The next day was a blur of bad movies and slightly-healthier-than-before takeout. I thought things would change more than they did, but aside from Natsu no longer hiding his gaze when he checks me out (and, yeah, I'm not really hiding it either - the man is unfairly hot), things are kinda the same. Lots of teasing and sarcastic banter peppered with a few moments of serious conversation and getting to know eachother better. A girl could really get used to this.
Too bad it's now Thursday. Time for shit to get real again. Natsu let me know last night that he'd rescheduled my meeting with the detectives about my car for this morning, and I don't want to go. There is a very real part of me that wants to feign illness - not difficult with the still-healing concussion - and put it off until the end of time, but I know it needs to be done.
We go through what is quickly becoming our normal morning routine of me making coffee before Natsu asks me again if I'm going to be alright with speaking to the police today.
"I should be fine. As long as I don't have to deal with too many stairs." I flash him a grin. "What time do we need to be there?"
"Not until nine, so we have plenty of time to get dressed and grab some breakfast. Would it be inappropriate to ask what you plan to wear?"
"Not at all; you can ask all you want, but that doesn't mean I'm going to answer you," I say, patting his cheek twice. "I'll be ready in 45 minutes or less."
"I'm timing you."
I stuck my tongue out at him, then turned and made my way to my room. Walking into my closet, I found a below-the-knee, taupe, A-line skirt, blush pink silk blouse, and matching kitten heels. After applying a light coat of makeup and throwing my hair into a French braid, I got dressed.
Studying my reflection, I couldn't help but stare at the dark bruises that had formed on my wrists. I don't want people staring at them and assuming Natsu is abusing me, so I grabbed a light-weight cardigan and slipped it on. Finally satisfied with how I look, I exit my room, running into Natsu – literally.
"Ow," I whine, rubbing my now-sore nose. It felt like I slammed it directly into a wall. Is he wearing Kevlar under his shirt or something? I may have to check later for verification.
"Sorry, Lucy," Natsu chuckled. "I was about to tell you that your time was up, but you managed to come out with eight seconds to spare."
"Bite me," I said under my breath. At least I thought I had, but he still managed to hear my words just fine.
"Is that a request or an offer?"
"I am not on the menu, Natsu," I laughed at his ridiculousness.
"So that means it was a request?" He grinned as he took my right hand and raised it towards his mouth.
"I swear, if your teeth touch my flesh, I will make sure you regret it." Though I tried to sound menacing, I don't think he took my threat seriously, but he relented, turning my hand to gently kiss the palm before releasing it.
"You win this round," he said, checking the time on his phone, "but only because I'm in need of breakfast."
He handed me my phone as we left home, making me promise not to spend too much time on it. He worries more than all of the girls combined; it is rather endearing, though, so I'll try not to give him too much crap about it. I also made him return my laptop, insisting it was important.
We arrived at a diner close to the precinct just after seven in the morning. The place was charming, to say the least. The floors were black and white tiles in a checkerboard pattern, the walls a blinding bright white and covered with autographed celebrity photos. The tables had shiny black tops, and all of the plush seats were covered in glossy red and white vinyl. If the food is half as good as the décor, I'll be coming back here often. Since we were able to seat ourselves, we chose a booth in the back so we could talk without disturbing any of the other customers.
While we ate, Natsu told me he had called in a lawyer to sit through the interview with me – just in case. I was initially hesitant, but decided against arguing, since I know from experience what it's like not having someone else there with me.
Once we finished eating, I pulled out my laptop. Natsu tried to protest, but I motioned him to my side of the table so he could see what I was doing. I powered it up and plugged a new thumb drive into one of the USB ports. Several minutes of navigating later, the files I needed were being copied to the drive. Natsu sat watching while I worked, but once the waiting began he – of course – had questions.
"You needed to bring your laptop so you could move your novel? That doesn't really seem all that important right now. Why didn't you just wait until we get home to do that?"
