Chapter 12
"Natsu Dragneel." Igneel announced his tone full of authority. "You are going to tell me what has been bothering you for the past three days and you are going to do so now."
"Just leave me alone Dad, please." Natsu mumbled a reply as he slumped up the stairs to return back to his room.
"No, I've left you alone since you've come back and I'm not going to do it anymore. It's making both Wendy and I upset." Natsu gave Igneel a blank, empty stare before turning away. "Is this about Lucy?" The teenager pictured her at the mention of her name. Her golden hair to match her glistening eyes, her welcoming smile to match her warm presence. "It is, isn't it?" Igneel asked once more.
"I told her…"
"What do you mean?"
"I told her everything." Igneel realized what Natsu was speaking of and he was automatically devoured in worry.
"What did she say?" He questioned in concern. Natsu was finally becoming truly happy again, he was becoming truly happy with her.
"Nothing Dad, what is she meant to say?" Natsu spoke irritated by the topic. Igneel gave Natsu a silent response before exhaling his exhaustion. It would be an understatement to say that the past week had been taxing. He was ignorant to think that the past would remain intact once they moved. It seems that a little bit of peace was too much to ask for. He then thought of what his late wife would say; she would be so much better at this than him.
"Natsu, I don't know what to tell you… This all just relies on Lucy and her decision."
"I know that Dad. But, I don't, I don't want to lose her." Natsu's voice broke as he spoke. Lucy was everything to him, she consumed all his thoughts and he just couldn't get enough of her.
"You're an amazing guy Natsu. She would be silly no to see that." Igneel urged him to be positive. However, his attempt to cheer up his son failed. Natsu replied with a scoff.
"Yeah, an amazing guy who got his Mum killed." Before Igneel could deny that fact Natsu had already left the room.
As Lucy opened her locker she glanced down the hallway where the salmon haired boy came into sight. The blonde couldn't help but stare at him and bite her lip. Just seeing him made her emotional. In all honesty she had no idea what to do. She wanted to be with him so badly but her mind just kept battling her inner desires. He was a murderer, he was wrong for her. But when she was in his arms she felt safe and at home. His warmth gave her hope for a better day, a happier day despite only knowing sadness her whole life.
She watched as he furrowed his eyebrows searching for the right text books in his locker. There was a tugging inside her stomach, drawing her towards him and all of a sudden he saw her looking at him. Her heart skipped a beat and the tugging feeling vanished. Lucy quickly grabbed what she needed and slammed her locker shut reliving that moment as she paced away from him. His dark eyes were so intense that in that second she felt her breath shorten and the oxygen in her lungs was knocked out of her.
All day Lucy thought of him. She couldn't focus on anything and when she tried the blonde's mind would slip into the trap of Natsu again. It would be so much easier if she felt betrayed, if she felt like he had been lying to her about who he was this whole time. But she didn't and he hadn't been lying to her. Lucy truly believed that the Natsu she got to know is the real Natsu and that darkness had overwhelmed him in his time or mourning. It would be so much easier if his smile wasn't so infectious, if his laugh didn't light her up inside. It would be so much easier if he wasn't so perfect to her.
It didn't take long for Lucy to give up on school that day. In the end she said that she was feeling sick and returned home. Lucy needed to make her decision before it drove her insane.
Sleep failed Natsu that night. He was tossing and turning for hours on end thinking about his favourite blonde. When their eyes had met he had to clench his fists in order to not run after her. He just wanted to sweep her off her feet and hold her and embrace her and tell her how amazing she is and most of all, love her. She made him crazy.
He woke up with dark circles underneath his eyes and hair sticking out in all directions. Natsu looked in the mirror in a disinteresting manner. He didn't care about what he looked like all he cared about was Lucy. The teenager got dressed and lazily plodded downstairs. Once downstairs, he was met with the smell of pancakes and waffles but he had no appetite.
