FunFact! 2 ampere charger is good if you do quick charge to powerbank :)
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Chapter 4: 12:08
–
Lucy groaned as she kicked the blanket. Grabbing her phone from the nightstand and spared a suspicious glance towards the outside through the window, she planted her face into her pillow as she saw the pop-up reminder of today's event. No wonder today was oddly very sunny to the point where the birds were all chirping happily – today was, undoubtedly, going to be her unfortunate day.
Scratching her lion mane-like hair, Lucy fumbled with her crumpled pajamas and walked to the window, immediately regretting opened it as the cold, chilly winter wind entered her place. That reminded her of a scene or two from the Disney cartoons. She wondered if she could become like those princesses, singing as the little bird perched on her hand, but immediately realized she had no resemblance to any of them.
Lucy put a hand on her face and suppressed a sigh; random thought in the morning was definitely not a good thing to start a day.
But, oh well, there was nothing better than a couple of deep breaths of fresh air in the middle of a city such as Magnolia; Lucy could stay here all day without worrying about her work or assignments if only the temperature was better. While Magnolia wasn't a metropolis the way Crocus was, the air wasn't as fresh as the one in the hills area despite its geographical location being surrounded by hills. Lucy wondered if she and Levy should go hiking and camping in the future, for the sake of their sanity; being cramped in a city loaded with bunch of stressful things that slowly ate them alive and all.
Now that Lucy's rational mind finally able to force her body to move and ordered to warm her body up, she closed the window and started the fire in the small fireplace. Settling herself in front of the fireplace, Lucy rubbed her hands together as she listened to the cracking sound the fire made to the log. It was a relaxing sound in its own way and Lucy was glad she had the traditional heater instead of the electric heater. Who knew what she should do if the block suddenly had an electrical failure while a storm was raging outside?
That was why Lucy hated winter and preferred summer or autumn more.
Having her stomach suddenly growled, Lucy remembered she hadn't eaten anything since last night. She then went to the kitchen to see if she still had any leftover from yesterday's lunch. But to her dismay, there was nothing so she decided to cheer herself up by making some pancakes. Pancakes… with lots of syrup and sugar and strawberry…
"…–pancakes! Huh? Lu– it's overcooked!"
"Whaaat?!"
"Overcooked," she smiled, and almost broke into a grin, as she pulled out a big plastic bowl from a shelf. "Well, I'm definitely a better cook now."
Pouring the milk and adding egg, Lucy then went back to her room to grab her phone. Ignoring the pop-up, she tapped the music icon and shuffled all the song in her playlist and put it on the coffee table. In an instant, songs with both loud beat and acoustic one filled the air around her. She wished she had this portable speaker so she could just keep her phone in her room. That way, she had a bigger space less quiet and efficient.
Within minutes, the smell of freshly cooked pancakes filled the kitchen and Lucy hummed in delight as she put the sliced strawberries on top of the stack of pancakes. She could go with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and choco chips but she decided to be healthy this morning and went pouring the syrup before taking her comfortable seat on the sofa.
Lucy turned on the television as she munched the warm slice of pancake. Browsing through channels, she stopped on a particular channel and raised the volume. It was news, one thing that Lucy came to hate after nonsensical gossip shows. But this one, this news, took her interest as she read the title.
Exclusive interview with Layla Altrea, CEO of Altreaus Gold Corporation
It took all her might to not to spit out the half-chewed pancake back to the plate as she stared wide eyes at the television screen. Placing her free hand on her neck unconsciously as she tried not to choke on it, Lucy's eyes widened another fraction as she saw a blonde haired woman that resembled her too much. Too much for her liking, if she may add. And as if on cue, her phone rang and Lucy almost knocked over the plate that was resting on her lap all the time.
She swiped open the lock screen with a little too much pressure as she was driven by vehement. And another ton for her chagrin, it was the same pop-up of reminder about today's event. Lucy was ready to throw the phone to the television, but she couldn't afford to lose both of the electronic devices. She was low in the pocket and what she needed the least was another Jewels for reparation fees so she restrained.
The metal, stainless fork made a less than nice sound as it grazed against the porcelain plate, but she stubbornly ignored it and kept on chewing the pancake slice with extra vehement.
"Good morning, Altrea-san, we're happy to have you here."
"The pleasure is mine, Maya-san, and please, call me Layla. We're about the same age, right?"
"Now that's another wonderful trait from you, Layla, aside from your ever-so-young face, that is. Now let's get to the main topic; as the CEO of the world's most renowned gold mining corporation, what do you think about the society's view about gold being the most precious being aside from money?"
At the start of the conversation, Lucy whirled her head and focused on the screen. There were two women, one with blonde hair in business suit and the other had auburn hair dressed in your usual newscaster clothing. There was a round of applause coming from the in-studio audience as the golden haired woman answered.