"This isn't my novel...that's somewhere else," I say with a sly smile. "Each of these files is evidence against...him. The chapters are journal entries of every encounter over the past five years – with the exception of Monday, since someone was being overprotective and wouldn't return my laptop. Don't worry," I assured him with a smile and a soft kiss on his cheek, "I think it's sweet how you worry about me. The 'research' folder is all photos and security footage, including all angles of Saturday morning's incident. I haven't had a chance to find out if there is any footage of him actually destroying my car, though.
"I wrote a code to rename all of the files properly whenever they get copied, which I update every time there is an incident."
"That seems… complicated," Natsu stated. Poor thing seems confused, and I have to remind myself that he's not as tech-savvy as I am. "How did you get all the photos and videos? Did people send them to you?"
"No one sent them. I, um, procured them from various places myself."
"Did you 'procure' them through legal means?"
A soft chime from my laptop let me know the files had been copied, so I busied myself with removing the thumb drive and shutting it down instead of answering his question.
"I'll take that as a 'no.'"
"In my defense, I did try a few times, but when people didn't cooperate, I took matters into my own hands. It's embarrassing how easy it was to get into most of those systems. Really, their IT departments should be ashamed."
Natsu gaped at me as I finished sliding my laptop into its case. I paid the waitress and was standing before he regained his composure. Thankfully, he waited until we made it back to his car before delving deeper into the subject.
"So, did you hack into my security system?"
"No," I laughed, "I didn't hack into my security system. Don't look at me like that, Natsu. You may have paid for it, but I wrote most of the code. And before you ask, yes I did break through your security – many times – before I started working there." I let that information sink in before I elaborated; I don't want him thinking it was corporate espionage or some shit like that. "Gray hired me to do it. Three years ago, you were having some cyber security issues – he didn't go into it, and I didn't ask. I was freelancing at the time, and he wanted to check to make sure everything was secure. After your guys figured out they weren't able to keep me out, I was hired to upgrade your cyber security myself, as well as whatever else needed doing."
"That was you?"
I replied with a noncommittal shrug.
"You're kinda scary, Lucy. You know that, right?"
"Says the man who owns a cover business for a covert 'private security' group."
"Yeah, but I can't just look at you and tell you're dangerous, or even potentially dangerous. Even with my hair color, people find me intimidating, but you look like you wouldn't do anything to hurt anyone; which I know isn't true after you were ready to rip some woman's arms off on Saturday, and mangled the fuck out of your attacker's face with the back of your head. Gray got me copies of the pictures...you're more than a little scary."
Now that we're walking towards the police station, I find myself wondering why I'm here. This is not the first time I have walked into a station to give my statement or answer questions. It's become the same line of questioning over and over again. My jaw clenches as I remember that I have help this time, and this show isn't for me; this time, it's for Natsu, so he can witness firsthand what it has been like for me.
Monday night's adversary looms ahead as we get closer to our destination. My stomach churns at the thought of falling down the unforgiving concrete steps. I haven't been to the roof since that particular incident, so I am quite nervous about the obstacle ahead of us. I shut my eyes and try to regulate my breathing; whatever confidence I had facing the stairs three nights ago has vanished. Reaching out my left hand, I regain a modicum of composure when Natsu's fingers lace with mine. Whatever else happens, he won't let me fall.
"It's about time you got here," a deep voice calls out. Turning towards it, I see a man roughly my dad's age striding our direction. "Damn, Natsu, is this your new girlfriend? She's hot!"
"She has a name and does not appreciate people speaking as if she is of no consequence," I snapped at the man.
He looked at Natsu, who was unsuccessful in his efforts to keep from smiling as he shook his head.
"I'm not helping you out of this one, but I can at least manage introductions." Natsu turned to me first. "Lucy, this is Gildarts Clive, your new attorney. Gildarts, your client, Lucy Heartfilia."
