It's been two weeks, and Grandine still thought it was unsafe for the little nerd to go home. She had the school tutors come to the mansion to help her with her assignments, which Natsu turned in for her, and were under oath of snot talking about her situation. Even though they didn't know what it was. She missed her friends and most of all her family at the diner. Isolation has done nothing but screw with her. Lucy looked in the mirror of the boudoir. Mrs Dragneel-Marvel called earlier in the middle of an episode, apparently Natsu's grandmother, uncle and cousin are going to come over, which meant that everyone had to be on their best behavior. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she felt like she was back in that horrible manner years ago. She knew what 'best behavior' was code for. She looked long and hard at herself, the thick frames, the messy bun, and thick sweater...they all had to go, but this time, she didn't have the girls to help her out in case she screwed up her hair or something. She took a deep sigh and pulled off the glasses, and looked again. How she wished too be as beautiful as her mother, but she had to do with what she had. Her fingers twisted off her hair tie releasing her golden locks down past her shoulders. Her hair was even longer than when she started the year, now it was at the edge of her ribs, wow. She grabbed a Venetian styled hair brush and began to untangle the wavy curls, the first step to becoming what she does best, being a porcelain doll.
By the time she was done, she was as close as Mira and Erza trained her to be physically. She looked at sadly at the reflection that was framed by the silver vintage style curls. She wore a tight mini dress of lace that was long cleaved and reached her neck as in a collar, and ended a few inches above her knee. She showed off her legs and had on cream colored pumps to match the white lace. Her hair was tied up in curly professional bun. She loved dressing up, but...not to impress a family that might be broken due to power. "Knock knock." a voice called from behind. She saw a blue haired beauty holding something in her hand at her door frame from the reflection.
"Oh," she turned around to face her and stood with her hands folded in front of her in a respectful manner. "Hello Mrs. Dragneel-Marvel." Lucy bowed.
"Lucy you don't need to do that."
"I'm sorry ma'm."
"I've never seen you like this..." Grandine whispered in a gasp. Her hand rested on her chest, and brows knitted in worry. "Why are you being so submissive?"
"I don't understand what you mean Mrs." the blonde answered emotionless as she took her steps to her. Grandine grew more confused, this new attitude was completely different from the Lucy she knew. "We must go, we must not keep the men waiting for too long." She walked passed the puzzled woman masking her sadness.
"Lucy wait." the bluenette called out. In a smooth turning of the heel, the blonde doll looked over at the tall woman. "C-come here, I want to give you something." the young girl did as she was told and walked in her upright position to her hostess.
"Yes?"
"Here." Grandine opened her palms revealing a silk handkerchief, and unfolded it slowly. Under it, was a small bungle of glittery stars that were spread out only connected with thin silver wires. The barrette was breath taking beautiful, and if were to wear it, it would wrap half of her head and possibly make a consolation. Her brown eyes absorbed it's sparkling wonder.
"It's gorgeous Mrs."
"It was your mother's."
Lucy's head shot up to look at her. Her face was drained and her eyes twinkled with tears. "What?" Grandine only smiled genitally and lead the girl to sit once again in front of the glass of her boudoir and set the barrette in front of her.
"Oh child," she began as she took out another hair accessory from her pocket. It was a silver butterfly with pastel pink ceramic rose and rose buds. "I've known your mother for many years. Sure we lost touch cause of my work, and no to mention my hand full of a toddler son at the time," the woman placed comb at the base of Lucy's bun. "but it never meant we stopped loving each other. She would send us Christmas cards of the family every year and vis versa. At one point in college, we wanted our kids to marry can you believe that?"
Lucy couldn't help but smile at the lawyer and give a small giggle. She did remember a card or two of strangers, but could never remember their faces. "Of course she wanted a boy, and I wanted a girl. Fate is funny huh?"
"Yeah, mom always said how she wouldn't mind me marrying a girl."
"Oh I bet, that Layla sure was a weirdo at times with her stars and everything. I got that for her when she got her PHD as a gift. You don't have to wear it tonight, but I want you to keep it. Okay?" she lidded the top of Lucy's blond hair.
"Thanks Mrs Dragneel-Marvel."
'The game is set up, you still coming over?'