"Altreaus Gold Corporation is a worldwide corporation that isn't only did the mining, but also did the marketing and producing our own jewelries. For such, society's view about gold is as important as the gold itself and…"
The show went on for fifteen minutes before it was break session. Lucy had finished her breakfast by then and as she stood to place the plate to the sink, her eyes directed to the clock on the wall. It was then finally she let out a shriek and chanted 'I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!' all over the place and not bothered to continue watching the interview program.
Her boyfriend messaged her last night, telling her if they can meet tomorrow morning for a chat. Lucy got a hunch that he was going to talk about their fight that had been almost two weeks-long. Eleven days since their fight and three days since the failed attempt of kidnap. At first she told him he could come over her apartment since she was still paranoid about those men back then. She didn't tell him about that, though, but he refused the offer and went straight told her to meet him in the park.
Well, Lucy was mentally ready just in case he wanted to tell her nasty lies about the incident back then. Levy's word from last night echoed in her head, telling her she had to over their relationship. It was a nasty discussion for Lucy's taste, but she needed Levy's opinion about it and somehow, they ended up discussion on how Lucy should interact with him.
"You know, just in case he starts talking about how you and he are incompatible, just cut his bullshits and go straight dump him. That way you'll feel less hurt, Lu."
"I play the culprit?"
"Exactly."
Sometimes Lucy just couldn't love Levy enough for what she had done with her. That girl seemed like she knew what the best for her, but still, Lucy couldn't help but feeling queasy at the thought of her playing the culprit and not the victim. Weren't girls supposed to play the victim? And the boys were the asshole towards the girls? Or was it just her selfish thought?
Lucy bolted to her room, not bothering with her wet feet that left wet footprints on the floor, and almost slipped as she saw once again the interview program. She saw the blonde woman smiled towards the camera, making her shudder as their eyes met indirectly. The woman had the same iris color as hers and the same jawline. If only it wasn't for the faint wrinkle on her cheeks and under her eyes, Lucy could brag to Levy she had a twin by more than twenty year gap. But Lucy snorted at the thought, she was a stranger and why did she want to be compared with her? Her life was surely going to be sucked today.
And Lucy just realized she had yet to get dressed.
With a click, Lucy closed the door of her room and got changed in a flash. Oddly not minding her hairdo, she simply tossed what it seemed to be important to her handbag – phone, purse, pepper spray for protection, heck, she would carry stun gun if she had one. Slipping into her knee-length black boots, she gave a run towards the stop to keep herself warm.
Half of the bus passengers gave her this confusion-mixed-curious look as she stepped into the bus with a hood that almost covered her eye lines and a masker that covered from below her nose. Some even started whispering to another, and Lucy caught the word of 'model' and 'artist' and 'paparazzi' which made Lucy uncomfortable and restless. Maybe she should start faking some cough and sneeze so that they took it she was sick and was heading to the hospital or some sort.
Knowing it would be like this, Lucy almost regretted the effort if only she wasn't haunted by the paranoia of the possibility of another attempt to kidnap her.
It was Levy's idea to begin with. Three days ago, after she successfully made a safe run back to her apartment, Levy called her and was panicked as heck when Lucy couldn't help but sobbing as she answered her call. The next day, Levy came to her place with a bag containing the new hoodie with big hood and some masker so she could hide her face with it. It was a brilliant idea, Lucy decided, as the fake cough worked just as she wished.
[I'm at the park. Where are you?] 10:13
Lucy closed her phone as she stood in front of a lamppost and sometimes glancing around to see if there was a black-haired man she was familiar with. But to her disappointment, the park was literally deserted, as if the temperature was too cold even for children to play and build some snowman or make snow angels. It wasn't even snowing and the sun was bright.
Tapping one foot to the pavement, Lucy continued to glance around as she checked her phone if she missed a call or message from him. She would check on her wristwatch sometimes or looked up to the sky and wondering if the sunny day would last until the end of the day.
[Are you late? I'm in front of the lamppost, wearing red hoodie and a masker.] 10:34
[No, I'm not sick, if you're wondering. I'll tell you why after you're arrived, 'kay?] 10:36
Her hands were starting to hurt and stiff. It was no longer red as it usually was, in fact, it was almost white from cold. Pulling her masker down, Lucy rubbed her hands together and blow hot breath on it. A big puff of steam quickly faded away as she once again reached for her phone to message him.
[It's started to snow here. Are you okay?] 11:07
[Do you still have work to do? Want me to come to your place instead?] 11:19
Lucy once again glanced around hopefully, trying to distinguish the man she called boyfriend amidst the group of young men that passed near her. Tugging the masker, she once again let out several fake cough and hoping they paid no mind at her. But one fake cough led her to one fit of real cough which caught the attention of a man.
The man, who simply dressed in a black jacket and blue and white stripe shawl, approached her. His raven hair was slightly messy as his grip on a black case – probably guitar inside – loosened. Lucy spared him a glance between her rough cough and wondering if he actually just standing there while staring at her.
