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Disconnect
"I try to deal but it don't make sense, I can't believe this is happenin', I'm losin' tears with all this cryin'"
Natsu winced touching his stinging cheek 'Did she have ta slap me? All he wanted was to stop her from crying…' He thought. Lightly rubbing at his cheek with his right hand while his left hand was safely nuzzled into his pocket. Natsu chuckled softly remembering the surprised look on Lucy's face and then that feisty side came shining through. He ran his hand over his face shifting his hand from his cheek to his lips and smiled faintly 'Luce…' he thought.
He was a little bummed that he got chased off. He was a kinda frightened when she started chasing him down while throwing Kari's acorns at his head all the while calling him a perverted bastard among other things... He'd waited for her on the outskirts of the cliff so he could walk her home, but after an hour of waiting and no sign of her; he went to find her. When he slipped back down there cautiously eyeing every acorn as he awaited a counter attack. He soon realized the beach was very uninhabited aside from a few trees and bushes. He could only guess she'd gone another way…
Natsu frowned he missed her voice already, "Lucy…" he mumbled rubbing his index finger over his lips tracing the warm feeling that was still radiating from his lips. His lips twitched up into a smile; he couldn't wait to see her again. Even if she was still mad at him for his less the appropriate manner of cheering her up.
"Boy!" Natsu heard a slurred rising growl of anger. Natsu lifted his head up, his eyes locking with his father's just before his father's fist collided with his cheek. Natsu fell backward "Where the hell have you been?!" He spat a half empty bottle of vodka in his other hand. Natsu looked around with fuzzy vision trying to catch his bearings. He was home… Oh joy. Natsu sat up feeling a warm liquid trickle over his lip and down his chin.
The of the loose gravel in the drive was shifted under him Natsu as he stood on wobbly feet "Answer me!" as he heard is father Igneel's slurred insane roar again. Natsu wasn't sure he could give a proper answer anyways he was far to disoriented from the shock of his father's punch. Though it wasn't the first time he'd been on the receiving end of that fist and this certainly wouldn't be the last. Not so long as they lived under the same roof… Perhaps that's the real reason he fires everyone that helps him understand everything; he just doesn't want to let go of the convenient punching bag.
Blood dripped off his chin and he heard a round of gasps "M-My King you should settle down your hurting…" one of the female maid spoke weakly at least attempting to come to his rescue.
"Shut up wench! Know your place!" Igneel yelled in anger he turned to her with a pissed off expression as he stomped over to her with a raised fist.
Igneel grunted in pain when Natsu darted forward between the woman and his father catching his father's closed fist within his hand 'I won't let you!' Natsu thought glaring into his father's insanely wild eyes.
Igneel growled "Insolent child!" he shouted as he swung the half filled bottle of vodka at Natsu's head.
"Young Master!" The woman screamed out as the rest of the hired help began dashing out of the house.
Natsu's hand flew out of catch the bottle on instinct… stopping it just in time. The two sat there pushing each other around for a moment before Igneel grew enraged and head butted Natsu in the eye making him yelp. He could already feel it starting to swell under the hand he was currently holding over it as he backed away to get some needed distance. Trying to focus his blurred vision "D-Dad s-stop." Natsu gasped out watching the blurry shadowed figure standing in front of him. His own voice sounded funny and it wasn't until now that he realized why.
Igneel's hands tightened around Natsu's neck; Natsu's his feet dangled off the ground… When had his father made a move for his neck? Why was he so worried about that?! He was suffocating! He had to get his father off him! Before he realized it his father's hands were gone and he'd dropped down to the ground with a hard thud. "Get the young Master to safety! Run!" Natsu heard several familiar voices call out.
Natsu felt himself being lifted into strong arms as his vision started to fade. He could see her face again. That cute surprised, embarrassed and anger face 'L-Lucy…'
oooOOOooo
Natsu blinked his eyes open he stared up at the ceiling to his bedroom. A soft knock hit at the door and he perked up when he heard his mother's voice asking for permission to enter. Natsu threw the blankets off with a beaming smile and rushed to open the door for his mother. "You're going to baby that thing again?" he paused hearing his father's disgusted voice outside of his door.
Natsu bit his lower lip what'd he do? Why was his father being so mean? This was a time his father's words made him want to cry. Natsu backed away from the door slowly "He's not a thing Igneel! He's your son!" he could hear his mother whisper back harshly. The door may be closed, but he could swear he felt the glares. His father's killer intent had him trembling as he stepped back again.
"He is not my son!" Igneel spat glaring down at his wife. Natsu's eyes widened and his eyes glossed over with tears. Natsu's back came in contact with the wall "I said I'd love you and cherish you; I said nothing of the spawn born from your unfaithfulness!" Igneel's voice began to rise.
The tears dripped down his cheeks to his chin before falling to hit his shirt like bullets as he felt his legs buckle and he slid down to the floor."How can you consider rape unfaithfulness?!" He heard his mother yell back; she must have realized how loud she was being because when she spoke again it was in a harsh whisper "And it's not like I wanted it to happen!"