Gildarts and I shook hands, then Natsu leaned closer to him to whisper something I'm sure he didn't mean for me to overhear.
"Try not to piss Lucy off. She's more dangerous than Erza, and I'm pretty certain she could destroy your life if she were ever inclined to do so."
Shock and fear flitted across Gildarts' face as he looked at me again, likely trying to figure out what I was capable of for Natsu of all people to deem me dangerous. Although, he may just think Natsu is fucking with him. Either way, it doesn't look like he'll be allowing this information to affect his ability to do his job, so I really don't care.
"Let's just get this over with," I say, making my way to the base of the steps. "This isn't exactly my idea of a good time…"
With the two men flanking me, we made our way into the police station for what I'm hoping will be a smooth interview. Thankfully, I managed to ascend the stairs without becoming dizzy or lightheaded and falling to my death, though I did have to sit for a few minutes once we were inside to fend off a sudden headache.
"Miss Heartfilia?" I looked up at the tall man with cat-like features and a five o'clock shadow who had just entered the lobby. "I'm Detective Lessio."
"I remember," I reply as I stand, flanked again by Natsu and Gildarts. Detective Lessio was on duty while I did freelance work for the department three years ago. From what I remember, he is polite and professional. His partner - Detective Jackal - on the other hand, is a complete prick.
"Will both of your," the detective glanced at the men on either side of me, "escorts be joining us while we talk?"
"Yes," I answered without looking back for confirmation. Gildarts was here to be my advocate, so obviously he would be in the room. Natsu and I hadn't spoken of whether or not he would be as well, but I will be more comfortable with him there and I know he would just argue if I asked him to wait.
The blond detective I was hoping to avoid was already seated when we entered one of the interrogation rooms upstairs and I was hit with a wave of nausea as we seated ourselves. It was Lessio who spoke once we were all at the table.
"Mr. Dragneel informed me over the phone that you may have a potential suspect for us?" I nodded, not yet trusting my voice. "We will need that person's name, contact information - if you have it - as well as a motive for said person to destroy your property."
"Hi-his name is Bora Upland." My shaky voice betrays me, allowing the four men in the room with me to hear my fears loud and clear. "He has been stalking, harassing, and abusing me for around six years; including two incidents in the past week."
Detective Jackal studied me with a cold, judgmental gaze before speaking.
"Six years sounds a little over exaggerated to me." He crossed his arms over his chest, allowing his eyes to linger on me uncomfortably. "Especially when it comes from someone as unremarkable as yourself. How about telling us how long this supposed harassment has really been going on?"
I clenched my jaw so hard I worried my teeth would crack from the pressure, and I could swear I heard a low growl coming from Natsu. It's tempting to leap across the table and slap the asshole across from me regardless of the consequences, and I didn't realize I was standing from my chair until a weight on my left shoulder eased me back into it.
"My client is the victim in this case, Detective, and as such, she deserves to be treated with respect and consideration for what she has been through. If you are incapable of that, I will request her case be reassigned."
"And to answer your question," I spoke up as soon as Gildarts finished talking while Jackal turned his burning glare back towards me, "five years, eleven months, and twenty-three days. Is that not close enough to six years to be called so?"
"I suppose," he muttered.
"Do you have any case numbers or other records pertaining to any previous incidents? The more information we have, the sooner we can get to the bottom of this." Detective Lessio spoke calmly and respectfully, which allowed me to relax as I pulled the thumb drive out.
"This drive contains digital copies of all case records, the restraining order, security footage of several attacks, and the e-journal of what I've gone through."
Jackal snatched the drive from me before I had even finished my sentence, one of his jagged fingernails leaving a painful welt across the back of my fingers.
"What did you do to this guy to provoke him?" Jackal's tone was condescending as he fidgeted mindlessly with the thumb drive he'd snatched. "I recognize the name: Upland. Rich guy, right? You probably strung him along and then didn't put out; you seem like the type. And looks like you found another rich guy to leech off of instead…"
"We're done here," Gildarts stated icily as he pushed back from the table.