"Natsu!" Wendy exclaimed excitedly in the instant that she saw him. The girl wrapped her arms around his waist and placed her head just below his chest. Natsu stroked his sisters' hair lovingly as she looked up at him. "Did you not get any sleep? You look awful."
"Thank you so much for that wonderful compliment and no, not really." Natsu responded attempted to sound joyful however, his scratchy voice betrayed him.
"What's wrong Natsu?" Wendy questioned with a pout on her face.
"Nothing, I'm fine Wendy." Natsu replied as he removed her arms from around his waist. The male sauntered into the kitchen, running his hand through his hair.
"Wow, you need to shave." Igneel stated bluntly as he flipped a pancake.
"What is this? Criticize Natsu day?" He asked, irritated. Igneels laugh filled the room, rivalling the sound of sizzling from the frying pan.
"Pancake or waffle?" Natsu's Dad asked.
"Neither, I'm not hungry, but thanks for the offer."
"Good! That means more for me!" Wendy giggled as she sat down at the table awaiting the first serving of breakfast.
"Well, I'm going to school, see you guys later."
"Have a good day Natsu!" Igneel shouted as Natsu shut the door.
Natsu scratched at his stubble as he walked into the changing room. Today he had gym, with Lucy. The thought made him anxious and nervous. All Natsu wanted was to talk to her, for all this tension to just disappear but he knew she needed time.
They were having a football match within his class. However, due to his previous injuries he was the ref as he couldn't exercise yet. After Natsu had changed he exited the male changing room to find Lucy leaning on the wall outside with her arms crossed. He immediately stopped to look at her before she shifted her weight to her feet.
"I need to talk to you Natsu." Lucy informed him. Natsu nodded, obediently moving towards her so they could have a private conversation. Once everyone from the changing rooms had passed Lucy began to speak. "Natsu I've made my decision." The teenage boy had never felt so uneasy in his life. It would only take a couple words to make him the happiest man alive, nevertheless, it would equally only take a couple words to make his heart shatter into tiny pieces. "Natsu, I umm…" He could feel Lucy gazing into his eyes, sensing her own apprehension. "I, I want to be with you. I don't care about your past, I only care about the now and right now I'm falling so hard for you that it scares me-" Lucy was interrupted by lips smashing against hers. The blonde kissed back almost instantaneously with just as much passion as Natsu. His arms corkscrewed around her waist lifting her off the ground slightly. Once their lips broke apart Natsu grabbed hold of Lucy's wrist, pulling her into the boys changing room. "What are you doing?" Lucy broke out into laughter. But before she could protest Natsu had already lifted her up, wrapping her legs around his waist and placing his hands on her butt for support. "Natsu, stop! I'm heavy!" Lucy giggled hysterically.
"What are you talking about? You're as light as a feather." Natsu said as he smiled into a kiss with her again. All of a sudden Natsu clumsily pressed her against the locker in front of him resulting in Lucy banging her head against the metal surface. The blonde cursed as she cringed at the pain. Natsu couldn't help but chuckle at her antics. "Sorry, princess."
"Shut up you asshole."
"You're so mean." Natsu said grinning up at her.
"And you look like shit." Lucy retorted.
"Wendy said the same thing, I couldn't sleep last night."
"Why?"
"I was thinking too much of you." He replied honestly.
"You are such a smooth talker." The blonde responded as she moved her hands from his neck up to his disheveled hair.
"And you are so beautiful." Natsu announced as he leaned in to kiss her more deeply than last time now that they had a little privacy. Lucy inhaled his cologne whilst he held her tighter and pushed her harder against the lockers behind them. He kissed her more roughly than last time, more fiercely than last time. Natsu grinded his hips against her lower region moaning as he heard a slight whimper escape her. His lips left hers to whisper into her ear. "I'm going to treat you so well, Luce. You have no idea." He began placing kisses down her jaw to her neck.
