AN:
Hello guys, 1st off I apologize XD somehow I posted a previous chapter. Thank you, Jedi for catching this and notifying me.
I have to say I've surprised myself here. I got this one done pretty quick, but I suppose that's because I didn't have to revise or reword things all that much in the chapter. I pretty much hit this one out of the park from the word go.
So tell me what do you think Lucy might be confessing? And what do you think might be going on with Jude? And can anyone guess why Jude got so mad at Natsu after he saw another image on his phone? Was it of Lucy? Or another girl? Any ideas? :D
Nina stretched her arms up high over her head sporting a lopsided grin, "Ah, this feels great!" she says. It'd been a while since she'd had some good exercise. Even if Lucy had managed to catch her off guard effectively winning their little wager from this morning. "Alright girls, a deal is a deal lunch is on me." She chuckles her eyes shifting to Kylie who'd calmed down, her eyes still red from crying, her cheeks beet red with embarrassment at her actions while her face coyly stared down at the ground.
'Oh my god, I can't believe I did that again!' her brain mentally yelled at herself, she could practically feel the embarrassment steaming off her head as she remembered how it felt to be held by Nina. It was so nice… and warm… and she missed it. She heard Nina call her name causing her to jerk upright, "Y-Yes?" she replied.
Mary glomped on her from behind wrapping her thinner arms around Kylie's shoulders, "You're still acting weird are you sure your okay?" Nina tells her chuckling as her little sister also tried to comfort Kylie in her own way. It was cute to watch what little childish traits her sister still had. The cutest one was how when she noticed something was wrong and didn't know what to do to help, she would often mimic her older sister.
Kylie smiled slightly it was a motion Mary hadn't done in a while not since she'd been in eighth grade in fact. Back when she'd found out how hurt Kylie had been when her sister had gotten into an accident. Sadly, she still didn't know all the details since neither of them would tell her. "Yeah, I think I'll be just fine." She says patting Mary on the head without seeing her.
Lucy smiled at the interaction, "Better not be lying we're friends, right?" Nina says causing both Kylie and Lucy's smiles to falter.
Her heart ached at the word 'friends', 'You shouldn't be bothered by this… after all when she confessed to you… it was you that turned her down.' Kylie reminded herself. Kylie nodded hoping it served as reassurance.
Lucy frowned, "Uh guys, I have something I need to confess." She starts gaining the attention of her friends. They stared at her curiously… patiently. Even Nina who was usually the most impatient of the bunch. Lucy looked around cautiously no one was near them, but that didn't mean someone wasn't listening, "W-Would you guys come to my apartment tomorrow. I promise I'll tell you there."
Mary cocked an eyebrow, "Why not no…?" she started but stopped when an arm extended in front of her. "Big sister?" she mumbles watching as Nina spared her a glance and a soft sisterly smile.
"Tomorrow morning your apartment, got it!" Nina answers with a beaming smile, not allowing either of the other girls' time to pry. Lucy was going to open up more and she wanted Lucy to do it on her terms and no one else's. If Lucy said tomorrow, then tomorrow it was. If she chickened out, changing her mind to a later date that was fine too. "Lucy," Nina's voice called out to her, Kylie standing in the door while Mary stepped through the doors, "move it girl, or I'm eating your food too!" Nina playfully threatens.
Lucy releases a chuckle jogging from her position down the street to the door, "Coming!"
~oooOOOooo~
Natsu gave his cousin a worn out stare, "So what your saying is Happy is a magical cat that can fly..." he replies bored out of his mind. He and his cousin had been on the same topic for at least an hour… it was driving him crazy.
Gajeel's looked on in relief giving his cousin a nod, 'Thank god I thought he'd never get it…' he thought.
"Why didn't you just say that rather than wasting time with that long ass explanation?" Natsu asked curiously dismissing the murderous glare sent his way. "I mean geez," Natsu continues while Levy tries to calm Gajeel's building frustration before he released it on his cousin.
Bling Bling Bling Bling Bling
Natsu's attention diverted to his phone. The lock screen beaming at him notifying him he had five images sent from Lucy. Natsu's brow bounced curiously, last time he'd gotten a picture from her… realization registered on his face before he literally made a dive for the phone eager to unveil the picture of Lucy that Nina had no doubt sent him, "Don't ignore me you little bastard!" Gajeel spat but Natsu just continued to ignore him.
The first image was of Lucy in the middle of a fighting ring with Nina stationed in a fighting stance. Natsu had to admit her form looked really good. Her exercise clothes consisting of tight black shorts and a black sports bra with white trim. Natsu's eyes lingered on this picture only a moment longer mesmerized by the smugly determined face Lucy held before flipping to the next picture. Natsu's eyes widened at this shot even his jaw dropped… Somehow Lucy had taken Nina by surprise by hopping on her back, disabling Nina's arms by holding them back and up while her legs hooked around Nina's to keep her propped up in a position to further control her opponent and their actions, "Dammit, I'm so going next time." He mumbles still ignoring his cousins bickering in the background.
