Natsu was leaning over the white plastic folding table designated for checking in while she was checking out his pink hair up close. She was...she was pretty…. who was she, she had told him her name when they had walked up. He thought he had been paying attention but apparently not. Anyway she was getting a kick out of his pink hair while the blonde guy had gone to try to see if he could do something about his and his brothers cabin assignments. Zeref had looked ill when they were giving different cabins. The lady seemed really understanding though when Natsu explained Zeref's anxiety and that being able to bunk with his lil bro would maybe help some.
Natsu straightened up off the table and shot a glance at his brother. Zeref was looking down at the ground avoiding eye contact as much as possible. He looked tense but he wasn't breathing all wicked fast like he had been when they first got here.
Natsu turned slowly in a circle checking out as much as he could. To his right there was a lake. Every summer camp had a lake right? What would be the fun without one. Behind him was the slop and the gravel road and small lot for visitors. On his left stood a few larger barn looking buildings. Probably a mess hall, maybe an activity center, and nurse. Looked like maybe a ball field beyond that. In front of him beyond the check in table was a large fire pit and behind that a ways is what must of been the cabin. They had to have boats somewhere. There is a lake there must be boats. He wanted to learn archery too.
"What do you think about that? Does it sound like something you would want to try?" Shit the pretty lady had asked him something and he spaced out again.
"I will eat anything so if we are talking about food yeah, let's try it." Natsu could tell by the way she shook her head and giggled she hadn't been talking about food.
"Well that's good to know but I was asking if you wanted to try one ceramic or something with your brother?"
Natsu frowned, "Like in a building, while being still, and having to listen to someone give instruction? Because I just did that for like 9 months and I suck at that."
She shook her head and laughed, "Well yes kind of like that. It's fun though and I was explaining to your brother you can work independently during the class. No ones expected to get up and show what they made or explain any technique. Its a chance to be creative and express yourself."
"Um yeah if Zeref wants to try it I can try it with him," Zeref just shrugged.
The big blonde walked back up, "Did gramps figure something out for them?"
"Yeah take those two from cabin 1 and 2 and move them both into cabin 4 and take Romeo C. out of 4 and put him in the now empty bunk in cabin 1. Now if pinkie here has no more request I have stuff I need to get done," the blonde crossed his arm across his chest. He'd obviously been annoyed with accommodating the brothers.
"No, Laxus that's all I needed. You really are a lifesaver," she smiled ignoring his sour attitude.
"Yeah whatever Mira," he waved and headed off toward one of the bigger buildings.
"Follow me boys i'll show ya to cabin 4"
Natsu saluted, "Right behind you M~I~R~A!"
He made sure to enunciate her name loudly hoping not forget again.
Laxus sat down in the plastic chair across from his grandfather's desk. The chair was made for a much smaller man than the muscular blonde. The old man hadn't even acknowledged his grandson's presence in the room. For some reason this annoyed Laxus more than it should've.
"Hey old man, I never wanted to come here in the first place so if you're going to play like I don't exist I can just take off. I get enough of that crap at home from dad," he looked to the side when the older man lifted his head.
The 'old man' was tiny compared to his grandson. If Laxus's jab had gotten to him he didn't show it.
"Sorry was just finishing up some paperwork. I got it all squared away now though thanks for waiting," he smiled as he shuffled the paperwork to the side.
Laxus continued to look away and mumbled, "whatever."
"I know you are not happy about spending your summer working here at the camp but there are not very many options open to you right now. You cause a lot of trouble for a lot of people with that stunt you pulled. If it wasn't for me offering to let you work here to help pay the fines and keep you out of trouble you'd be sitting in a group home right now."
"Yeah yeah yeah you saved my butt what you want me to kiss your ass or something. I would of been fine in a group home i'm not some little punk. I'll be 18 in a year anyway. It would be better than sitting in the middle of nowhere with you and a bunch of loser kids who are seriously too old for summer camp," Laxus leaned back in the chair letting his head lay back. He knew he shouldn't be mad at gramps he really was trying to help but he was angry and it had to go somewhere since the person it should of been directed on was always MIA.
"Laxus I want you to get one thing straight, you will not refer to any of my kids at this camp as losers in or out of my presence. The work we do here is important and the work the kids put in even more so. Every one of these kids was referred here by a counselor or therapist for many different reasons and we work hard to help them overcome different obstacles. I will not have you undoing any of the staffs hard work by degrading anyone. Do you understand me Laxus," he raised his eyebrows when the blonde didn't respond.
Laxus bent over and started picking at the mud that had made it on the toe of his boot, "Yeah I understand play nice with the camper."
