I do not own Fairy Tail. School's back in session so updates won't be as frequent (sorry). But, anyways, enjoy!
"WAKE UP ALREADY!"
I sat up in bed, startled from sleep by Lyon's yelling. Running a hand through my raven hair I untangled myself from my sheets. I slumped into the kitchen where Lyon was cooking breakfast. "It's the weekend, why do I have to get up?" I yawned, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.
"Aren't teenagers supposed to be filled with energy? Why would you want to sleep all day?"
"What about you? Aren't college kids supposed to hungover on the weekends. Why are you so cheerful?" I reached over for one of the plates of breakfast Lyon had prepared. I plopped into one of the chairs at the table.
"What would you know about the college lifestyle? If anything your sister was more of a party animal than me."
I choked on the eggs I was eating. "Wait, Ultear went to college parties?"
"Hmm, now that I think about it, I don't think she wanted me to mention that." A smirk crept along my mouth. This is rich, no way am I going to let my high and mighty sister live this down. "Back to your first question, I have a suspicion that the man that has to approve my custody will start his many inspections today. The better we look the less chance he can deem me unfit."
"So look like we're not living like animals."
"Yep, now go get dressed."
"Dammit, why didn't it work." Lucy clenched her fist in both anger and annoyance.
"Gray's thick, we've always known that, but I didn't realize he was this thick." Loke gritted his teeth in vexation. "How can he not get it? Love confessions always work. How did my plan not work?!"
"Maybe he just doesn't like me." I finally spoke up. After spending the night silently crying over Gray unknowingly rejecting me I decided to turn to Lucy's advice. Turns out Loke and Lucy were a tag team. So now I'm sitting on Lucy's bed listening to both of them go over what went wrong. As if I going through it wasn't enough, I had to listen to them talk about it repeatedly.
"Maybe Natsu just needs lessons?" Lucy smiled at her idea.
I peeked an eye through my bangs to look at her. "Lessons?"
Loke nodded in agreement. "You're right. How could we have thought someone as inexperienced as Natsu could do this? We just need to start from square one."
My mind reeled over what they were saying. "What kind of lessons?"
"It's decided." Lucy ignored my question. She pointed a finger in my direction. "Starting today you are going to get dating lessons from Loke and me. By the time we're through with you you're going to be able to pick up any one you want."
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. Why do I have a feeling I'm not going to enjoy this?
…
A hand cam raking across my face. "Ow, what was that for?" I gave Lucy a sulking look, holding my throbbing cheek.
"Chew with your mouth closed. Now start over." I glared at the blonde. As dignified as I could I picked the fork and knife back off of the plate in front of me. Lucy slapped me again. "Get that scowl off your face. No one likes an angry looking boy."
"Maybe if you'll stop hitting me I won't be tempted to scowl."
"How's it going?" Loke came back into Lucy's bedroom, holding something I couldn't see behind his back.
Lucy groaned in response. "He's hopeless. No one will ever be able to teach him manners."
"This coming from the girl for is abusing me."
"He just needs to act the gentleman; he doesn't need to be one." Loke commented. "Let's give the manners a break for a time. We need to move on to more important matters."
Lucy nodded in agreement. "You're right; this can't go on for much longer."
Loke turned towards me. He pulled the object from behind his back into my line of vision. A hairbrush was held in his clenched palm. "Ready, Natsu."
"Is your bedroom clean?"
I couldn't help roll my eyes at Lyon as he asked that question for who knows how many times. "The answer hasn't changed since you last asked."
"So it's a yes?"
"Will you stop panicking. The house is spotless. He can't complain that it's a health hazard."
"He's going to complain about something, it should at least not be something obvious."
"Why does he hate you anyway?" I sent a curious look to Lyon. It was pretty rare that family members didn't get custody on first request. Even more rare for them to be considered questionable. Why Lyon taking care of me was such a problem was beyond me.
My older brother gave a nervous chuckle. "No special reason. He just never believed me when I said I was done with my wild days with the gang. You know how he is with anyone who doesn't pursue the rules. Do one thing wrong in his eyes and you're forever marked ill willed." I nodded to show I understood. The few times I've met the man he never seemed like the warm and forgiving type.