Natsu waved him off as he flicked to the next one which appeared to be a shot taken after the match. A sweaty Nina and Lucy sat at a bench, towels draped over their shoulders while sipping on water bottles, Mary stood in the background in the right-hand corner punching and kicking at a sandbag skillfully, 'If there all in the pictures… oh, it must have been Kylie.' He realized. He could tell he will definitely get along just fine with Lucy's friends.
The next one was a close upside view of Lucy chugging her water. It took him a perverted moment before he realized she was having a drinking contest with Nina whom he'd just realized was doing the same across from her. Natsu chuckled at this while Jude curiously peeked over to see what Natsu was laughing about.
Natsu flicked to the next one, this was a picture of all the girls together, 'They must have had someone else take this shot.' Natsu concluded. All the girls were smiling and laughing Kylie held up in their arms as she laid sideways with a nervously embarrassed sly stare as she waved at the camera. Nina stood in the middle taking on the core of all of Kylie's weight while Mary helped to support just above Nina's hand to Kylie's shoulder, Lucy who was in charge of managing Kylie's lower weight had a hand stationed beside her hip while the other held up her lower leg.
Natsu smiled genuinely he liked that she was having fun, "I've never seen her make that face before." Jude says.
Natsu's shoulders jumped in surprise having forgotten he'd been there in the first place, "R-Really?" he questions.
Jude frowns and nods, "In Lucy's whole life the only times I've ever seen her so happy is now that she's here in your world." He comments. He couldn't blame her… He'd been overprotective to the max and so Lucy didn't get your average childhood. 'Could I even call what I was doing a childhood at all?' he wondered only now realizing how isolated he'd kept his little girl. Only now thinking of how lonely she must have been... especially without her mother to fill the void.
"You're her father," Natsu starts catching Jude's attention, "I'm not a father but I can tell that you wouldn't isolate her like that without good reason. It is a parent's job to protect them, but I'm sure there are many parents out there like you who've taken it to the extreme much like you did." He explains hoping that Jude would realize that the damage he'd caused hadn't been done purposefully. It was instinct for a parent to want to protect their child after all. "I'm not saying how you did it was right, but I'm not going to say you were wrong either old-timer," Natsu tells him their eyes locking for a few seconds longer before Jude cracked a slight smile.
Jude felt something pinch at his foot, looking down to find the small blue kit hugging his foot while nibbling on his toe. What does this cat have a foot fetish? Jude turned from looking at Happy to back at Natsu, "Um, young man what exactly is your little friend here doing?" he says pointing at him at Happy rather rudely.
Natsu blinked a few times before registering what his cat was doing, "Happy!" he gasped out angrily. Unlatching Happy's mouth from Jude's foot while an eager Happy struggled to get away and back to what he thought was a treat, "I am so sorry!" Natsu apologizes bowing his head. When Happy tried to make a break for Jude's foot again Natsu caught him again.
Jude smiled slightly deciding to move back to their conversation rather than dwelling on the reason he now had cat drool on his foot, "Anyways continuing on with our conversation thank you, but no matter my reasons it doesn't excuse what I did to her." He tells Natsu. He felt a need to take responsibility for how his treatment had affected his daughter and he promised himself he would do whatever he need to do to fix the hurt he'd caused.
Natsu nods, "Your right it doesn't." he says with a sigh as he held Happy at his side, holding him by the extra skin behind his neck gently so he wouldn't attack the man anymore. Happy calmed down by this motion laying down beside Natsu as he continued to speak with Lucy's father, "What does though is your trying to do better now."
Jude chuckles a little looking to the pinkette with a slight grin, "Heh, you know kid I'm really starting to like you." He tells Natsu. His lips pulling back into a proud smile, 'You picked a good one kid.' He mentally praises his daughter.
Natsu gave off a playfully sly grin, "Oh really?" he starts in amusement. Natsu reaches over with his free arm hooking it around Jude's shoulders, "So, does that mean I can call you dad yet?"
Jude gave Natsu a dull stare, "Your pushin it boy…" he tells Natsu.
Natsu chuckles, "Can't blame a guy for tryin!" he replies.
Jude felt a cold feeling touch his foot and another pinch, "Why on earth does this cat keep smelling me and biting my ankles!" he asked his eyebrow twitching irritatedly as he looked down at the kit. Happy had a hold on his ankle drool dripping down Jude's ankle again.