'On my way! :^)'
The young girl glanced out of the window of her large room, the sun was still out, and it was only 3 in the afternoon. Surely her cousins wouldn't mind if she went out for a bit. Jellal was still at school for fencing practice and Juvia still had pre-season training, Levy would be back home before they knew it. Smiling at her phone, the young bluenette grabbed her satchel and rushed out as quickly as she could to the front door of the mansion. Her hand gripped on to the bronze handles giving them a sow genital squeeze and pulling back the heavy door, just a few more inches then she could slip right through the cracks and-
"Where the hell are you going?" a stern voice called out from behind her. Levy jumped with a small yelp and quickly turned around to see her tattooed cousin, only he wasn't his unnaturally polite self. He was standing tall with his chin up high and his arms crossed over his chest glaring down at her. She could feel a sweat drop from her forehead.
"Hey! Jellal!" Levy squealed out in the most happiest tone she would manage without nervous chuckles. "W-What are you doing back home?"
"I believed I asked a question first." he said raising a brow.
"Really?" her voice was now an octave higher and tiled her head "I swear that was the wind talking."
"Where the hell are you going?"
"Hee-hee. And what m-makes you t-think I was going anywhere dear cousin-"
"Levy-"
"Oh look! Juvia's home with Gray!" she pointed.
"Wha?" Jellal glanced over his shoulder to see nothing but the entrance of the grand building they called home. Without a second though, Levy slipped into the crack of the door and out of the mansion. Her thin legs dashed to the black limo already waiting for her, and jumped in.
"Go-go-go-go-go!Step on it!" she ordered, and the driver did just that. In a streak of smoke and tire cries
"LEVY GET BACK HERE!"
Her brown orbs looked out the window to find her blue haired brother figure with a face so red, it was impossible to see his tattoo. She was soooooo dead when he finds her...IF he finds her. A mischievous smirked curled on her face as the figure of her cousin grew smaller and smaller. Levy slipped her smartphone out of her skirt pocket and scrolled down the list of names she texted. 'Metal Beast'
'What't the quickest way to your house again?'
Before she knew it, she was cursing through the west district of the city where Lucy and her family are from. She looked out the window taking in the neighborhood. She's been driven down here so many times, approximately 5 times a week for four months now, but still felt the area to be so strange to her. Like she was in a another world. The limo slowed to a stop in front of an old apartment building with shops being it's first floor all down the street. At the end at the corner, was a large car repair shop with the name 'Steele Garage' across the top in car parts. "Thanks for the ride Mr. I'll give you a ring to let you know when I'm coming back." she said opening the door.
"Of course Miss McGarden."
"Don't be so formal." she smiled. "You can call me Levy. Go on have fun while I'm here." with that note, she shut the door and turned to see the 'shop' as Gajeel called it. There where several cars in side, some being up on a...whatever the thingy is called to carry cars, and others were on the ground getting fixed or taken apart. She was rather taken back seeing not only how dirty the place was, but also the amount of muscle men where around shirtless and covered in oil. Needless to say the young junior didn't mind looking. Casually, she walked up to the shop and observe the men with their tools, one waltzed up to her with his overalls undone wrapped around his hips and a dirty white tank top. "Hey there cutie~" he winked at her. She knew exactly who this was.
"Hey there yourself." she giggled back.
"Ya looking for some one? Or ya old man just told ya to try to rip a good deal with that cute little sweater on?"
"You really don't remember me Bacchus?"
"Well..." the tattooed male took a step back an observed her for a moment rubbing his chin. "You're hair speaks out to me...were did I see you...?"
"Seriously?" Levy crossed her arms. "You know, Cana's friend? Hang out with you and Gajeel?" He blinked at her blankly. "You know..ugh..the Shrimp?"
"Baby Blue!" he shouted in Ecstasy. "Yeah I remember you now, you're the little blue bird turning my boy into a little bitch." he turned to the rest of the shop and help his hand up to his mouth like a megaphone "Yo, Ga-jeel!"
"What!?" a muffled voice called out.
"Baby Blue Bird is here~"
One of the men from under a car crept out, Gajeel grunted as he stood up dusting off his stained overalls. Like his cousin, they hung open on his hips and was covered in oil, only he didn't have a tanktop. Straight up six pack of nice tan toned-WHAT WAS SHE THINKING!? He shook his messy black mane. "Sup Shrimp." He had an odd boyish smile on his face. She grinned back.
"Sup big guy. Ready to get beat?"
"Oooh, someone's kinky." the drunk mechanic teased. His younger cousin quickly turned around and smacked his arm.
