Storyline: Lucy finds Natsu in a graveyard AU

Lucy flew out of her door, one hasty pig tail intact on one side of her head while the rest of her hair hung loose. She grumbled to herself before pulling the tie from her hair and letting her blonde locks just cascade down her back. She pulled her jacket over her shoulders more firmly as the cold bit at her skin.

She cast another weary glance at her watch and groaned. She was already half an hour late for school and if she was anymore late her dad would slaughter her. Kids already thought she got special treatment since her dad owned more or less all the schools in the city, so the teachers were extra hard on her. Not only that, with it being her final year it wasn't like she could just skip valuable lessons.

Lucy grimaced as she looked down the long road she had to follow to get to school. It took a good twenty minutes to walk this way and she didn't have that time to kill. She cast a weary glance to her left and her stomach clenched. If she went through graveyard it would take a mere five minutes to arrive at the school, maybe then she wouldn't be in as much trouble.

Lucy knew she shouldn't cut through the graveyard to get to school quicker, but she didn't really have the luxury of choice here. As discourteous as it seemed, she really had to get to school. She sighed to herself as she crossed the grounds of which people were buried, six feet under. It just seemed so disrespectful, to be walking so nonchalantly over where people had rested. But she'd woke up at stupid-o-clock for school, so she guessed this is what she gets.

She pulled her sleeves over her hands and set a faster pace. She could see the exit and her school in view after a minute and could have jumped for joy. She increased her pace towards the exit, wanting to get out of this place as soon as possible.

That was until she tripped over a body.

Lucy was so scared, the scream that welled up in her throat only came out as a frightened little squeak as she shuffled away from the grave. There was a body lying there in front of the gravestone. That was funny… Lucy had always assumed zombies to be all dirty and ugly, yet this one looked clean as a whistle.

It took her a moment to realise that this person was indeed alive and simply sleeping before a grave. Lucy frowned as she edged towards person.

It was a man. He looked no more than two or three years older than herself as he laid on his back in front of the grave, his forearm shielding his face from the sun and hiding his face and one of his knees drawn up where he lay.

His pale pink hair was visible, and it seemed to spike out that way naturally. He sported a creased t-shirt (implying he had slept there the night) and a worn white scarf and baggy jeans. He snored lightly and didn't seem to notice Lucy's presence.

"Uhh…" Lucy didn't know what to do. She had to get to school but it wasn't like she could just leave him here! He'd freeze to death or get into trouble. She groaned before crouching before him.

"Hey," she said sharply, poking his cheek though her voice wavered slightly. The guy groaned and swatted her hand away, grumbling. Lucy released a chuckle before poking at him again.

"You need to get up, you can't sleep here." She muttered and he finally removed his arm with a grunt.

He hadn't opened his eyes, but Lucy was taken aback by his handsomeness. He was something to look at. His facial features were sharp and masculine, and his pale pink hair framed his face in an intriguing way. His jaw was strong, and his lips were nice and boyish. He looked so charming Lucy had to suppress a gasp.

Then he opened his mouth to yawn.

Lucy's eyes widened as she took in the sharpness of his teeth, and she slumped back down onto the grass and released another startled squeak. She noted distractedly that'd he'd opened his eyes to reveal gorgeous emerald orbs, but she was too shocked by his teeth to focus on that. She groaned into her hands.

"I knew it, I knew it, I knew it…" she muttered, burying her face in her hands. The guy just sat up and rubbed the back of his head, squinting at her.

"You knew what?" he asked groggily. She groaned.

"That you're a zombie! I fucking knew it; this is what I get for being a decent person! I should have left!" she cried, shaking her head and the guy laughed. She froze and peaked at him through her fingers. Zombies didn't laugh at their victims, right?

"You're safe. I'm not a zombie, weirdo," he chuckled, rubbing the back of his head still as Lucy huffed.

"Then what the hell are you doing sleeping in front of a grave! You could have frozen to death!"

The boy stiffened, as if realising where he was. His head jerked towards the grave that he'd slept before, and all humour abruptly faded from his face. Lucy frowned and followed his gaze to read the markings on the stone, realisation dawning on her.

Here lies Zeref Dragneel
Beloved son and brother
He will be forever missed
R.I.P

Lucy's throat grew thick as she cast her eyes back to the man who just stared blankly at the markings on the stone.

"What's your name?" she asked quietly. She sat on her knees facing the boy as he glared at the grave.

"Natsu Dragneel," he said in a quiet voice. Lucy nodded slowly.

"Is that your brother?" she asked, in the same voice. Natsu's eyes narrowed, though his eyes never wavered from the grave.

"Was." He grumbled. Lucy nodded again.

"I see," she said., though she couldn't get another word out before the boy rounded on her.

"Oh, don't start," he rolled his eyes at her nastily. He stood and looked down at her. Lucy blinked at him in shock.

"I've already had a handful of girls come up to me while I sat here telling me how they understand and all that shit." He continued, shaking his head at her. "Well, you don't. You don't get it. You have no idea what this feels like."

His voice wavered at the end, contrasting oddly with his deep, rumbling voice.

Lucy didn't care. Lucy couldn't help the flair of anger that shot through her as her face grew hard. She forgot about school, about being late and worrying her dad. She stood and grabbed the man's wrist firmly. He glared at her, but he didn't pull away before Lucy began dragging him to another section of the graveyard.

He pulled at her then, snapping questions, but she said nothing as she led him away. Then, she stepped before a grave. Her face nearly crumpled as she read the beautiful markings on the old stone, but she did her best to stay composed. Inevitably, Natsu turned his angry gaze from her to follow her gaze.

Layla Heartfilia
Lived and died a Hero
Beloved Wife and Mother
Rest in Peace, Angel

Natsu's gaze lingered on the letters before he looked towards Lucy. He hesitated, then repeated her earlier interrogation.

"What's ya name?" he asked quietly. Lucy answered without looking from the cold stone.

"Lucy Heartfilia," she said in a sad voice. Natsu nodded slowly.

"Is that your mother?" he asked, and Lucy turned her head slowly to look at him, offering a tentative smile.

"Was," she quoted him. He offered a sheepish smile in return.

"Guess I was wrong," he breathed. "You get it."

Lucy sighed and nodded, her eyes casting back to the stone. "I wish I didn't though."