I kept myself composed, standing with the poise and grace trained into me from a young age. Rage flowed freely beneath my calm facade as I followed Gildarts out of the room with Natsu just behind me.
The two made multiple attempts to engage me in conversation as we made our way out of the station, but I could not trust myself to do more than shake my head.
"I'll make some calls when I get back to my office," Gildarts told us when we reached Natsu's car. "The Commissioner will be hearing about this. I can't believe a detective would say such things."
I let out a humorless snort and both men turned to look at me.
"You're kidding, right? I find it hard to believe either of you is surprised by the treatment I received in there," I said in answer to their incredulous looks. "Don't get me wrong, I'm fuckin' pissed, but not surprised. First off, Jackal is a professional-grade asshole; if I could get away with it, I'd rip off his dick and shove it down his throat until he choked on it...if there's even enough there for him to choke on, that is. Even if he wasn't such a prick, too many people are into victim-blaming - and it's so much worse in cases of domestic violence and sexual assault. This scenario isn't exactly a first for me, guys."
Unable to resist any longer, I pulled out my cigarettes and lighter, leaning against Natsu's car as I lit up. Smoke burned its way into my lungs, the accompanying nicotine doing nothing to calm my nerves or my rage.
This is why I didn't want to come in today. The detectives may be different, as were the words spoken, but the spirit of their questions and comments remain the same each time. I wish I could say it mattered if my 'interviewer' was a man or woman, but it really didn't make a difference.
"You're complaining about a wealthy man showering you with gifts? But that sounds so romantic…"
"Really? He's been following you everywhere? You sound paranoid."
"Maybe you shouldn't trounce around in such short skirts if you don't want to attract attention."
I can feel my eyes burning and I try to tell myself it's from the smoke instead of years of being treated as if I'm crazy for not wanting the 'good thing' so many told me I had in Bora's unwanted attention. As if I were obligated to give him a chance just because he took interest in me.
My nails dug into my palms as I took a deep breath to try to calm myself. Then another. Another. It doesn't work. Natsu reaches out to me and I accept his embrace as the first tears slip down my cheeks. No sobs wracked my body; no ragged sniffles or hoarse wails, just hot tears of bitterness and rage and acceptance that this is how it would always be when I sought help from anyone in law enforcement.
"Has it been like this every time?"
"Yes," I say softly. Even I think I sound defeated.
"I can't take away what's been done," sadness is laced into Gildarts' tone. At first it sounds like pity; as he continues I realize it's disappointment in the people who have treated me so callously. "I'll make sure Jackal is punished for today. Can I get a copy of what you gave to the detectives today?"
"Yeah"
"When you're up for it, I would like to meet again to get statements about every interaction you've had with police that mirrored this one. This shit is unacceptable, and I'll do what I can to make sure it doesn't happen again - to you or anyone else. I'll see you soon, Miss Heartfilia." He held his hand for me to shake, and I had to dislodge one of my hands from Natsu's hold to do so.
"I've got this, kid," he said to Natsu as they shook hands. "Take the night off and show this lovely lady a good time. You both deserve a break."
With that he walked away, leaving Natsu looking expectantly at me.
"What?"
"So...how 'bout that date?"
This is the last of my regularly-scheduled updates. Everything from here on out is me writing when I can find time and figure out how to shape the story.
Thank you so much to everyone who fave/followed this story or myself; it really means a lot to me that so many of y'all are enjoying my writing.
Special thanks to my reviewers: LadyNerdyNerf, Jihyo Is God, BeachBumBabe, Niomei, RequimMage, and themelodigshagg. Your words gave me a boost of confidence I needed to keep going.
So, this is it for now. Hopefully I'll get another chapter out soon (maybe a couple weeks?).
TTFN, Lovelies!