"Not like that you idiot." he wrapped an arm around the shoulders of the short girl and pulled her in. "The shrimp owes me a game of league."
"Couldn't she just play from her house online?"
"...SHUT UP!"
"...SHUT UP!"
The older mechanic laughed a bit and went back to work, while his younger cousin turned back to the girl with he grin once again on his face. "So ready to play?"
"Yeah.." she sighed, her face dropped a bit but kept her smile. Gajeel turned his head to one side slightly confused. Her smile wasn't as bright.
"Something eating ya?"
"No." sh glared "It's physically impossible for something to be eating me."
"I don't know Shrimp, ya kinda small..." he teased. Levy fought a grin and shoved him lightly on the shoulder. Which was surprisingly hard. "Seriously, what's up?"
"Nothing. Just thinking about Lu-chan. I kinda miss her."
Gajeel grabbed a nearby rag and began to rub the sweat and muck off his face. "Yeah what's up with her?" he asked muffling through the cloth. "She wasn't at the diner in weeks and everyone else there is a total buzz kill."
"Well..." she sighed rubbing her arm looking up at the nearly setting sun. She has a tenancy to talk a bit too much and fast if given her enough silence. "Since she heard about the dog hunt she and her family have been so paranoid," Gajeel stopped and looked up knitting his brows together. What did she mean by dog hunt? He opened his mouth but she kept going on and on. What was she talking about? Was Lucy hiding something? Holy crap was she rich?! "I mean sure it's kinda scary to have a bastard like that going after you, but come on! Too keep her locked up like that at Natsu's? I mean how much more fairy tail can they get right?"
"Lev hold up!" he help up a hand to shut her up. "Did you say Cosplay dork Lucy is loaded? Like your level cash kinda loaded?"
Levy pressed her lips tight, and eyes open and wide. She could feel all of her blood gushing out of her face. She was so dead...
She sat at the long diner table staring down at her beautifully sculptured food, her stomach was not feeling what ever was on it, last time she had a meal like this was the night she took off from the Heartfilia manner. Eating food that was made by under appreciated servants who are treated like crap seem like a kick in the gut to her. She looked up at the sound of silverware, across from her was a tall thin old woman with deadly red eyed stare that could freeze anyone. Her hair was the pale rose color like Natsu's, and had a body type like Wendy. She knew this woman's face and name, what scientist didn't? Porlyusica was famous throughout the country, she just didn't know she was the head mother of the Dragneel-Marvel family... She must have kept her maiden name. Lucy looked down at her food, she didn't really feel like eating.
"What's the matter child?" the old woman snapped. Lucy shot up and looked at the woman's angry face as expressionless as she could.
"Nothing ma'm."
"Then eat." she ordered and continued to cut her food. "If there is one thing I don't like it's a spoiled brat."
"Mother." Igneel gritted through his teeth in annoyance. His brother rose a brow to him "She's our guest, please treat her with respect."
The grandmother held her nose up in the air in a high class matter giving a 'hmph' to her younger son. When coming to dinner, she expected to be alone with her family while her husband was at work. She was quite nice with her family, but a stranger like Lucy showing up can bring out her defensive side. Especially a commoner. Grandine at least had potential of becoming someone in life with her intelligence, this child seems to be good for nothing, after all with a face like that and not speaking at all during the night, what do you expect? Her eyes glanced at her favorite grandson, he seemed to be biting hard on his jaw, and it wasn't from chewing his meat. The woman turned back to her food. "So Natsu," she began "tell me, how are your studies?"
"Fine..." he answered in a low growl.
"Hmph, fine doesn't get you into Tartarus University or Edolas."
"Well grandmother, what if I don't want to go to an ivy league school?" he said smiling up at her with a plastic smile. Grandine shot daggers from her seat at her son. "Maybe, I want to stay in my home town, and play for Magnolia U?" his tone was of higher pitch and no trace of honesty in his words.
"Watch your tone young man." she warned. The young pinkette just slouched in his seat and stabbed his meat with his fork. His grandmother arched a brow at the rude behavior. For the moment she brushed it off and turned to her eldest grandchild.
"Laxus dear, how is Business school?"
The blonde swallowed the last of his food that he was chewing and smiled in character for his grandmother. Like Lucy, he knew how to play the puppet part of his life, and very well too. "Well Grandmother, I am learning about finances at the moment from my father's finest accountants." he announced puffing out his chest in pride. The elderly woman smiled in approval and turned to her eldest son who sat across next to Lucy.
