Fairy Tail (c) Mashima Hiro and used for entertainment only. Please see additional disclaimers in Chapter 1.
Struggling from your voice inside my head
But now everything's trying to drag me down
But I'll rip the sky from the ground
But tell me now, who's my saving one
"Jesus or a Gun" Fuel
It was in the early evening when Lucy staggered through the doors of her apartment building. Jun, the doorman, gave her an odd look but said nothing about her torn, bloody clothes or bruises and bandages.
"Of course not." Lucy thought bitterly. "No one cares, in this town. Five years living here and not even an 'are you ok'." She managed to give him a slight smile anyways, and went inside. Once in, she quickly made her way to the superintendent's office, not bothering to knock when she got there. She was shocked to see the man at his desk.
"Lucy! What happened to you?" He exclaimed with surprise, getting a look at her.
Lucy's smile this time was genuine. Tom was good people, a grey-haired, pot-bellied man in his late fifties who had worked in her building since his youth. His eyes always sparkled with good humor, and he knew all the building residents and actually cared for their well-being. Unlike the mindless drones of the city outside, with Tom you could always find a listening ear and a word of advice. Of course, he would be the first to tell you that the advice he gave was questionable at best.
She shrugged off his concern. "I was in an accident. Been in the hospital." The lie came easily, Lucy was sorry to note. "I lost my purse and keys in the process. Mind letting me in my room?"
"Sure, sure." Tom rose to his feet. "But you know, your young man was here not two hours ago. I think he found your purse for you."
Lucy froze. "E..Eli was here?" She was please to hear her voice remain calm.
"Yep. Brought a whole mess'o stuff. Didn't say nothing to anyone though, bit surprised."
"Ah." Lucy managed, weakly. "Before the accident, we, uh, had a fight. So I am sure he's pretty upset. Is he… still here, do you know?"
Tom's face cleared. "Well, that explains it. Nah, boy left awhile ago. He was only around for a few minutes. Here we are." They paused in front of her door and he took a key from his key ring. Unlocking the door and swinging it open, he smiled at her. "That arm looks pretty nasty, Lucy. If you need anything, you just let me know."
"Thanks, Tom." She returned his smile before slipping inside.
The inside of her apartment was austere, furnished simply with no style to speak of. It always made her feel like she was walking into a hotel, and Lucy hated it. She had promised herself on more than one occasion to add a touch of her personal taste, but had never gotten around to it. As it was, the apartment was furnished and funded by her father and she had never really felt like the place was home.
She noticed them after only a second. Lying on the entrance table were her purse, keys, mobile phone and a bouquet of red roses. Blood red roses. Lucy felt a chill go down her spine and walked over to them as if in a trance. Picking up the flowers, she saw there was a card as well. Her fingers were shaking as she opened it.
I'm sorry I scared you.
Can we talk?
-Eli
That was it. She hiccupped a laugh. Scared me? He's only sorry he scared me? The laugh turned into a desperate sob and she crumpled the card in her hands. Dropping it, she buried her nose in the roses. They smelled so sweet, but Lucy felt she could detect the scent of decay permeating the blooms.
The hallway was littered with rose petals when Lucy finally made her way into the kitchen in a daze. Her stomach was grumbling and she kept remembering the tray of food which she had refused at that clinic. Glancing at her phone, she checked the day and time. Two days. She had been out for two days. Her phone showed no missed calls. Of course not. The only person who would call her would be Eli, and he knew she didn't have her phone.
No job, no friends, no life. Only Eli and a stipend from her father in the bank. Lucy clutched the granite countertop in an effort to hold back tears. How long had she been so isolated? She couldn't recall when it had begun. Too long…
The sound of a quiet scrape from the living room made her gasp. Was it… it couldn't be. Did Eli know she was back? Was he here? Lucy looked around for a weapon, and grabbed a chef's knife from the island counter. Edging towards the kitchen door, she peered around the frame. She didn't see anyone. Taking a deep breath to steel her nerves she called out, "Eli? Is that you?" No answer.
She heard what sounded like the whisper of fabric from the living room. Someone was definitely there. Creeping down the hall, knife clutched tightly, Lucy paused outside the room. She was weak, injured, vulnerable. She should make a run for it. The front door was just a few steps away, she could make it. Just a peek, to see the intruder and then… then she'd run. Lucy squeezed her eyes shut, then braved a glance around the corner.
"Yo."
She screamed and the knife clattered to the floor. Lucy darted for the front door, but she wasn't fast enough. A warm, strong hand closed around her good arm and she slipped and fell to her knees.
"Whoa, sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." His voice was a rough baritone that seemed oddly familiar, although Lucy was certain she had never met this man before in her life. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at him. Black boots, black jeans and a black leather jacket filled her vision. She blinked and the threatening tears spilled over. All she could make out of his features was shockingly rose colored hair.
"What do you want with me?" Her voice wavered and Lucy hated herself for it. The guy dropped her arm and took a step back, running his hand through his hair.
"Nothing! I mean, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I saw you leave Fa… the clinic, and you looked pretty bad, so I tried to make sure you got home fine."