"I'm fine if that's what you're wondering," Lucy said in a hoarse voice and cringed at how bad it sounded. It made her sound angry or annoyed which she actually did, but not at this man.
"Lucy, you're freezing," he said, a frown appeared on his face.
Lucy took a deep breath to ease the itch on her throat. "And?"
"I'm telling you should warm yourself."
Lucy snorted, rubbed her hands together and blew some hot breath into it once again. She eyed him warily, not quite liking the way he lectured her. "What the hell are you doing here anyway?" He asked.
"Waiting for a boyfriend," she shrugged, sarcastically laughed as she walked to a cold bench. The man followed her and seated next to her with hands clasped together, as if he was thinking about something.
"You know, I should not be the one to tell you this, but," he sighed, "I don't like you with him."
"Him?" Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Him who?"
"Your so-called boyfriend."
"Oh."
She blinked before turning her head towards the lamppost she once leaned to. Imagining herself standing there and glancing around wildly made her stomach knot. Was she that pathetic to the point that she didn't realize he wasn't going to be here? Lucy knew he wasn't the type to hold any promises, yet she still placed trust in him.
"I don't like it either," Lucy forced to let out another sigh, ignoring the big white puff appeared in front of her face as she stared at her boots.
"Then why? Seriously, Lu, even I was better than him."
"You are better than him, Gray. You should know that you're the only male I dared myself to place you on the 'friend zone'." Lucy used her hand to make the air quotation sign. "Ugh, I'm sorry, it was hurt."
The man beside her let out a chuckle, as if finding it amusing. "Because you're too good for me?"
"Because you are too good for me. You deserve better. Say, what about Juvia?"
Gray simply stood before crouched in front of her, taking her hand in his in an attempt of making it warmer. "We're a pair now," he winked, making Lucy gasped in mild surprise, "and I see you as my little sister now so don't worry. Give me a hug?"
"Congrats, big bro," the girl laughed, taking a hand from him and ruffled his hair into a mess. "Tell Juvia I miss her and we should meet again in spring."
The man nodded before stood, planting a kiss on her hair as he waved at her. Lucy could only sigh and she imagined the blue-haired girl that was literally on her neck was now with her beloved man as she saw he joined the group of men. Well, at least he was happy now. At least he was with his dream girl, someone who deserved him better than her.
The sudden buzz of her phone almost made her jump. Reaching for her phone, Lucy was beyond thrilled as she saw a message from him. But her heart felt like it dropped into the pit of her stomach as she read the content.
[Sorry, I forgot it.] 12:08
And it took all of her might to not break down in the middle of the park as she chose to start walking to refresh her mind. She had to stay sane if she wanted to continue her walk. Lucy went to her favorite café and ordered a hot white cappuccino while she warmed herself up in the building.
Sipping her hot beverage, she rested her head on her propped hand as she stared outside where the snow fell harder. There was a blank look on her face, a result of her mind stubbornly order her heart not to give away and actually break down here. There was a proper time and place, dammit, or at least there was a proper place to and this wasn't the one she talked about.
Taking a deep inhale, she told herself that she was fine, that she didn't hurt or angry or sad, that she wasn't at fault, that he was the jerk here. Yes, one hell of a big jerky-jerk. But she loved him. Now Lucy laughed out loud and thanked that the café was free from people who actually would spare her a weird glance. She was definitely a masochist, just like Levy said the other couple days ago.
Well, what was love if it wasn't full of hurt and lies?
If Lucy was poetic, and technically she was since all of her stories were beautifully poetical, she would describe love as lame as something that killed the bearer slowly but sure. Or maybe better; like a rose. Thorny, but beautiful. Lucy knew now why Levy preferred flowering dogwood more than rose. And she, being a masochist, loved rose more than anything, but chrysanthemum seemed beautiful as well if she didn't know what it represent for.
Leaving the café with another glass of hot beverage – hot chocolate this time – Lucy made a detour to the bus stop, and the feeling of worry about the kidnapper was simply fading away. She could simply pour the hot chocolate to their faces and sprayed some pepper spray into their eyes before kick them in the place where it hurt the most. She was relieved she knew some basic of martial arts she had no idea when or where did she learned that.
When Lucy came to it, she was standing in front of the two story building before questioning herself why, of all places, her legs carry her to this one. At least the old man's cinnamon bread smelled delicious compared to her baking. Maybe she could talk to Natsu, have a nice, light chat with him to relieve her from the stress.
The same jingling bell greeted her as she opened the door. The place was still the same since her last visit three days ago, the smell of cinnamon was still lingering in the air and the sound of someone rubbing glass from the counter immediately alarmed Lucy. It was the silver haired woman she knew as her senior in her modeling work.
The woman wasted no time to greet Lucy as she sat at the barstool, head planted to the counter as she sighed.
"Bad day, Lucy?" she asked.
Lucy gave her a groan in reply. "Not my lucky day."
"I see," the woman hummed as she kept on polishing the glass. "Well, if you're looking for a nice place to sleep, you know where it is, ne?"