"N-natsu," Lucy spoke, out of breath. "We should get back, they'll start looking for us."
"Just let me do something first." Natsu answered smirking at her breathless tone. Lucy felt his lips on her neck, biting and sucking on her skin. She felt his hand slide up her shirt to dance upon her waist and back whilst the other squeezed her ass. She felt her heart pounding against her chest and his pounding against his own chest. Before she knew it he had lifted his head from her neck with his signature grin looking into her eyes.
"Fuck, I hate you so much Dragneel." Lucy stated, still struggling to catch her breath.
"Why?" He asked in curiosity,
"Because you make me this withering mess and I can't control myself when I'm around you. It makes me feel so weak compared to you." Lucy explained in a frustrated tone.
"Luce, trust me, you make me even weaker." Natsu assured her. "Now come on, we don't want anyone to notice that we've been gone too long." Natsu gently placed Lucy back on her feet and reached out for her hand which she gave willingly. As they walked towards the exit onto the field Lucy caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror. Her attention was immediately drawn to the patch of skin contrasting her pale complexion. It was different to the hickeys she had previously gotten. When she was with Sting he tended to leave hickeys on her body but they weren't the same colour as Natsu's. Natsu left a deep, wine red mark on her skin and for some reason it made Lucy feel warmer inside.
The couple jogged to the clump of their class on the football field. Natsu went to join Gray whilst Lucy joined Levy and Cana on the other side. "There you two are, now we can start." Scorpio declared.
"Sorry Coach, I uh couldn't find my t-shirt so Luce helped me." Natsu apologized, winking at Lucy with a cocky smirk on his face. Lucy couldn't help but blush slightly at his excuse.
"Nice hickey," Lucy heard Cana whisper in her ear as she laughed.
"Shut up, Cana."
That day Lucy returned home with a smile on her face.
"Someone is happy today," Her maid, Spetto observed with a grin on her face.
"Today is a good day."
"I am pleased for you." Spetto replied. Lucy giggled as she walked up the stairs to her room.
Once the blonde had reached her destination she changed into some jogging bottoms and a loose tank top. Lucy jumped onto her bed appreciating the softness of her sheets. She reached over to her bedside table where a book lied which she continued to read.
After a short period of time Lucy was suddenly broken from the trance of her novel to her phone ringing. The girl swiftly answered seeing the caller, Natsu.
"Hello?"
"Hey, baby just calling to make sure you got home okay."
"Who are you? My bodyguard?"
"No, but I wouldn't mind. It would mean I get to spend all of my time with you."
"You are so full of shit, you know that?" Lucy heard Natsu laugh on the other end of the line.
"What are you doing right now?"
"I am reading."
"What are you reading?"
"Just a book,"
"What's the book about?"
"What is this 21 questions?"
"No, but I wouldn't mind playing that."
"Natsu, what do you want?"
"Do I need a reason to call my girlfriend?" Lucy could tell from his playful tone that he just wanted to make her embarrassed. "Lucy can I come over? I want to see you."
"Yeah, but come through the back entrance. I'll meet you there."
"The back entrance? Why so secretive Heartfilia?"
"Maids can't keep their mouths shut and I haven't told my Father that we are together yet."
"Alright, I'll be there in 10."
Lucy hung up the phone and went downstairs to get a snack from the kitchen before Natsu came. She placed a handful of cookies on a plate before returning upstairs.
Lucy had eaten three of the chocolate chip cookies before she received a text from Natsu telling her that he was here. She jogged down to meet him, jumping into his arms as soon as she saw him. He swung her around laughing with her then placed her down.
"Hello to you too," he greeted her with a grin as she giggled in response. "Wait you got a little something on your cheek…" Lucy remained completely still whilst he examined the side of her face.
"What is it?" Lucy asked.
"I think it's chocolate." Natsu responded. Lucy suddenly felt a wet, sloppy substance dragging along her cheek startling her. The blonde shrieked but couldn't move out of Natsu's grip as he licked from her jaw to her cheekbone.
