A/N: I'm not really writing for this prompt because I really can't think of anything, but I will post something because I can and I want to. So, have a Struggle Part 2: The Trial. So, once again will contain mentions of abuse! Also contains a small anxiety attack.
Lucy was notified of her father's arrest a few days later. When police had come to Natsu's house to tell her what would happen concerning her father's trial. As the police saw the bruises all over Lucy they thought Natsu had something to do with it, too. Those accusations stopped as soon as Lucy sat down on the couch with him and they saw her visibly relax. They saw that she was not afraid of him and possibly never would be.
At the same time the police notice that she seemed anxious and her eyes kept looking at the door. The officer tilted his head and asked the question, "Lucy, are you alright?" That's when Lucy's eyes glanced back at the officer and then to the door with a nod. The officer looked at Natsu and he answered the question.
"As much as she feels safe right now. She still fears that her father will break down my door and try to hurt her. Sometimes she'll even have panic attacks." Natsu sighed and rubbed Lucy's back, "She spent way to long in that house and I feel bad for not pulling her out sooner."
The officer nodded over to his partner, "Watch the door. Nobody comes in." The officer by the door nodded and looked out the window on the door with a serious expression. The officer sat down on the arm chair, "So, Lucy, the trial date is in two days and we need you there as witness. You both will need to testify in the court of law."
Natsu and Lucy both nodded in agreement. Lucy almost started crying, but when Natsu noticed he took her in his arms and stroked her hair, "We'll see you in two days. Sorry, this is still heavy on her shoulders. We'll be in touch." He said as the police man stood.
"He's behind bars, Lucy. He's not coming. Just keep reminding yourself." The officer said before walking out and shutting the door behind him.
Lucy knew, but that didn't stop the fear. She didn't answer and barely talked for the rest of the day. She went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Her eye was black and blue and she had scattered bruises all around her body. She decided to take a warm bath. At least Natsu wouldn't barge in on her crying.
Natsu was making dinner for the two of them as Lucy walked off to the bathroom. He knew she felt terrible, but he wouldn't view her any different. He was thinking of how much better she would feel without her father around.
After they had finished eating they had went to bed. Natsu stroking Lucy's hair as she used his chest for a pillow. As soon as Lucy fell asleep, Natsu's arm wrapped around her protectively. Something that made Lucy feel safer every time she would wake up in the middle of the night or even in the morning. The next two days passed by with words of comfort and calming actions. Natsu just wanted Lucy to be alright.
Two days later they were getting ready to go to the courtroom and Lucy just seemed out of it. This had to be the hardest thing she'd ever have to do and she was glad Natsu hadn't given up on her. She at some point even told him it was okay if he didn't want her around anymore.
Natsu thought this was the most important part of their relationship and he wasn't one to let people fall when they were only holding on. He didn't do it when she lost her mother and he wasn't going to do it when she had no one left to turn to. She needed him and he loved her, so leaving her wasn't an option. When he told her this she broke down in tears and hugged him, "Lucy, are you ready? Don't lie."
Lucy fixed her dress and then looked down. She felt scared and she shut her eyes to take a deep breath, "I don't know. I'm scared and I just want to see him get help. At the same time, I'm kind of relieved that this whole thing is going to be over and sad that there is no one left. I feel alone." She clenched her hands at her hips, "I know I'm not, but I just don't feel like me anymore, you know?"
Natsu nodded and got her in the car. He held her hand the entire way to the court house and when they were there he sat next to her and continued to hold her hand. Her father sitting on the other side of the room. They called him up to the stand to tell his point of the story and then it was Lucy's turn. The picture her father had painted is that Lucy had lost her mind and started hurting herself in a wild attempt at suicide. Which definitely looked like it could've been the case.
They called Lucy to the stand and she froze her father had made direct eye contact with her and her breathing seemed to stop all together. She felt scared because it was the look he gave her before he started going crazy with throwing plates and beating her.
