Nalu Week 2017
Prompt: (day 7, my own) 'beginning'
'How I Met Your Mother'
Word Count: 902
Modern AU, Officer Dragneel & Journalist Heartfilia
Rating: teen+, swearing and threatened violence
Summary: Officer Natsu Dragneel meets Journalist Lucy Heartfilia at work.
"Hey, what's shakin'? C'mon over here and tell me how much for a half-hour of your time."
Lucy looked over her shoulder at the man who'd cat-called her. "Shakin'? Your hands, buddy. You're wasted." Ignoring her companion who grabbed at her arm in an attempt to drag her off, Lucy narrowed her eyes and stood firm. "Go find someone without standards."
A sneer on his red, blotchy face, the man dropped his empty beer bottle. It made a muffled clinking noise on top of the garbage already ankle deep in the alley. "Lookin' like that? You're gonna turn me down?" His hands flexed and clenched before pushing himself away from the dirty brick wall he'd been leaning against.
About to retort, her friend yanked harder, squeaking into her ear. "Lucy! Did you forget what we're dressed like? This isn't part of the plan!" Tugging down her short, blaring orange skirt, Levy giggled - but it was not a happy sound.
Lucy sighed as she saw how upset Levy looked. "I can't let anyone talk to me this way, you know -"
"You're nothing but a cheap tramp!" Grabbing his crotch, he screamed more invective, each more crude than the last, spittle flying. "When I'm done with you ain't no one gonna recognize your face!"
Squaring her feet, Lucy let the man charge at her. Levy let go and backed away behind her - well out of reach. Years of personal defence training guided her actions. Her breathing slowed, her eyes tracked the lurching steps of the man. She gauged his momentum - perfectly. Over her hip he sailed, landing face down.
Air grunted out of his lungs, but he struggled to rise. "Dammit!" His hands immersed in garbage, he looked at Lucy, a mottled bruise forming on his forehead. "Imma teach you a lesson!" Hatred and a flash of animal cunning swept over his face.
"Levy - run! I can handle this loser, but we need the police." Lucy shot Levy a stern look, daring her to defy her order. "He's the one who's got a lesson coming!"
"Be careful!" Levy ran, eyes searching every flash of motion for a cop, desperate to find help.
"Ain't nobody gonna help you, bitch." Evil glee coloured his voice, "Imma have some fun and leave you with a smile." He stood up, a liquor bottle in one hand. "Beg me for mercy."
Adrenalin surged once more - her stomach churned, and Lucy said a silent prayer. Weapons made fights even more unsafe - for each party. Tossing her hair, Lucy backed up. "Beg? You should be begging my pardon."
"It's late and your little hooker friend ain't gonna find any cops 'round here." Another greasy smile on his bloated face made him look like a cartoon villain. "This is Phantom Lord territory. You shoulda took my money when you had the chance."
"I don't care whose territory this is, there's no cause for you to treat a lady this way." Forgetting the tight, red, low-cut dress she wore, Lucy spoke with authority. "I'm not for sale."
His arm swung. Glass shattered and decorated the alley wall. "I'm gonna take what I want for free." Rage and lust swimming with the alcohol in the man's body made him careless. All he could focus on was the blonde woman and what he wanted to do to her body. He could make her beg - she wouldn't be so proud - and finally show her what a real man could do as he took what he wanted.
Testing the weight of his weapon, the man held it out towards Lucy, waving a lazy 's' pattern. His breathing became more like panting as his obscene imagination gave him more ideas. Intent on his prey, the man didn't notice two sets of footsteps running towards the dank alley.
Lucy felt calm roll over her body. This was it - her assailant only had moments before he realized he was in deep shit. He'd make one last attempt or give up. Distract him or confuse him? Both. Her chest inflated. Her scarlet painted mouth opened. A high piercing note burst forth - a sharp, terrible sound honed by years of voice training.
The man went to cover his ears, saw Lucy's triumphant glare and changed his mind. He roared, "Fuckin' bitch," as he ran at Lucy - broken bottle aiming for her face. Half muttered threats mixed with a snarl was all that Lucy could hear. She poised herself for the attack that never landed.
Two loud retorts made her ears ring. The man stumbled, jerked and fell face first in the garbage, blood welling from his shoulder. Her scream changed tenor - just as high, but now exuding fear.
Levy ran to her best friend and caught her in a hug, rubbing and patting her back, doing her best to soothe. The policeman called for backup; requesting two blankets, conflicted over what he'd seen. A john attacking a hooker was the sort of sordid thing he often saw. But to have it escalate - he hoped it was something he'd never get used to.
"Ladies, ladies - backup will be here soon." His attention fastened on the intelligence gone glassy in the blonde's eyes. Gentling his tone further, he made no threatening moves. "I'll get statements from the both of you and then you can have your pimp post bail."
