, always hanging out at school, just the two of them. They didn't really have anyone else to talk to. The other kids generally ignored them, because they kept to themselves. Those that didn't ignore them, tormented them.
Igneel couldn't help but feel an attachment towards the pinkette. Being around him every day, made him feel like he had a son as well. The thought made him smile. He always wanted a son. And Wendy would be happy to have a brother, so she wouldn't feel alone all the time. When he pulled up to meet them, he felt his stomach drop at the sight of Wendy sitting quietly on the bench, her smile gone. It was replaced with a sad look as she faced the teen. Natsu sat with his head low, a hoodie covering his upper body and head.
Parking the car, Igneel shut it off before stepping out. He quietly walked to them until he sat down on the other side of Natsu. "Are you alright?" He asked the boy, but the pinkette didn't answer. Instead, he remained quiet, shifting uncomfortably. Not wanting to make things any more awkward for the kid, Igneel thought of an idea.
"Would you like to come home with us? It won't be long. I'll take you home afterwards." He said softly, seeing the boy tense suddenly. Before the man could say anything more, he was interrupted by an excited Wendy. "Yes! Please come over! I can show you all the cool things we have!" She said happily, bouncing in her seat while looking at his hooded face. Igneel watched as Natsu's body seemed to shake slightly, like he was afraid. But it soon stopped when he sighed, lowering his head and nodded slowly.
When they moved towards the car, Igneel noticed Natsu walking slower than usual. His hands were in the sweatshirt pockets, but the crinkles in the sweater suggested he was holding his stomach. He remained silent about this, at least while Wendy was around. The drive home was silent, but Igneel saw the boy flinch when the car hit bumps or holes in the road. When they arrived home, Igneel asked Wendy to help her mother with dinner, while he took Natsu to a more secluded area of the house where he could ask the boy about the situation more privately.
Igneel carefully pulled the hood from Natsu's face, revealing the downcast eyes and dark bruises on the left side of his face and along his jaw. Natsu shifted uncomfortably, but flinched when Igneel gasped sharply. When the boy's eyes met his, Igneel looked into the olive orbs, seeing the hurt and fear within them.
"How did this happen?" Igneel asked softly, trying to keep his voice calm. Natsu just looked at the floor, finding it fascinating all of a sudden. "I got in a fight at school." Was all he mumbled, not daring to look at the man. Igneel, however, remained silent, not buying the boy's excuse. From what he heard Wendy say, Natsu wasn't very social at school, and kept away from others. Also, the dark shade of the bruises suggested it was from someone with more power than a typical high school student possessed. It had to be someone else, someone closer to home. Based on what he saw the night of the parent teacher conference and the way Natsu didn't like to go home after school, that someone else was most likely the boy's father.
Walking to the bathroom, just across from the bedroom they were in, Igneel grabbed a liquid and clean cloth for the bruises. Kneeling down in front of the boy, he gently dabbed at the marks, doing his best not to cause Natsu too much pain. Natsu began to relax as the pain of his bruises started to fade. But his moment of respit disappeared the moment Igneel told him to lay down. Tensing his body, he shook his head, trying to make it seem like his stomach wasn't so bad. But in reality, it hurt like hell.
"It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you. I want to numb it for you." The man said softly, attempting to ease the boy into a sense of security. "It's okay. I'm only going to look, and then I'll be done." He continued, gently pressing against Natsu's shoulders as he slowly moved the boy to rest on his back. To say the pinkette was uncomfortable would be an understatement, but the pain he felt overruled everything else. He just wanted the pain to go away.
Grabbing the hem of the shirt, Igneel slowly pulled it up the boy's stomach. His eyes narrowed when he saw Natsu's hips sticking out from beneath his skin. Lifting the shirt further, he gasped at the dark bruise along his stomach, just above the naval. He gently dabbed the cloth around it, eyes narrowed and teeth grit as the boy whimpered at the contact. When he finished, he lifted the shirt a little more to see if his suspision was correct. He growled to himself, causing the boy to fllinch on the bed. He could practically count each of Natsu's ribs.
Igneel felt Natsu shiver beneath his touch when he ran his fingers down a few ribs, feeling the bones just beneath the skin. Realizing he was probably making the boy uncomfortable, he took his hand away, pulling the shirt back down. Sitting on the floor with his back against the bed, Igneel rested his elbows agaisnt his knees, putting his face in his hands as he sighed deeply.
"Your father did this to you, didn't he!" He said more than asked. Head down, he didn't see the boy silently nod before sitting up. Just then, Natsu's phone rang, causing him to jump and look at said phone. Looking up, Igneel saw the boy tense before pressing a shaky finger to the phone. Silently, he watched as Natsu listened to the other end, a look of fear crossing the pinkette's features.
"...I had to stay after school again. I'll get a ride home..." Natsu said quietly, his body shaking. When he ended the call, he noticed Igneel staring at him with a blank expression, making him look at the mattress.
