TRIGGER WARNING - There are big mentions of self harm, suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide. Also elements of abuse throughout the story. Please read with caution.


Lucy narrowed her eyes before turning away from him. Not lowering her voice as she muttered: "Fuck off."

Those on the table gasped at her response to Natsu, her look of disinterest and, she guessed, disrespect. Even Natsu himself seemed like he was a little surprised but, from what Lucy could tell, he was better at hiding that. She'd bet people were intimidated by his dark and edgy looking appearance. No way in hell did these guys usually talk to him like that. It was pretty thrilling.

The blonde had expected him to blow up by the way he was looking at her - And by all the other's reactions. There was an expression of disbelief, mixed with anger... But he didn't.

Natsu just let out a good-natured laugh before he sat beside Gajeel. He slapped his back before conversation erupted from the table again. Levy and Mirajane pounced on Lucy alarmingly.

"Lucy!" Mirajane gasped in a hushed tone and leant forward as if the rest of the table wouldn't hear them if she did. Lucy blinked.

"What?"

"No one speaks to Natsu like that!" Levy said in the same hushed tone. Lucy frowned.

"That's what you call speaking to someone?" She murmured but sighed as Mirajane and Levy's eyes didn't waver and stayed intent on the blonde.

"Well, why not?" Lucy asked finally.

Mirajane and Levy shared a look before Mirajane spoke up.

"I don't know." She admitted. "He just doesn't let them, I guess. Last guy who tried to talk back to him ended up in the medical ward and Natsu was in isolation for six days."

Mirajane laughed nervously. Lucy laughed incredulously and stabbed a fork into her food.

"If he tried to hit me, I'd kick his ass," She muttered, making Mirajane and Levy shush her when the rest of the table looked over to them.

"Whose ass is Lucy kicking? I want in," Gray all but yelled, leaning towards them. Lucy couldn't help the twist in her stomach as the boy spoke of her as if she was one of them. She had been here, what? Five minutes?

"No one!" Levy and Mirajane said in sync, making the rest of them look to each other.

"Me, Gray," Natsu laughed, and all eyes turned to him. He looked at Lucy and tilted his head with a smirk cocky enough to make her stomach clench. "She was talkin' about me."

She narrowed her eyes. "How would you know that?"

"I overheard."

"You eavesdropped." She corrected sharply. She felt those on the table stiffen around her, but Natsu only laughed.

"I guess, yeah." He laughed again and Lucy clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"Well, if I wanted to talk to you, I would have. Maybe mind your own business."

"On matters that are about me? Unlikely." he shot back, picking at his food.

Lucy didn't really have a response to that. She looked away but his grumbly laugh drew her back.

"That it? I expected more from someone who threw a plastic plate like a ninja star."

"Keep bothering me and I'll find something heavier, and this time I won't miss." She threatened through gritted teeth.

"Scary." He mocked.

Lucy laughed dryly – What was the point of even continuing this conversation?

"What an asshole," The blonde muttered, causing Natsu's eyebrows rise. She stood up.

"I'm all done, I'm going back to my room," Lucy told Levy who was still looking at her in slight shock.

"Uh-yeah, okay. I'll jus-"

"That's quite alright, Levy."

The seven turned to see Miss Erza making her way towards Lucy, a slip of paper in her hand.

"Here's your schedule." She told Lucy as she handed her the stiff piece of paper.


7:00am: Wake up call.

7:00 – 8:00am: Shower (supervised)

8:00 – 9:00am: Free time.

9:00 – 9:30am: Breakfast.

9:30 – 10:30 am: Arts and Crafts

10:30 am – 12:00 pm: School (Supervised Free Time on weekends)

12:00 – 1:00 pm: Dinner

1:00 – 2:00 pm: Music

2:00 – 3:00 pm: Group Therapy

3:00 – 5:00 pm: School (Supervised Free Time on Weekends)

6:00 – 6:30 pm: Supper.

6:30 – 7:30 pm: Free Time.

7:30 – 8:00: Group Therapy (Optional)

9:00 pm: Back to rooms

10:00 pm: Lights Out

Personal Therapy Session: 3:30 pm

(Sessions will be mixed up and changed every other week)


Lucy looked up to eye the woman uncertainly.

"Uh, thanks," Lucy said and shrugged her shoulders when the older woman had nothing to say. "Well, I was just heading back to my room, so-"

"Ah, ah, ah," Lucy grit her teeth when Erza interrupted and held up a finger as she tried to leave. "Free time is at 3:00. For now, you have music."

Erza grinned as Lucy made a face.

"Music?" She asked tentatively and Erza laughed along with Natsu who Lucy looked back to glare at.

"Yes. We find things like Music and Arts and Crafts gives patients a chance to be creative and imaginative, which we find helps a lot. You'll love it!" she said and clapped her hands together. Lucy laughed nervously without any humour.

"Alright, when do we go?" Lucy asked just before a bell rang. She fought the urge to roll her eyes. She might as well have just stayed at school.

Erza laughed lightly and watched approvingly as patients started to take their trays back before looking to Levy.

"Do you mind showing Lucy the way, Levy?"

"Of course!" Levy said cheerfully while she stood and took both of their trays, despite Lucy's complaints. Lucy frowned in confusion as she watched the smaller girl walk away.

"She's a nice girl, huh?"

Natsu was following the blonde's gaze as she watched Levy walk away. Lucy wrapped her arms around herself as unease flooded over her and just nodded, uncomfortable.

"Yeah, she's nice," was all she said. Natsu chuckled lowly.

"Don't talk much, huh?" he drawled, making her stiffen in annoyance. She turned on him irritably.

"Well, from what I hear neither do you," Lucy said hotly. Natsu met her gaze, his eyes annoyed.

"Well, that's none of your business." He said. Lucy didn't even flinch.

"Then the reason I don't is none of yours," Lucy countered in frustration. "Mind your fucking business and maybe I'll mind mine."

Lucy had the pleasure of seeing anger swell in his eyes at her tone.

"Jesus Christ, woman. I've known you for five fuckin' minutes and you're - You're so-" he began in exasperation.

"What?" She snapped and stepped into his space, her chest brushing his as his furious dark-green eyes burned down into hers. "So, what?"

They were in each other's faces when stern voice of Miss Erza made them drag their angry gazes from each other.

"Okay, you two," she said, and stepped forward to push them away from one and other. "Let's just cool down, shall we? Natsu, head over to the music room while Lucy waits for Levy."

Some of the patients who had stopped to watch sighed with disappointment as Natsu turned roughly to walk away. Lucy just muttered under her breath before turning in the opposite direction. She didn't think she had ever been more pissed off by anyone she had met in her life.

But it was official. Natsu Dragneel annoyed her just as much as he intrigued her.