"Yeah," Lucy slid off the barstool. "I'll scare the customer away with my negative aura. Tell Natsu not to wake me up if he's here."
At the happy nod from the older female, Lucy went to the second floor and found the comfortable spot behind the bookshelf with a big window next to it. Truthfully speaking, Lucy loved the spot, but she loved the place in general. Not bothering to put her handbag securely, she just placed it in front of her as she buried her face in her folded arms. At least she could finally rest her mind and body. That was one hell of an event for her mind to process.
If Natsu was asked what he hated the most, he could easily make a long list about it. He hated snow, for starter, because it simply cold and he couldn't play with it as his body temperature was higher than the average people. In the second place would be his friend-slash-enemy; Gray Fullbuster. Not only he was his rival on the stringed instrument department, he was also the reason why he hated snow. Strangely, Natsu found it resembled Gray and it annoyed him.
He wasn't expecting to meet him today, though. The two were happened to be crossing each other way and Natsu couldn't help but throw a nice punch to his back. Of course, the punched man simply left the group he was in only to return the punch which Natsu avoided it swiftly. But at last, after another couple of punches and kicks, the two settled down and started to talk about things; mainly about what the two were doing here.
"Showing some relatives around the city," Gray replied nonchalantly when Natsu asked. "You?"
"On my way to the library," Natsu replied in a cool tone so he wouldn't lose from him. Somehow it was their habit for making anything as a stupid subject for competition. None of them disliked it, only sometimes they found it amusingly stupid. Natsu was almost knocked over though when he heard the other man laughed. "What?"
It took a couple of second before Gray stopped, with difficulty, and said, "Somehow the idea of you and the library doesn't sit well in my mind, Flamebrain."
"Says one who goes sight-seeing. You probably want to serenade some girl out there with that sucky guitar playing of yours," Natsu glared almost playfully and a grin broke as he added, "Popsicle."
Gray had to restrain the muscle on his face to form a grin into a mere smirk. "Well, I did serenade a girl. In another way she prefers."
"Bet she smacked you right after."
"She ruffled my hair," Gray's smirk widened as Natsu's lips formed a small frown. "Well, she's like my little sister. I used to like her, but not anymore. It seems she's having a bad day."
Natsu nodded. Somehow the image of a certain blonde haired girl popped out of nowhere in his mind. It had been three days since she last came to the library, not that he found it weird or anything, but he just wanted to see her. The thought of Lucy having problem didn't sit well in his mind, but it wasn't as if the girl he talked about was Lucy.
Well, Natsu just need to make sure of it.
"A girl, eh?" Natsu said, placing his fingers on his chin. "Long blonde hair? Heart-shaped face?"
The raven haired man arched a questioning eyebrow, eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion. He eyed Natsu warily. "How'd you know?"
"There's nothing I don't know. Lucy Heartfilia, right?"
Gray narrowed his eyes, not liking the way his rival's eyes gleamed. "Back off, Flamebrain."
Natsu stood from the bench. "Make me," he said and left Gray with a small wave of a hand. He then made a brisk walk all the way to the library, making sure that each step was going to worth the 8 Island's special caramel cappuccino or frappuccino. Or maybe he could try the cinnamon hot chocolate Lucy ordered last time. Either way, it would be great with the apple pie Mira made.
Noting that the snow getting thicker, Natsu made a small jog to the building, but as soon as he arrived at the place and was ready to tell Mira his order, he only found the restaurant empty and one pale yellow sticky note on the counter. Written on it was – Natsu, I'm going to get some milk in the grocery and Yajima-jii isn't here. Take care of the place! P.S: Lucy is upstairs, don't wake her, okay! J
He scratched his hair while tossing the paper into the trash can behind the counter. Opening the fridge, Natsu found a blue tumbler with another pale yellow sticky note on it. Written there was his name, which he decided it was Mira's doing, and the name of what was inside the tumbler. Caramel Frappuccino.
Natsu loved Mira and her mind reading skill.
Taking a swig of it and placing it back inside, he then made a beeline toward the stairs and climbed it carefully so he didn't make any creaking sound. As soon as he entered the library, he filled the attendance list and checked if anyone had rent the book past the due dates. Reaching to the drawer, Natsu seated behind the counter and wore the glasses as he worked on sorting the returned books from yesterday.
As Natsu walked almost wobbly between the bookshelves with almost-jaw-covering stack of books, while silently questioning which book went in which shelf and on what row, he wondered if the person who borrowed these books – five of them – was actually able to finish them all within three days.
They were all thick books, one that Natsu preferred to avoid at all cost, consisting of three novels, a dictionary and an encyclopedia. The first novel was Pride and Prejudice and then, there was Jane Eyre. Whilst the first two novels were romance-themed, Natsu whistled as he saw another thick book of The Da Vinci Code, which was indeed a good novel.