Lucy shut her eyes and squeezed Natsu's hand. This would clearly be harder for her than he thought. He stroked her hair and whispered in her ear, "It's okay, Lucy. I'm right here. Nothing is going to happen to you, okay?" He kissed her forehead and helped her to the front of the room where security helped her to the stand. Natsu returned to his seat and mouthed out, "Just take deep breathes."
Lucy nodded and sat down, taking a deep breath, at least he didn't think I was crazy. She took oath and sat down again. They then started questioning her, "Tell us what happened the day of the assault."
Lucy took a deep breath and with a shaky voice explained, "School had gotten out and my boyfriend of three years, Natsu Dragneel, asked me if I wanted to come over to his place. I refused mostly because I was scared and then he offered to take me home and study with me. So he drove me home took me inside and we studied up until dinner time." She seemed to hesitate and tears started coming from her eyes, "I made dinner for my f-father and I, he was drunk, again." She looked away from Natsu and to the ground, "He told me if I continued to see Natsu, he would kill me. So for the weekend, I stopped talking to him. I was scared and didn't know what else I could do." Her breathing went kind of irrational as she looked up only to see her father smirk. Her vision seemed to tunnel as some one was mumbling for her to continue, but she couldn't hear.
Natsu seemed to understand what was going on and ran to her, pushing a security guard out of the way, "Lucy!" He called and wrapped her arms around her. He stroked her hair and rocked her back and forth, "Shhh. Breathe, Lucy. You're okay. I promise. Everything is okay. I'm here. I'm right here." The security guard he pushed was the same one that was at his house only a few days prior, so he understood what was going on. Natsu continued and gave a breath of relief when she came back down to Earth, "Lucy, it's okay. Keep talking."
Lucy looked at Natsu's face with tears coming down her eyes, "Saturday passed and I didn't talk to you. I didn't talk to anyone, not Levy, not Gray, not Erza, no one. Sunday, yes I was feeling depressed and that's when I tried to call you, but my father saw me with the phone in my hand and threw a plate at me. Then he took the phone from my hand and he started beating me with a belt and punching me with his other hand." She covered her face, "He told me that I was worthless and that I deserved it. At that point, I tried leaving the house and running for it, but you were there. He saved me called the police and took care of me." She looked at the judge and at the jury, "Something only he has done for me since my mother had died a year ago. That's what happened the weekend of the attack."
Once she was excused the court took a recess so Lucy could calm down. The jury needed to decide the verdict and the judge decided that questioning Natsu wouldn't be needed since they had gotten everything from Lucy. The two of them sat down in their seats and Natsu kept his arms around Lucy, rubbing her arm as she cried into his shoulder, "It's okay, Lucy." He mumbled into her hair.
"I know. I know. I'm okay. I promise that I'm okay." She hugged him and listened to his heart beat and that calmed her down a lot. She relaxed and took a deep breath, wiping her eyes, "I love you." She muttered.
"I love you, too." He mumbled back with a small smile, "Lets make it through this and I'll take you for some tea and cheesecake."
Lucy's eyes lit up, as she nodded, "Okay."
The court came back into session fifteen minutes later when Lucy had calmed down. The judge whacked his hammer and spoke clearly, "The verdict of today's trial for Jude Heartfilia... The jury has found you guilty! You have been sentenced for a year for alcohol rehab and 10 years in prison with no probation for abuse and attempted murder." He whacked his hammer again and stated, "Court adjourned." At that point Lucy and Natsu leave and Jude gets thrown behind bars.
A/N: Hey everyone!
Sorry for this. I really am. I hope you all have a good day!
Have a good rest of the week!
Reviews:
zElliexmagic: Don't compare yourself to others. That's how you start feeling bad about what you do. I will check out your writing sometime for sure and I just felt like I should put the climax to the last situation. Thank you!
Much Love,
~StellarLucy