"Why did you lie?" Igneel asked, watching the boy's expression turn solemn. "...They get mad when I'm somewhere besides school or home." Natsu whispered, watching Igneel's expression turn dark. "In this situation, I can report this as a case of child abuse-" Igneel stopped when Natsu's eyes widened. The boy backed up on the bed, bringing his knees to his chest, flinching only slightly at the mostly numbed pain. He shook his head furiously, tears coming to his eyes as he squeezed them shut. "D-Don't...please...he'll...he'll-"
"Calm down, Natsu." Igneel cut him off, placing his hands on Natsu's shoulders gently. Looking at the boy, now looking at him again, he released a heavy sigh. "Alright. I won't report it. But if I catch him doing anything else to you, I'll make sure he is punished." He said darkly, narrowing his eyes, causing Natsu to avert his own with a small nod. Igneel was about to say something else, until they heard footsteps in the hall. Quickly pulling the hood over Natsu's head, Igneel stood up to face Grandine, who knocked on the threshold.
"Dinner's ready." She said sweetly, her eyes moving to Natsu. "It's nice to meet you, Natsu. I've heard all about you from Wendy and Igneel. They can't stop talking about you." She continued, watching as the boy tensed his shoulders slightly, but otherwise remained silent as he sat on the bed. Looking to Igneel, she gave a confused expression, watching as her husband shook his head slowly.
"He's had a bad day at school." The man said, walking to the door, pecking his wife on the lips. Grandine nodded silently, glancing at the boy once more. "You're welcome to join us for dinner." She said softly, placing a hand on Igneel's arm. Both adults watched as the boy's head shot up, his eyes wide beneath the hood. "Come join us, kid. We won't let you starve at our house." Igneel added, slight anger in his voice, causing Natsu to lower his head slightly, before scooting himself off the bed. He quietly made his way over to them, walking towards the kitchen with them. Igneel placed his hand on the boy's shoulder, guiding him to the specified area.
When they reached the kitchen, Igneel noticed Wendy running towards Natsu, her arms outstretched and a wide grin on her face. He quickly scooped the girl up before she could make contact, which would hurt the boy. "Where's my hug, you little rascal?" He laughed, holding the struggling and giggling girl in his arms. "Daddy! Put me down!" Wendy squealed as she was brought to her spot at the table.
"My hug, daughter dearest." Igneel demanded playfully, causing Wendy to roll her eyes. Shifting her weight, she wrapped her arms around her father's neck, giving him a sloppy kiss on the cheek. "There! Happy now?" She grumbled, a small smile on her face. Both looked over when they heard laughter. Grandine was leaning against the table, holding her stomach as she tried to contain her cackle. Natsu stood near her, a smile on his face.
Putting his daughter down, the man pulled out a chair, motioning for Natsu to take a seat beside Wendy, before sitting in his own spot beside his wife. Igneel and Grandine quickly held hands as they said Grace, before digging into the delicious food. Natsu just stared at the variety placed before him, not sure what to do. "Go on, Natsu. Take whatever you like." Igneel and Grandine said at the same time, causing them to chuckle a little. They watched as the boy reached for the mashed potatoes, putting a small spoonful on his plate. Taking a bite of the potatoes on his fork, his eyes widened at the amazing flavor.
The rest of the meal was spent in Natsu trying a bit of everything, his smile growing wider at the all the wonderful tastes. Igneel's smile grew as well, glad that the boy was happy, and would have a full stomach when he goes home.
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When it was time to bring Natsu home, Igneel noticed Natsu's hesitation and finding things to keep him in the house on purpose. He could tell the boy didn't want to leave, coming up with an idea, a smile came to the man's lips as he walked up to Natsu. Placing a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder, Igneel looked into wide olive orbs when Natsu turned to face him, noticing the flinch the boy made at the sudden contact.
"Feel free to stop by again. We'd love to have you here." Igneel said softly, grinning when the boy's face lit up. "Y-You mean it?" Natsu asked quietly, almost afraid that the offer would be taken back. "I mean it, Natsu. You can come here anytime you want. Regardless of what day or time it is, you are welcome here." The man said again, squeezing Natsu's shoulder in a comforting manner. He watched at the boy's eyes began to water as tears formed. Moving to hug the boy, he noticed Natsu back up, a scared look in the boy's eyes. Instead, Igneel moved his hand to Natsu's hair, ruffling the pink locks, ignoring the boy closing his eyes when the hand drew near his face.
A few minutes later, Natsu said his goodbyes to Grandine and Wendy, waving at them slightly with a slightly bigger smile on his face. Once in the car, Igneel drove to the boy's house in relative silence. When they neared the house, Igneel parked the car a few houses down from Natsu's residence, letting the boy take his time in exiting the car. Looking at the man, Natsu had a hopeful look in his eyes. "Can...Can I come over...again...tomorrow?" He watched as Igneel nodded his head, a grin on his face. "Counting on it!" The man replied, watching the boy's eyes widen a bright smile came to his face, melting Igneel's heart. Extending his arm, he patted Natsu on the shoulder as the boy got out of the car, the boy's body was rigid as he made his way towards his house.
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Next chapter: Gildarts finally tells Igneel the truth. What will Igneel do?