Lucy gasped and scrambled further away. "You were following me?!"
"No! Well, I did, but… shit." The guy crouched down and held out his hand, as if she were a frightened animal. "I found you on the street, the other night. You were in bad shape. I just wanted to make sure you were alright."
Lucy's frightened breaths were coming slower now. "Oh." She took in his features, now that she could see clearly. He was handsome, with a childlike openness to his face that made her want to like him, despite her reserves. She couldn't place his age, but she guessed he was only a little older than her own twenty-three years. Clutching her suddenly-aching right arm she leveraged herself to her feet. Once she was standing she eyed him again. "Who are you?"
He smiled cautiously, and she thought that it didn't suit him. "My name is Natsu Dragneel. I work at the clinic you stayed at."
"You mean the bar?" Lucy muttered under her breath, only to hear him chuckle. When she glanced at him again, his features smoothed out. "Is there anyone who can come stay with you? Your injuries are pretty bad."
"Yeah, I'll call a friend." Lucy lied smoothly, once again regretting how easy the lies and excuses had become. Natsu frowned at her. "Let me see your phone."
Surprised, Lucy found herself handing over the phone involuntarily. Would he see her empty call logs? The address book was still full, but she hadn't contacted any of those people in… how long had it been? Lucy hated to think about it. Natsu finished typing something in and handed the phone back to her.
"There, that's my phone number. You're Lucy, right? If you need anything just call me."
"Ah, okay." Lucy took the phone weakly. Natsu smiled at her and headed for the door.
"See ya around, Luce."
"Wait!" Lucy called out, surprising herself. Natsu paused. "How did you get in here?"
His grin was wide, infectious. Lucy felt the corners of her own mouth turning up in response as he called out "Window!" and left with a jaunty wave.
Lucy sat, in silence, for what seemed like an hour after Natsu left. She didn't think, didn't move. She listened to the silence of her apartment and wished.
God, I wish for a chance to reclaim my life. I wish for family, or friends who love me. I wish for purpose. I wish I could redo these past two years. No, these past thirteen years. I wish I had made better choices. I hope I can make better ones now.
Her first choice would be putting her father's hateful money to good use. She picked up her phone and found a number she hadn't called in what seemed like forever. Lucy hoped it was still connected.
It was. After three rings someone answered. "Hello?"
Lucy gulped. "Hibiki? This is Lucy… Heartfilia."
Only a moment passed and the man on the other end began to laugh. "Lucy! Wow! How are you?"
She left out a breath of relief. "Not that great, really. God, Hibiki, I am sorry but I need to ask you a favor. Are you still good with computers?"
Hibiki Lates had been her boyfriend in middle school, but their relationship had been more like friends than romantic. Lucy had liked him because he was different, didn't fawn all over her because of who her dad was. Hibiki was easy-going, popular and handsome. These things all made excellent cover for the fact that he was one of the best hackers in the nation, and Magnolia's top information broker. To say he had been good with computers was an understatement.
There was another pause on the line, and then cautiously, "Yeah, why?"
"Well, I uh. Well, I got into some trouble and a girl helped me out. She said her name was Mirajane Strauss. I want to compensate her, but I need her address."
Hibiki chuckled. "Lucy Heartfilia. You call me out of the blue after not talking for more than five years, just to ask if I can find someone's address for you? That's basic, you or anyone at your dad's office could get that info from Source."
Lucy rubbed her eyes, frustrated. "I don't have a computer and I don't want my dad to find out. Hibiki, you are the only person I trust to do this."
A third pause, much longer than the first two. "Is this in regard to the trouble you mentioned?"
"It is."
"Okay, I will do it. But not as a favor, I want payment." His voice had taken on a teasing lilt.
Lucy chuckled, relieved. "All right. How much?"
"Ahh, Lucy, ever so pragmatic. I don't want money. How about we have lunch on Friday and catch up?"
Lucy hesitated. Before two days ago she would have said no, with no hesitation, but now? She thought about the wishes she had made. "Yeah, sure, that would be great. When and where?"
"Let's say one p.m. I know a place, but it is kind of a hole-in-the-wall. You probably haven't heard of it, but I think you will enjoy it. That is, if you still like French food?"
"Of course! So, Friday at one we'll…" She trailed off.
"Meet me at Parfum next to the Heartfilia Bank & Loan on the boulevard. And I will text you that address here in a minute."
"Sounds good. Hibiki, you're a star, thank you so much." The relief was evident in Lucy's voice. She hung up the phone and sat back, glancing at the window. "I came through the window." echoed in her mind and she shuddered. She checked the latch to make sure it was secure then turned to the door. As she studied the lock a jolt went through her.
Eli still has a key. Realizing that he could come in at any moment, Lucy jumped for her phone. Calling the Super's cell phone, she held her injured arm tightly to her body in nervous anticipation. Hearing Tom's voice on the other line, Lucy quickly made up a lie about losing her house key, and asked if he could change her locks.
"Well, sure, Lucy. But I ain't got a new lock right now. It'll take about three days to order one from the locksmith."
Lucy wanted to cry. "Sure Tom, do that please."