Placing the last book, the Jane Eyre in the fourth row in J section, Natsu noticed the existence of a figure, slumping over the desk with an apparent bag beneath her head. Her arms were circling the bag almost protectively, making him feel irked at Mira's nonchalant manner of leaving the sleeping girl alone with no security. What if someone or a careless group of men wandering around the place and found her in such… helpless state?
Natsu banished the continuation of the thought as he ran his fingers on his pink locks, suppressing a tired sigh as he reminded himself not to wake the girl up. With a soft nudge of the glasses to put it back firmly on the bridge of his nose, he blinked as he noticed how the girl stirred in her sleep with a small groan. She turned her head in his direction.
The blonde haired girl was a beauty, indeed, with her baby face and doe-like eyes, she might be the prettiest girl Natsu had ever met. And he wasn't going to deny that. Looking at her sleeping figure, with her face slightly covered by unmanned hair, she was looking as peaceful as ever. And not to mention her slightly parted lips, which was unjustly inviting.
The pink haired man pinched his arm at the weird thought that invaded his mind.
But Natsu couldn't suppress the urge to swipe away the sun-kissed hair over her face. A small smile formed on his face as his hand lingered on her cheek.
Recalling the brief talk with Gray, Natsu couldn't help but thinking about her so-called bad day. While he knew her only a little, she was no person that was hard to read. In fact, her eyes vividly displayed things she was thinking, along with the feeling she tried so hard to feign.
Lucy was, Natsu decided after a long stagnant pause, a pretty complex person for being so expressive and inexpressive at the same time. There was a time when she openly showed what she felt – like when she was fretting about her writer's block, and a time when she was carefully laced her thought. Though it was only a hunch, Natsu felt she was oddly indifferent when they talked about her past.
There had to be something in the past she disliked to talk about. Natsu could understand why she became sour about it – he really did understand.
Realizing his hand was lingering far longer than intended, Natsu hastily withdrew and started to walk back to the counter. He sat and the silver glasses frame glinted as he took it off and placed it back inside the drawer. Not having anything to do, Natsu pulled a book and decided to re-read it once again to simply brush away the boredom.
With no much things running in his head, his choice fell to the Harry Potter saga – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
As he was on the part where Harry met the Dementor on the train, his phone vibrated. The man arched his eyebrow in an unexpected manner; because he simply didn't expect anyone to message him.
Placing a pencil on the page he left, he reached for it and typed down the password. The picture of a cello greeted him in the background, but then covered by an almost-translucent message notification.
Natsu frowned.
It was Gajeel.
[Downstairs. Be quick, Salamander.] 1:37
"Dammit," Natsu swore and put the black phone in his jeans pocket as he made a brisk walk downstairs, completely ignoring how the old stairs could make a loud creaking sound.
His mind told him, in a way that approached desperation, to not act harshly and keep it cool. Gajeel was a person who provoked people easily, almost as easy as offering candies to children. He had the tongue of snake; one that easily lure its prey into its lair with the utmost care before eating it whole.
Natsu learned it from the past, from the very first time he met the man. It wasn't a pretty memory.
As he reached the last stair, he saw the sender of the message, leaning on the counter with a hood which its shadow covered half of his face. Neither Mira nor old man Yajima was present, which somehow relieved him for saving some more troubles. A wide smirk plastered on his face nicely, making the silver piercings did its good job on adding the hideous impression.
"Metal-face," Natsu greeted almost forcibly with a tone that sounded as calm as a forest in the morning, with the hint of iciness on the edge.
"Been a long time since ya call me that," he said in a low baritone voice, red eyes glinted in mock amusement. "Lightning wants you back."
"Desperate much?" Natsu taunted, his lips formed a smile in a mocking manner. Looking at the scowling face of the black haired man followed by a low growl, Natsu couldn't hold back and laughed.
"That Lightning bastard should be one," he continued as he made a light walk towards him, "that way you got your ol' little gang back. You're happy and so do I. It's a win-win solution."
"Sadly, Salamander," Gajeel said quickly in a hiss as his smirk disappeared and he stood from his seat, "the rules still apply."
Natsu blinked, his mind raced for any memory about the said rules. Cocking his head to the side, he questioned, "Oh yeah?"
"Fuck, you're as idiotic as ever, I swea–"
"Third rule," Natsu stretched his hand with fingers formed in the number three symbol, "leader is always a leader, except those who are traitorous. That's right, Metal-face, I was the leader. I am the leader."
Natsu could she Gajeel smirked once again. He returned the smirk as he walked behind the counter. Grabbing the cloth Mira and Yajima-jii always used for wiping the cup clear, he reached for a cup and wiped it the same way the other two did.
Placing the clean cup beneath the espresso maker, he then waited until the dark-colored liquid to stop pouring. Gajeel eyed him in anticipation and a little bit hint of confusion, opening his mouth to shower him with nag and only to be silenced with a raised hand of Natsu's.