"Natsu you're so gross!" She screeched wiggling out of his hold once he had finished.
"You love it really, Luce." He winked at her before following Lucy to her room.
Natsu shut the door behind him but as he turned around he was met with Lucy's lips. Immediately, he wrapped his arms around Lucy's waist as her hands rested on his cheeks. They rested their foreheads against one another before Natsu broke the silence.
"Read to me, Luce."
"As you wish,"
However, before they could move away from one another's grasp there was a knocking on the door. Lucy's expression turned to a confused one before realization hit her. "Shit," she cursed.
"What is it?" Natsu questioned in a hushed voice.
"I completely forgot. Tonight is the night that my Father returns home. You need to hide."
"Wait, what? Isn't this the perfect time to introduce us?"
"No, no, no, no. You have to hide; he can't know you're here." The girl panicked.
"Luce, you need to calm down he is only your Dad."
"You don't know him like I do Natsu, please just hide." She begged.
"Fine, but only because you're asking." He answered, eyebrows furrowed. He didn't understand why she seemed so anxious, afraid even. He knew that her Dad was an ass from what she had told him but he's still her Dad. He couldn't be that bad.
"Thank you, thank you so much. Just go through that door it's my wardrobe." Natsu did as he was told with slight hesitation but did it all the same.
Once Natsu was hidden Lucy opened the door to one of the maids who cleaned the house.
"You're Father has returned and requests your presence in the dining room." She spoke in a neutral tone. Lucy nodded and followed the maid downstairs. The maid opened one of the big wooden doors leading to the dining room open and Lucy entered muttering a quiet thank you on the way.
Lucy was faced with her Fathers back. Her nerves tingled with fear remembering the bruise he had left her with at their last encounter. She swallowed her anxiety, comforted by the fact that Natsu was just upstairs if she needed him.
"Welcome home Father," Lucy spoke, not really meaning what she said. The teenager watched him as he slowly turned around to look at her.
"Hello, Lucy. I am glad to see you safe." 'Liar' Lucy spat at him in her head but remained quiet. "I bring good news. You are now a young woman and will be married soon. For that reason, I have arranged a marriage between you and one of the most eligible bachelors in the current business world."
"What?!"
"He is the son of a very powerful man in the finance business. This marriage will tie our two businesses together causing them both to become significantly stronger." He continued without a care to his interruption.
"No! I am not getting married!" Lucy screamed at him.
"Lucy, this will be both good for the company and you. You will not have to work a day in your life and will live in luxury."
"No, Father! I refuse!"
"Lucy you are being very impulsive and not thinking about the benefits this will bring you."
"Oh please, don't act as if you are doing me a favour! All you think about is money, you haven't even considered the fact that I may not want to be married off like some object to solidify a business deal!" Lucy spat at him in disgust.
"Do not talk to me like that!" Jude shouted. His voice boomed powerfully into Lucy's ears but she refused to be intimidated by her Father. Nevertheless, she could not help but feel the room which used to be big and spacious shrink.
"What are you going to do? Hit me again! Come on Father, give me all you've got!" Lucy stared into her Father's eyes urging him to give her his best but he did not move a muscle. She scoffed walking away from him.
"Lucy, you will marry this man whether you like it or not!" he shouted after her.
I hope you guys don't hate me too much for not updating in months but I have been really busy. I've been putting all of my spare time into music and crap like that and writing fanfictions isn't really a high priority of mine if I'm honest.
It's kind of annoying because I have so many ideas for fanfictions and I really want to write them so badly however I just don't have the time. For this reason, this chapter is a bit shorter than usual.
Also I would love to do a collab Natsu x Lucy or Levy x Gajeel fanfiction if anyone is interested then just private message me.
I really want to become more social on this with my readers and just people in general who are writing stories so it's more fun.