"Well, Ivan I'm glad. If he's going to take over your industry any time soon, he's going to have as much knowlage as he can."
"I agree mother." the greased haired man nodded with a devilish smile. His eyes traveled down next to him to the pretty young blonde. "And uh, mother," he began. "don't you think Laxus is getting a bit to old to be goofing off with friends? If you ask me he should be looking into wives."
"Well, that does seem reasonable..." Porlyusica chewed her food, pondering the thought in her head. Laxus was about 19 going on 20, finding a wife that suit her standards was hard, so by the time the family would have found a girl who was a debutante, from a wealthy family, respectful, intelligent, and can bare strong healthy children Laxus would have the reached of age. "I think it's a fine idea."
"Well," Ivan glanced down at Lucy fully. "Lucy would you like to volunteer?" he teased. "I'm sure you measure all the requirements."
Lucy could feel a punch in her stomach, being used as an idem was the reason why she ran out of this horrible shit hole of a life. Why was the famous doctor treating her grandchildren like this? Wendy talked about her before and said she was funny and sweet, was she just in a bad mood? Or was it her presents as a commoner? Her brown orbs quickly glanced at Natsu who sat next to the old woman, he was glaring hard at the uncle with a demonic snarl, if only she could express herself...but her instincts say otherwise. She looked up at the black haired man and smiled the most real smile she could possibly make. This was the time to test all what her friends have taught her as a heartbreaker. "Why sir I'm flattered you think of me as suitable for someone as handsome as your son." Good, she didn't snap.
Ivan chuckled something only a villain seemed to make. "Lets see if you know the requirements. Mother, would you care to do the honors?"
Igneel pressed his lips tightly together and turned to his wife, who was knitting her brows together in worry. Porlyusica has interviewed girls in the past, and it never ended well. Besides, Lucy was someone they had in mind for their son, not nephew. Wendy crossed her fingers and bit her lip.
"If you insist. Child, what have you been learning in school?"
The blonde took a silent breath, education she can do easily. "Well recently I've been studying the different artworks from the 1500s of Europe, their origins and ideals are what interest me the most, you see artist such as Leonardo, or Michelangelo created these master pieces surrounded by Neo-Platonism. A concept of combining Greek mythology with Catholic belief-" with every word she spoke, another question mark was popping up around the table. No one knew what she was talking about, but the elder didn't seemed phased. "In the works you can clearly see how the idealism was reflecting, take the Sistine Chapel for instance. Michelangelo was reflecting man being the center of the universe rather than God, which was an influence of the Greeks, by creating the most perfect beings in their bare glory-"
"Are you planning on majoring in Art history Miss Lucy?" Porlyusica interrupted.
Miss Lucy? I must be getting to her huh? "No Mrs, I plan on following the career of Layla Heartfilia."
"Astronomy?" she rose her brows in amusement. "Tell me about it, you seem to be very educated."
Lucy smiled genuinely at the woman, she was getting through quite nicely. She opened her mouth to explain her notes that she have been taking, but was stopped when she realized Porlyusica was focusing on Natsu and his horrible posture."Natsu, sit up straight at the table." she order. "Has hanging around commoners turn you to a savage?" she soke in outrage.
"Granny!"
"Mother!" The Dragneel-Marvel males shouted insulted. The blonde shut her mouth and pressed her lips together in a line, turned out the doctor was just an old hag after all. "Granny how could you say that in front of our guest? She's a hard worker who gave up everything for her dream! Including leaving her family."
Lucy stood up from the table, her knee hit it a bit making a loud click, she felt pressure building up around her face along with burning sensation. She could tell she looked red like she as about to cry. Her family...her brothers and sisters...her grandfather...it's one thing to not see them for a night, but she had her rights of being with them taken away, all to keep a far from a horrible man. In one night, she was insulted, teased and used as a puppet, the things she avoided and hated as a child. Being in the presence of a woman like Porlyusica helped her see how fucked up the first class are. Not everyone was her heart breaker friends."Please excuse me..." she whispered in tremble.
Levy sat on the edge of Gajeels bed with her fingers through her hair, what has she done? The 19 year old passed around the room in furry, how could Lucy not tell him about her being well off-no. Not well off. fucking rich! Rich for crying out loud! She could be out of the dump and get King a new house or at lease renovate the old one, what a bitch! She she told the snooty girls first when he's known the girl how long? He bet she was just making it up to fit in with them, but it all made sense too! The vocab, the speech patterns, the weird habits everything! "I mean doesn't she see we'er all broke here!?"