Pouring half of cup milk and adding the mixture with two shots of sugar, he then placed the beverage on the counter, offering it to the still-confused man. "Poison free, it's on me," he said, wiping his hand with a paper towel.
"Well, Salamander," Gajeel wiped the corner of his mouth after he took a big chug on the beverage, "welcome back to the club."
Gajeel was no man of patience. In fact, if he was ordered to persuade some people joining the group in recruiting time, or fishing season as he preferred to call it, he would either swiftly avoid the task or be blunt and avoided it, despite his good trait in doing so.
But it was different this time. He was going to fish a big one with peculiar color and appearance of no fish.
He fished a dragon.
It was by the order of the temporary leader, or the original co-leader. The shiny yellow hair owner who always wore headphone around his head was the group's temporary leader, and he would be the permanent one if the original refused. But Lightning wouldn't take no as the answer.
And it was Gajeel's duty to confirm that.
So there he was, on the restaurant he found days ago, after paying the spy double of his payment, with eyes twitched uncomfortably. It was ridiculous. Who would think that the ferocious leader of the renowned gang, mafia, worked in a restaurant?
Gajeel was beyond shocked when he found out that his leader wasn't a cook, or a waiter, or a receptionist, but a librarian. A simple, nerdy librarian.
But he was glad, though, that the pink-haired guy still remembered him, even in a way more than he thought it would be. The sharp obsidian eyes piercing him as they talked, making him shivered in both anticipation and excitement. The fact that he was still remembered him was enough for Gajeel to convince himself to do his best on persuading this guy back into his old business.
It turned out bad, Gajeel half expected it. But it didn't really matter. There would be still the second time, but no third time. And the leader, nicknamed as Salamander, crushed his pride so hard it actually enough for him to bring out a punch toward his face.
"Well, Salamander," he smirked, mentally laughing so hard in victory, "welcome back to the club."
At the sickeningly sweet smile his leader made, Gajeel suppressed the urge to laugh out loud and smacked him on the back like he used to. Drinking his free coffee, he eyed the pink-haired man, younger than him a year, as he leaned into the counter from the inside.
"Nice meeting you again, Metal-face," he said, promptly stunned him at the politeness.
"Gihi," he chuckled, "drop the formality, Salamander."
The pink haired man shrugged, then went to the fridge and pulled out something, a glass or something of the sort, and then placed it on the counter. A constant oozing translucent cold steam slowly filled the air as it disappeared almost immediately. Neither of them opened their mouth, but it wasn't a bad silence either. Gajeel never thought he had changed this much; from being the loudest to a quiet-self.
Gajeel asked himself – was this still the same man who mindlessly would set a building into flame a year ago? The same man who would laugh carelessly as the blazing red fire consumed everything around it, illuminating the night sky with red and contaminating the sky with black smoke.
He just needed to make sure of it.
"How's the gang?" Natsu finally asked, making Gajeel wonder if he wasn't content for joining back the gang. But his question settled it down, at least he was asking about its condition.
"It's complete. That water-girl quitted though."
"Juvia?"
Emptied the coffee, Gajeel replied, "Yeah."
"I see."
Irked by his calm demeanor, Gajeel smacked the counter, the cup and the glass clinked at the vibration. He turned to gaze at Natsu, who gave him a confused stare in a careless manner. As if he was taunting him. And Gajeel wasn't going to let that slide, he grabbed the man's collar, effectively changing his expression into anger.
"Listen, Metal-face," Natsu said, a deep frown on his eyebrow was formed, "as the leader of the Red Dragon, no one will go against me or my order."
Gajeel narrowed his red eyes. "Fine."
"Here goes my first order, after one year gap," Gajeel's narrowed red eyes went wide at the sight of his leader's smirk – victorious smirk, "I officially disband the group and you will not re-form once again."
His fist came to a contact with Natsu's face, throwing him straight to the wall behind him and knocking over some kitchen utensils and wall ornament. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth and his nose, but the smirk – that victorious smirk – was still etched on his face, much to Gajeel's chagrin.
Not bothering to make a detour, Gajeel simply jumped over the counter and kicked him in the gut. Natsu hadn't once made an attempt to defend himself and just simply took all the punches and kicks, which irritated Gajeel to a whole new level.
"For fuck's sake, Salamander!" he shouted, grabbing his collar once again, "Stand up! Punch me like I taught you how! Don't be a fucking coward!"
Natsu spared him a glance, after spitting out blood in his mouth. Through his bruised, pale purple-colored cheek, he smiled. "Fuck off, Gajeel."
The said man threw another punch on his stomach. His eyes fierce and he shortened the distance between their face. "Don't make me punch ya again, kid."
"I'd like to see you try."
"You little fucke–"
"Natsu!"
Gajeel whirled around, missing the widened eyes Natsu made as a feminine voice reached them, stopping Gajeel's fist in the midair. His crimson eyes made a scrutinizing look at the girl. Long blonde hair, brown eyes expressed worry and fear, wobbly standing figure; Gajeel knew this girl.