"You better," gramps stood up from the chair, "oh yes I almost forgot why I called you in. Apparently there was some mix up with who was staying where in the staff cabins. I had to rearrange everything again. So forget what i told you earlier instead you will be staying in Cabin 4," he made his way around the desk.
"Wait that's a camper cabin. I'm part of the staff not one of your kids. Beside that one was full up anyway."
"I told you I rearranged. I can't put a female in a boys cabin and you are closer to their age then the other male staff members. Besides it might be good for you, might make some friends. Now come on it's about time i introduced myself to the campers."
Laxus groaned before pulling himself out of the chair. His entire summer was going to be wasted.
All the campers had been gathered around so Makarov or gramps as he said to call him could introduce himself and welcome the boys to the camp. Natsu couldn't get over the fact that he was the shortest and the oldest person and said as much out loud when gramps asked for questions. The whole place had started roaring with laughter.
Gramps was standing on a milk crate so he could be seen better. He stared at the overly excited pink haired boy.
"You mean you never really thought about it? It's the first thing I noticed!" The camp echoed again with laughter. "Also though there's a lot less kids now. There was like a hundred check in but now there can't be more than 30. And were all boys I know I saw girls."
Gramps straightened up and glanced at Mira the campers had gotten noticeable quiet too. Zeref noticed that too from his spot right outside the actual group.
Mira handed Gramps a clipboard she had been holding onto. "What's you name son?"
"Natsu Dragneel at your service," he bowed with a smile.
"Yes I got you right here? You were brought by your dad; hmmm did he talk to you about the camp you were coming to? Did he explain our purpose or talk about any goals for you?"
"He just sprung it on us yesterday. When he dropped us off he said have fun and don't accidentally burn something down like what I did to the neighbor's tool shed last summer," no one laughed and Natsu was suddenly very interested in a couple rubber band bracelets around his wrist. "He said that the camp would be good for my brother and get him out of the house and maybe I would have fun too."
"The lake is actually home to 3 camps Natsu. However, we are all the same organization so all the kids filter into one entrance and check in then are shuttled to their respective camp. The largest camp is on the far side of the lake is traditional and set up with boys and girls cabins and the kids range from 6 to12. It's the largest camp and most of the kids checked in and then got on a shuttle to that camp."
Gramps paused to make sure the boy was following what he was saying. Natsu nodded like he understood so Gramps continued.
"There are 2 smaller camps on our side of the lake and we are one of them. They are both similar camps but one for you boys and one for girls ranging from 13 to 17 years old. Every camper that attends at one of these camps has been referred by a counselor, physician, maybe a therapist. We go over the referrals and decide which boys come to our camp. So every boy here including you and your brother has been referred to us for specific reasons which we can talk about later in private. It's our goal that be the end of camp something done here we help you later in life that we can give you tools and coping skills that will help you have a better quality of life. Do you understand everything I've said Natsu?" Gramps watched the boy stew on everything he'd been told.
Zeref was on the verge of tears. Igneel had made the camp sound like no big deal. Like just a recommendation from the school counselor to force him to socialize but this was something much more. Blindsiding them like this was bullshit especially Natsu. Zeref knew that he had a bigger issue than his dad would ever talk about. Natsu however was told ADHD meant hyper when they started him on medication and never thought more of it.
Natsu scrubbed his face with his palms he was starting to get frustrated. Camp was suppose to mean fun easy summer and it was sounding like more work than fun.
"I guess I get it maybe. Specific reasons are it because I bombed a couple classes. Do I have to make those up or something because that's going to ruin my whole summer? It really wasn't my fault in Mr. Browns classroom he had a hamster and every time there was a test that hamster would start running on the wheel thing. Its was so freaking loud. How was I supposed to concentrate on a test? It was really unfair right?" Natsu was pulled on the hem of his shirt, "The teacher gets mad because I talk too much but they all like me."
Gramps handed the clipboard back to Mira before stepping off the crate and walking up to the boy.
"Natsu we can discuss why you are specially here tomorrow. I'll set some time aside so we can discuss it one on one. However, I will let you know we specialize in mental health on a broad spectrum and we are very happy you are here with us this summer," Gramps gave Natsu a pat on the back. "I think now would be a great time for you boys to head to your cabins. Get to know your bunk mates a little before lights out."
The crowd dispersed around Natsu but he didn't move. Zeref waited for the other boys to leave before joining his brother where he stood.
Natsu gave his brother a sideways glance, "So dad got us good on this one, huh?"
"Pretty much."
Natsu shoved his hands in his pockets, "Come on I've got some new bunk mates to annoy and or terrify and apparently I'm more qualified than I thought."
The huge grin on Natsu's face was contagious because Zeref was smiling running to catch up with his brother.