'Rape what's that?' Natsu wondered with confused, angry and saddened eyes. He didn't understand anything they were saying! Spawn? Unfaithfulness? Rape? What were these things?
"I bet your only saying he's mine so you won't have to worry about anything financially!" his father spat back in response. Natsu brought his hand up to cover his ears as he brought his knees up to his chest. He understood one thing; his father didn't acknowledge him as his son…
Natsu heard a loud stomp "Excuse me?!" his mother's voice getting louder again. It'd startled him to hear his mother so angry. It was the first time he heard either of them get angry… Why were they so angry? What were they talking about?! He didn't understand… "If I wanted to I could take care of our son on my own!"
"Then why don't you? Oh right because best job you could probably ever get is whoring yourself out right?!" His father's voice boomed throughout the halls. Natsu's breath got caught in his throat; he wasn't sure why, but those words… they sounded so insulting. Natsu growled standing up to his feet, eyes narrowed in angry for an unknown reason. He could feel the blood in his veins boiling over. Why had his father saying that make him so angry; he didn't understand.
Natsu stomped towards the door with a low growl, clapping his hand to the doorknob as he squared his shoulders making him look a little older then he was. A fire of fury burned in those big dark brown eyes even as tears continued to roll down his cheeks. His salmon colored bangs tickled his forehead as he forcefully turned the knob locked within his enraged state. *Slap* The sound reached his ears and he jerked open the door quickly. "It's…" he heard his mother start as the door swung open to reveal his father sitting on the ground holding his cheek. When his father began slowly ascending to stand…
"Because he's only three and I-I don't want to deprive him of a father!" his mother screamed, instantly Natsu darted in front of his mother acting as a barrier. No fear present in his stance, no hesitation lingering within his eyes. Any false moves and his father Igneel doubted the kid wouldn't start swinging.
Igneel huffed turning away "He's already deprived of a father; he will never be my son!" he shouted as he stomped away. When Natsu seen his father vanish within a darker part of the house, he spun on his heels to comfort his mother. His mother fell to her knees and pulled him into a tight hug as she cried against his shoulder. Natsu lost count of the amount of sorry's that left his mothers lips as she sobbed.
oooOOOooo
Lucy woke up unusually early today… Blinking the sleep out of her eyes as her nostrils inhaled the fresh morning breeze from her barely propped up position. Sitting fully upright Lucy's white tank-top strap left her shoulder to run down her arm. Staring at it uncaringly Lucy let out a quick yawn before standing to stretch and wipe away the stray drool from her lips, she paused within her movements… A red hue made its way to her cheeks as she remembered how her first was taken so suddenly from her.
"Luce…" Natsu whispered and in a moment his lips had crashed softly against hers.
Lucy's heart skipped a beat 'W-What was he?!' she thought reaching up to grab his sleeve weakly. Why did she feel like all her strength was leaving her? What was Natsu doing to her?! Why? Why couldn't she move?! Didn't she want this to stop? Lucy felt Natsu run his thumb over her cheek, before pulling away from her.
Natsu looked deep into her haze confused eyes for a second before flashing her a big goofy toothy grin. Her face exploded into various contrasts of red "That looks much bet…"
*Slap*Lucy jumped back from him. 'That… That was… my first kiss!' she thought her face reddening more if at all possible as she reached down grabbing acorns off the ground chucking it at his head. "You perverted jerk wad! You lecherous womanizer! You lustful creepy stalker!" Lucy shouted grabbing more of Kari's stashed acorns chucking them at Natsu's head as she chased him around in circles on the beach till she forced him into a hasty retreat.
Kari shrilled in protest as the events unfolded. All her precious acorns… Kari pouted with crossed arms as Lucy dropped to sit back down next to her "I can't believe the nerve of that guy!" Lucy growled her cheeks still very much red. "Can you believe that idiot Kari?!" Lucy asked still flabbergasted, Lucy turned to Kari to find her staring at her in irritation. It wasn't until then that she realized why…
Lucy's face paled and she clapped her hands together with closed eyes "Aw sweetie I'm so sorry! I'll make it up to you; I'll get you your very own box of your favorite peanut snack bars!" she promised.
Lucy cracked open an eye to find Kari beaming with stars in her eyes her gray fluffy tail wagging back and forth in excitement at mention of her favorite treat.
Lucy shook her head ridding her of the memory. What was she doing?! She didn't have time to wander head deep within the wonder of the memory of last night! She had work! That's right why was she still standing here?! Lucy slapped both of her cheeks "Okay, I'm good now!" she said more to herself as she removed her clothes to take a quick bath.
'Natsu… will he come back?' she wondered slightly confused at the fact the idea of him not coming back made her feel sad. Sitting down within the cool clear waters allowing them to reach just under her nose. She sighed sadly 'You will come back right…?' she thought. Lucy jumped slightly when something made a small splash within the water. Then it happened again and she realized…
Lucy touched her hand to her cheek "W-Why… am I crying?" she mumbled as tears leaked off her chin and dropped into the water.