"In the meanwhile, if you're scared, you could stay with that boy Eli."
The irony of it made a sort of giggle/sob break from Lucy's throat. "Yeah, all right. Let me know when the lock comes."
"Will do. Good night, Lucy."
Genuine tears were streaming down Lucy's cheeks. She had realized, vaguely, over the past two years that she was burning a lot of bridges. She hadn't realized the extent of her isolation until she had tried to call her former friends only to get… nothing. Most people did not even answer the phone, and the few who did were distant. It was true that she had been shallow, but all her relationships had been shallow too?
Her father had succeeded, Lucy realized. His goal had always been to segregate her, to keep her away from the population as a whole. She had gone to the schools he picked out, been friends with people he approved of, and even lived in the apartment he had chosen and paid for. After Eli's introduction to her life, it had only become worse. She was in a corner. She was alone.
She scrolled through her address book. There… there… there… remnants of a life controlled entirely by her father and Eli. There was… Natsu Dragneel?
Lucy paused, thinking about the odd guy. He was associated with that clinic, and the clinic was in a bad part of town. He had helped her, though, or so he said. And although he had followed her home, and broken into her house, he had not hurt her. She found there was something likeable about him.
Too unsure to call, Lucy tapped in a text message. Hi, this is Lucy, from before. Got a minute?
The phone buzzed just a second later and Lucy jumped not expecting a reply so quickly. In fact, it was Hibiki texting her Mirajane's address. "Good to know." Lucy thought. If nothing else, she could show up on the woman's doorstep and beg clemency.
However, just a moment after that came Natsu's reply. RUOK?
Yeah, but I think my apartment was robbed while I was gone. I am really afraid, but I don't have anywhere else to go. By this point, the lies were so easy Lucy almost did not notice. A moment passed.
U NEED HLP?
God, he was daft. She ground her teeth and replied. A place to stay, for a few days, until my locks are changed. Can you help me?
GOT IT. BRTHR. The message came swiftly and Lucy squawked. "What! Argh!" Well, oh well, she supposed. Although she had changed earlier, she needed to throw a few things into a bag for an overnight stay. She was rummaging under the bathroom sink, looking for her travel hairdryer when a voice behind her caused her to scream and bang her already sore head.
"Hey, you said you need help?"
"Oh my god!"
"Whoa! Jesus, Luce, it's okay."
Lucy was clutching her chest, staring at him wildly. "How did you get in?"
Natsu scratched the back of his neck. "The window."
Not knowing how to reply, Lucy deposited the hairdryer in her tote with her other necessities. "All right. Well, I'm ready."
"For what?"
She looked at him incredulously. "To go. I told you, I need somewhere to stay for a few days?"
He looked at her blankly, and Lucy wondered if this had been the right idea. "You said that if I needed anything to call you. I need a place to stay for a few nights."
Natsu's face cleared up. "Oh, right! Yeah, definitely one of the girls will have a spare room. I can take you to Fa… the clinic."
Before Lucy could follow, Natsu was scooping up her bag and pulling her out of the room. She snatched her purse, half afraid he would shove her out the window but he held open her front door like a gentleman. Arguing was futile, she realized, and to press the matter further would make it seem as though she had a creepy need to stay with him. Better let him pawn her off on one of his friends. It was only three days.
They saw no one on their way out of the apartment except Jun at the front door. He looked at her, and then closely at Natsu but he did not say a word. Lucy was swept out to the street where Natsu stopped in front of a large, black motorcycle. Handing her tote back to her, Natsu climbed on, then held out his hand. "C'mon, Luce!"
Lucy hesitated. His smile was full of reckless, boyish charm and she thought it suited him much better than the small, pained smile of earlier. In that moment she realized how much she wanted to be free. Grabbing his hand, she swung onto the bike behind him. "Goodbye to the old me." Was her fleeting thought as they pulled away.
Author's Note: Hi guys! Here I am! Okay, so I am positively thrilled by the reception the first chapter got and will definitely continue this story. Thank you so much, and please keep the feedback coming! A few notes on this and upcoming chapters:
1. I write slow but steady. I try to have two chapters written at a time, so as I am posting this, three is finished and I am starting on four. When I finish four I will post three and start on five, and so on. That way if I ever get in a slump I can still make an update. I also try to keep a uniform length, so all chapters should fall around 3k words.
2. There is going to be a lot of information and not so much action in the next few chapters but that will change, I promise. I do not foresee this being a very short story - I have a lot I want to work through, and I want to develop the NaLu romance at a logical rate. (It will happen! It will!) So if that isn't really your thing, please bear with me until I can make all the gang fighting and romance come around smoothly.
3. I will used established characters as much as I can within the AU setting so there may be some things that seem OOC. I hate this. I don't want to do this. But I also dislike inserting random original characters into lead slots if I can avoid it. Soooo... um, yeah, ha ha that's my creative choice. I apologize if it offends you and I will do my best to keep everyone in character.
That's it! Next chapter should be up in the next few weeks. As always, if you have any questions about the story, my writing progress or just want to chit-chat you can find me on Twitter or Tumblr. I am rockermystic both places. Thank you so much, until next time! xo