Natsu's beaming expression faltered at this. As if not believing him Natsu jerks to where he'd left Happy beside him. He hadn't thought Happy would return to attacking the poor man once he let go. Hell, he hadn't even realized he'd let go! Dammit, he wasn't sure how this was gonna work if he kept attacking Lucy and her father, "Happy!" Natsu yelled with authority and a set glare. To which Happy simply sent him an innocent stare and what looked like a nervous smile before slowly backing away only to be caught by his master, "I'm sorry about him… he really loves… fish." Natsu comments quietly realization hitting him full force as he figured out why Happy kept attacking them. Jude raised an eyebrow about to ask him to speak up when…
Bling
Natsu's phone chimed but he didn't notice far too busy in his discovery to hear it. Jude curiously grabbed the device twisting and turning it while poking it oddly. The screen lit up and Jude raised a questioning eyebrow randomly poking and sliding his finger around the screen a drop bar fell from the top. 'Luce has sent you a new image.' It read. Curiously he slides his finger down disappointed and frustrated when nothing happens, growling his grabs the phone with two hands randomly poking the screen with his thumbs like he was playing a gamer playing a battle royal game with two teammates down and it was just him verse an entire team.
The screen changed bringing up the image, Jude's face went through a series of changes… It went from confused, surprised, embarrassed, to irritated before finally landing on downright furious, "You son of a…" he growled out his eyes shifting from the phone to Natsu.
Natsu looked at him with an innocently confused stare, "Eh?" he mutters just before Jude launches at him pinning him to the bed reeling his enclosed fist back as he held Natsu in place. Natsu cause his flying fist and struggled to keep it, "The hell old man?" he questioned. What the hell was his problem? Had he really been this pissed over his joke about calling him, dad? Not that he didn't want too… but it was far too early in his and Luce relationship to worry about all that! Or was it the thing about Happy and fish maybe?
"I trusted you-you little bastard!" Jude growled jerking his fist free from Natsu's before trying to slam it back down at him only for the boy to strugglingly catch it again with a grunt.
Natsu was getting irritated, "The hell are you talkin about old-timer?" he asked swiftly kicking Jude off and away from him before bunny hopping to the opposing side of the bed using the bed as a barrier.
Jude released another growl throwing his hand out in frustration as he picked himself up off the floor, "Don't play innocent!" he shouted.
Natsu held up his hands innocently, "I'm not I have no idea why your attacking me!" he says backing up until he hit the dresser. Natsu's shoulders jumped when something dropped behind him, "Shit!" he curses turning around quickly just barely stopping two glass pieces from falling off and onto the ground. Releasing a sigh of relief when the only thing that had fallen was a small wooden box that'd been filled with letters and a small white doll with light brown hair that he didn't remember buying. Had Lucy bought it?
Jude stopped his eyes locked on the doll, tears whelming up into his eyes at sight of it. Natsu rushed to pick up all the fallen envelopes on the floor. Watching as Natsu curiously turned one envelope around within his hand looking for a sender or receiver name, but he found none. He'd seen Lucy from time to time sitting at the desk writing, but he'd figured she was merely practicing her handwriting. Lucy wouldn't get too mad if he took a peek, right? He wondered opening the unsealed letter, a little shocked to find that it seemed to be a message to her mother.
Natsu frowned remembering how on their date Lucy disclosed to him the vague details she knew about what happened to her mother. Natsu put the letter back with care his thumbs rubbing at the front of the letter with watery eyes as he slipped the letters back into their box. Natsu grabbed the box and the small doll placing them back up onto the dresser, "I-I can't believe she still has that." Jude says his mood calmer now.
Natsu merely shot him a questioning look over the shoulder. A little startled to see the hurt evident on the man's face, "Sir, are you alright?" he questions. His only answer came as Jude doubled over grunting in pain as he gripped at his chest.
This feeling… Layla! Jude struggled to get to his feet and rushing out of the apartment not caring that he was only wearing a pair of black cargo shorts and a white tank top. He was so distracted… so fixated that he didn't hear Natsu call out to him. Nor did he hear the boy following after him as he rushed around. It was a trick… an evil trick… it had to be! He would find the bastard playing this cruel joke and kill them!
"Jude!" Natsu yelled when he finally caught up to him to the point, he was dashing beside him.
Jude's shoulders jumped at this before his eyes narrowed in anger, "Go home boy!" he ordered.
"Hell no!" Natsu replied firmly, "I don't know what in the hell's goin on but you ain't acting right and for Lucy's sake I can't just leave you alone like this! Why in the hell are you grabbing at your chest like that? Are you all alright? Do you need to go to the hospital?" Natsu questioned worriedly. Lucy had already lost so much… He didn't want her to lose her father too.
"Mind your own business, boy!" Jude spat irritated by the nerve of the boy trying to jump up into his business.
Natsu gritted his teeth at the words his hand shooting out socking Jude hard in the face. It wasn't hard enough to hurt him just hard enough to surprise him and stop him from running. Jude skid to a stop cupping his face angrily, "Your daughter's health is my fucking business!" he yells. Walking up to his grabbing him by the shirt, "Tell me old man, what in the hell do you think would happen if something happened to you huh?" he starts his anger building at how blind the man was to his own daughters feelings, "Do you honestly believe your daughter doesn't give a damn about you?"
"I'm going to ask you again and you better damn well answer me this time!" Natsu continued warning dripping from his lips with every word if he were to tell him some crap about minding his own business again, "What the hell is going on here?"