"Dammit, Natsu, stop moving." I squirmed as Lucy tried pinning my arm behind my back. Loke dug his knee further into my back as I did.
"Why do you keep torturing me? I haven't done anything wrong."
"Maybe if you cared about personal hygiene it wouldn't be so bad." Lucy gritted through her teeth. She ran the brush through my tangled locks roughly. I winced as she pulled at my hair. "Do you not own a brush?"
"Why would I brush it if it'll just get messy again?!" I retorted.
"It's greasy, you don't wash it either?"
"Not all the time."
Lucy gave me a disgusted look. "That's it, Loke take him back home."
"Why?" I questioned as Lucy took the brush away from my hair.
"Because I don't want your boy germs in my clean tub."
I looked up from the book I'd been reading when the sound of a car door closing caught my attention. Well what do you know, Lyon was right about him showing up today. "He's here." I called over to Lyon. The other glanced out the window to see a man coming up to the porch steps.
Lyon gave me a last look before going to open the door for him. "Remember, good impressions only." The white haired male turned ack to the front door after he heard a knock. He smiled at our guest. "Welcome, Mr. Lahar."
"Natsu?" Happy looked up from the spot he was sleeping at to see us enter the small house.
"Hi Happy," Lucy greeted, "where's the bathroom?"
"I'll give you a fish if you don't answer that."
"Upstairs on the right." Even my own cat is going against me today. Loke let go off me and went upstairs. Lucy grabbed onto my collar before I could escape. "How come you two are here?" Happy asked the blonde.
Lucy gave Happy a bland look. "Happy, did you know Natsu tries not to take baths?"
"You know I'm not five." I spoke up.
"Umm, I guess, but Natsu doesn't make me so I don't make him."
Lucy gave the cat a look of abhorrence. "How do you put up with him?!"
"Bath's ready." Loke came back down the stairs. He grabbed onto the back of my collar and pulled me up the steps. Lucy close behind. My eyes widened in fear as the tub came into view.
"Calm down, it's just a bath." Lucy snapped.
"So? Doesn't mean I want to take it."
"Natsu, are we going to have to bathe you?" Loke gave me a teasing look.
"Wha- NO!" I kicked as the orange head forced me into the tub, clothes and all.
"I think that's a yes." Lucy sighed.
Mr. Lahar spent part of the introductions casting Lyon dirty looks. Afterwards he asked a long list of, let's just say uncomfortable, questions about the relationship between Lyon and I. Some of which involve me never wanting to think of him in that way.
Currently he was going around the house, making sure it was in livable conditions. "So, o we pass?" Mr. Lahar gave Lyon a despotic look.
"I don't have to share that information with you." Mr. Lahar walked back to the front door. "I'll be dropping by a few more times. I suggest you don't slip up." With that the older man slipped out the door, back to his car.
"Well that was pleasant." I commented as Mr. Lahar left.
"I'm just glad he doesn't have anything on us yet."
I sat up gasping for air. Lucy grabbed back onto my salmon hair and ducked my head back under the water. Water rushed back up my nose, leaving a stinging sensation of pressure. I heard mumbled voices in my ears as water filled them. I sat back up, coughing as water left my throat. "What?" I spluttered.
"I think he's clean." Happy announced.
…
Lucy patted a towel against my hair. "Just keep it clean from now on and we'll never have to relive this." I growled at her in return. "It wasn't so bad. You just got a little wet." A little? Did she not see the pile of dripping wet clothes I had just changed out of?
"On the bright side, at least he smells nice." Happy piped up.
"Be quiet, Happy. I'm still mad at you."
"What did I do?" the cat sounded a bit hurt.
"You let them do this. I even offered you fish and you took their side."
"But it's funny to see you get a bath." Happy giggled.
"They're on their way." Loke announced, entering the room.
"Who's on their way?"
"Are they really?" Lucy asked. Loke nodded. Is no one going to answer my questions today? "Excellent, by the time the weekend is over Natsu will be the ideal gentleman."
…
About half an hour later I could hear the doorbell ring. Lucy got up and went to answer it. "Oh good, you made it. He's right in here." I peeked around the corner to see who she was greeting. I gulped in terror.
A certain scarlet stood in the doorway looking like she was about to deliver punishment onto the helpless innocent.