He hid a deep chuckle and smirk. Leaning toward the bloodied man, he whispered, "There won't be the third time," crimson and obsidian eyes locked in a fierce stare, "traitor."
Lucy was rooted to the spot. The sight of a man, dangerously hovering over Natsu – a beaten up, bruised Natsu – was simply scared her to the core. There was blood at the corner of his mouth, and another fresh trail from his left forehead, almost covered by his disarrayed hair.
She didn't know what was going on, but as soon as the man dressed in black mesh shirt exited the place, Lucy bolted to his side and carefully helped him to sit. Rummaging in her bag, she pulled out a handkerchief she didn't know she had and wiped the blood softly.
Biting her lips as Natsu winced at the contact she made, Lucy eyed him in concern. The man refused to meet her eyes, which Lucy found it so odd. "Natsu…"
"It's okay, I'm fine," he replied immediately, which made Lucy think he was avoiding the topic.
"That's not the point! You almost get yourself killed!"
The man laughed quietly. "Heh, that was nothing," he said, "I've suffered worse."
Lucy hated this. He just one-sidedly ended the conversation. She deserved to know something about it! Hell, she should be calling the police or an ambulance, maybe; the blood just refused to stop flowing and it now pooled beneath her crouching figure.
"Please, tell me about it, Natsu," she pleaded. Her chest was uncomfortably tight as the man glanced at her. "Who was he? Why did he beat you like that?"
"Tch."
"Don't 'tch' me! I'm trying to help you here!" she exclaimed.
"It's none of your business, Luce, really."
She stood, throwing the bloodstained handkerchief at him, glaring him as he removed the cloth from his face. "Fine. Be that way. I don't care if you continue to bleed to death. I'm done."
Leaving the man, she exited the building with a deep scowl on her face. Ignoring the snow, she walked with each heavy step as it left a deep footsteps trail on the snowy ground. Lucy wanted to throw something, her hand itched to do it, or crash something to relieve her building anger.
She was concerned, dammit! Couldn't he see that? Or should she spell it so he could understand why did she ask those questions? Lucy ran distressed fingers over her golden locks and sighed heavily in irritation. Catching a breath, she stopped next to a lamppost and realized that she was back at the park, on the same spot, with a more than five hours gap from the first time.
Lucy was back to the square one. She hated it.
Like, urgh.
With her head calmed down, she sat on the same bench she and Gray seated on this morning, or noon. Her lips let out another sigh, this time in the sudden rush of exhaustion. Too much happened today, Lucy told herself almost jokingly.
First was her supposed boyfriend who 'forgot' their meeting and second was she saw Natsu got beaten by some random stranger – maybe not a random stranger in Natsu's part – and he refused to talk about it.
She meant, really, he needed to tell her something about her. At least she could be a good witness if they ended up in police somehow.
Well, he didn't have the obligation to tell her, she said to herself from the rational view, but at least he could actually trust her. She trusted him enough so she let herself sleep in a public place, she trusted him that while she was sleeping, he wouldn't try to do something stupid, which he didn't.
They were no longer strangers, weren't they? Would it be safe to place him in the friend category? Or was it just her that regarded him as a friend?
She felt her brain almost fried at the thought.
Maybe Lucy should go to Levy's place, she should have returned from her day out with her community friend already. With yet another sigh, Lucy rummaged her bag once again and froze when her hand didn't find the white rectangle plastic electronic device named phone.
Lucy slapped her temple as she remembered she left it on the desk when she heard a loud bang on the first floor, followed by a couple of punch-like sound. She clicked her tongue. After throwing a fit and left the place unceremoniously? She almost wanted to leave the phone there if only the contact wasn't as important as her apartment key.
Huffing, she spun her heels to make a way back to the library. Noting the coldness, she decided to go to the café she visited this morning. Maybe if she was lucky, on her unlucky day ha, she could use the discount coupon she got from purchasing two beverages.
As expected, the inside of the café was as warm as it was in the morning. The smell of coffee was strongly filling the air, mixed with the smell of the freshly baked breads and the rich aroma of chocolate – Lucy's stomach almost growled shamelessly.
But she would stick to coffee. Ordering a grande-sized caffee americano, she then waited for her name to be called. Less than five minutes later, the female barista called her. Lucy stood abruptly, almost knocking over the chair, before approaching the counter and took her order as she muttered small thanks.
A tap on her shoulder almost made her drop the carton cup. Turning her head around, with a slight blush marred her face at the small squeak she made, she found a man wearing a brown suit stared at her. She took a small step behind unconsciously to keep their respective distance.
"Can I help you?" Lucy asked, trying to be polite when the man simply smiled at her.
"Do you know any library around here, miss? I borrowed a book last week, but I forgot where is it," he scratched his head with a sheepish smile on his face. "I remember it is on the same building with a restaurant."
"Oh," Lucy commented, nodded, and turning his smile with one, "I happen to be on my way there too. Let me walk you, or you're still waiting for your order?"