"Gajeel-"
"And she has the nerve to be rich around us?"
"Gajeel-!"
"I mean who does she think she is?!"
"GAJEEL!"
"What!?"
"She ran away from it!"
"Yeah, cause she's an idiot."
"No she was beaten you insensitive bastard!" She snapped. Gajeel took a step back with widen eyes.
"Beaten...?"
"Yes you jack ass! She has scars on her back and we are hiding her away cause her biological father is after her!" She grabbed his collar and brought him dangerously close to her face, her snarl at him was something he thought only Erza could do. She was piiiiiisssssed "And if you think for one moment that the girl would want to go back and leave the good life she had got it! She loves it her in the west district, and will do what ever she can to make it on her own without Jude!" Her voice cracked.
"Alright...sorry Levy..."
"You better be...now go start up the games you meaner."
Lucy sat in under the twilight sky in the garden, the blue flowers glowed in the under the magenta aura of the sun. Her eyes gazed of into the forest of the backyard and wondered if she could just runaway again and start over like she had years ago. It would be hard but she could get by. No, she wouldn't. She already made so many friends and has the most lovable family anyone could possibly ask for. Not to mention Natsu's family was kind enough to let her stay with them until the dogs calmed down. And she kinda blew it with the heartbreaker stuff, but she did sound smart as always. She looked down at the baroque style stone bench and sighed. "Hey!"
"AAAAAHHH!" she screamed. Natsu held his hands up in surrender.
"Whoa! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
"Natsu don't scare me like that!" she nagged crossing her arms and pouted her lip. The pinkette chuckled and sat next to her. There was not much to say, other than an apology, but it'd be meaningless if he don't know why she was so upset. Maybe her family? Yeah. Or her time of the month? Tough choice man.
"Yo Luce, you don't have to hold back." he said suddenly. Her orbs peeked up at him through her long dark lashes and fought a smile on her lip.
"I know..." she admitted. "But I don't want to right now." she looked up and watched as the orange sky began to become sobbed in the navy blue that was the night sky, and sprinkled with little diamonds. A small memory popped up in her head as she saw the twinkling of the burning balls of gas.
"What's so funny? Why ya laughing."
"Oh, just the story my mom told me about how my she picked out my name." she shrugged off casually. Natsu lifted a brow in integument.
"Ooooh, story time? Do tell." he urged. The blonde just smirked at him.
"She's an astronomer, so she loves the sky and stars, and one day when she was pregnant and working late, a song by an old band came up, Lucy in the-"
"Sky with Diamonds by The Beatles." Natsu finished with a smile. "I love that song!"
"Me too! Mom thought it was a funny."
"Wow, named after a rock song. Bad-ass King. Bad-ass."
"King?" she turned to him tilting her head to one side. He glanced down at her and shrugged as a mater of factly.
"Well yea. I mean when all this bullshit with Jude blows over, arn't you going to change your name?"
"Maybe..." she glanced up back at the sky. Lucy had thought of it, but Heartfilia was also her mother's name, would she be willing to risk losing that to just to break ties with Jude? "I don't want to think about that."
"Well what do you want to do?"
The blonde looked at him and flashed a grin that mirrored Dragneel all over it.
Wendy walked into the game room worried about her brother and dear friend, no one has seen either of them since the dinner. She only hoped Lucy didn't run off with her family. The middle schooler pushed the doors open of the game room, to find two large balls of multiple bed blankets wrapped around Natsu and Lucy in egg shape form, surrounded by bowls of candy, and their eyes glued to the screen of the large flatscreen watching a woman with long silver hair with dragons. Wendy rolled her eyes and watch the two geek out and giggle like school girls for a moment. "You guys seriously watching that show?"
"Don't judge our lifestyle!" Natsu called out with a mouthful of chocolate.
"You can't tell us how to live our lives!" Lucy countered. Wendy giggled and slowed the door to only a small crack, she felt a shadow creep over her for a moment and looked up. "Oh, hi grandmother." she whispered.
"She's a foolish girl." she began. "But proper when she needs to. If she could only speak up for herself she'd be a 10."
"Granny is that a smile I see?"
"No."