The man's sheepish smile turned into one that showed relief. His eyes crinkled as he showed his paper bag. "No, it's done already."
Mentally raising her eyebrow, Lucy tried to remember if the man was even there before she walked in. She recalled no such man there; actually, if her memory served her right, the café was empty of customers. So why the lie? Or was she being too paranoid?
Shrugging, she was too tired to think about that, they made their walk out of the café. The dark haired man – she wasn't sure if it was black or dark brown – was actually a man from another city and was here for his job since a week ago.
While Lucy wasn't the most talkative person if he was a stranger, he was, surprisingly, a nice person to talk to. Never did once they fell into any awkward silence or simply ended the conversation.
"So what's your job?" he asked, after taking a turn to the left.
"I'm still a freshman in my college," she replied, "but I want to– will be majoring in English Linguistic."
The man hummed, scratching his chin in thinking manner. Lucy could almost hear the smile he made. "An aspiring writer, eh?"
Lucy blushed and laughed politely. "How about you?"
"Hm?" he looked at her. "My job required… stealth and big brain."
"A detective?" Lucy asked, tilting her head to the side.
He nodded, smiling. "Something like that."
With an understanding nod, she then asked for his college life, telling him that she might learn something from his experience.
As the minutes passed by, they finally arrived at the place. The man stared at the building, at the building's name before turned to her, saying, "This is definitely the place."
A smile formed on Lucy's lips. "Nice knowing it's the correct place," she said.
"Well then, I'll go inside. You're coming, right?"
"Oh, um," Lucy paused. The incident from the previous half an hour suddenly played on her mind. She guessed she was still sore about it and she preferred to not meet Natsu for the time being. "Can I ask for your, um, help?"
"Of course! Anything!"
This time, Lucy was the one giving him a sheepish smile. "I kind of left my phone inside, in the library," she told him, "on top of a desk, near the bookshelves in novel section. It has white color. Can you… take it for me?"
The man nodded. "Sure! Wait here, miss. I'll be quick in there."
Lucy thanked him before turned away – she hoped that that way she wouldn't meet Natsu. She suddenly remembered that Mira wasn't there. Maybe she was outside when it all happened, and it seemed that Yajima-jii wasn't there either. She couldn't think of anything if Mira saw the restaurant's condition, which was as bad as Natsu's injured state.
Natsu was bleeding. Furiously. She remembered how the red thick liquid would seep into her handkerchief, making it almost soaked. Lucy couldn't help but wondering who was the man. It was so unfortunate that he wore a hoodie so she couldn't see any of his facial features.
Maybe she should check up on him, but she didn't know if he was already returned to his home. Well, it was better that way. At least he could tend his bruises better than if he stayed in the library.
"Lucy."
"Nats– mmph!"
Having a cloth over her mouth and nose, Lucy could only stare with wide eyes as she saw the glimpse of a dark hair behind her. His hand circled her wrist, efficiently locking her movement as she struggled to break free.
"I never thought that you can be this smart," he said in her ear, making her shudder in fear, "You hold your breath."
She kicked him on his leg, a direct hit to his shin. Caught off-guard, Lucy used the chance to struggle and was able to break free from his grasp. She breathed hard, inhaling the oxygen after she lacked it. Not bothering to look at him, she ran toward the building.
But he was fast, faster than her.
The man knocked her over, making she fell to the snowy ground. His hands once again caught her wrist and she hissed in pain.
"H-Help!" she screamed. "Anyone! Help! Please!"
A hand covered her mouth, silencing her panicked scream. "Be a good girl, Lucy," the man said, "or I can knock you out. Which you prefer?"
Tears sprung out, but she refused to let it fall. To show tears meant to show your weakness and Lucy wasn't going to do it. Instead, she continued to struggle again as his grip on her went tighter.
Then she felt a cold metal on her neck. It was sharp, probably a pocket knife. "You should know that my threats aren't the empty one."
If she moved, it would pierce her neck. She glared to the ground, cursing over her carelessness and weakness. If only she wasn't being kind toward him, maybe she wouldn't end up in this situation.
A sharp pain made her silently gasp as her struggle made her neck came into a contact with the sharp tip of the knife. But it was now or never.
Lucy bit his hand, hard, before screaming on the top of her lungs.
"NATSU!"
to be continued
sorry for the DELAY!
and
longest. chapter. EVER.
word count: 8,238 words. this is unbeta-ed since I'm on holiday so it explains why this chapter posted late. I skipped the beta session to post this one right away. And I made it extra longer, shorter than planned, but this should be enough because too much information in one chapter will kill you. YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY, HOOMAN. AND BE THANKFUL TO GOD YOU'RE BELIEVE IN. FOR EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE. I MEAN IT.
that was an advice from an old woman.
still kind enough to leave REVIEWS? aw, c'mon!
~Air
Edit: change the draft model and adding the fun fact and some other minor thing