Levy was being released! Wendy didn't like that that horrid man had hurt Levy three days prior. Wendy felt bad for her. When they had gotten to their hotel room, Wendy had asked Gajeel a few questions. Did he know how old Levy had been? Did she know her attacker too? Does she have someone to talk to? Did he llllike her? Was he going to go on a date with her? Was she going to move in with them? When were they getting married? How many kids were they going to have? Could she help plan the wedding? Was Natsu or Gray going to be his Best Man?
Wendy had laughed joyously at her older cousin's discomfort. He had stammered like an idiot and told her to sleep with one eye open. Wendy had jumped from bed to bed to evade him. After he had tickled her until she had to pee, they had settled in and talked about meeting everyone at the pool in a little bit. Natsu had called three times already to ask if they had heard anything from Levy or Lucy about when they were going to the pool.
The phone had rang a fourth time, and Gajeel had been so irritated with Natsu that he wasn't going to answer. Wendy had answered it, even thought Gajeel had told her to ignore Natsu. That ring seemed different than the others. It seemed more desperate, more urgent. Wendy couldn't not answer it. Gajeel had opened his mouth to yell at Natsu when Wendy had spun to face him, her eyes wide and tears ready to fall. "Levy...The bad man...409." Gajeel hadn't stopped running as he told her to call the Guard. She heard him scream for Natsu and Gray as he ran down the hall to the stairwell.
Wendy hadn't hesitated. She called the Guard right off. "Hello? I need help. I'm at the Matze Valley Hotel. The man who raped my friend is hurting her. He hurt Lucy too...Room 409...My name?...Wendy...I'm fourteen...My cousin stopped the bad man from taking my friend away earlier today...He went to help her...Please hurry." The woman on the other end of the phone told her not to hang up, and that the Guard would be arriving shortly.
Wendy heard Gajeel scream at...Bora? "Oh...he's mad." Wendy had forgotten she was still on the phone with the Guard. "Huh?...Oh, my cousin. He is really angry at Bora, the bad man." Wendy listened as the woman told her the Guard would be there within 5 minutes. "I don't think they have 5 minutes. Gajeel's REALLY angry." Wendy heard Natsu scream in anguish and rage. "Oh...the Guard better hurry. I don't know if Gray can keep them from beating him to death...Who's them? My cousin Gajeel and his friend Natsu...Natsu llllikes Lucy. Bora is a bad bad man. He tried to take Levy away. Levy didn't want to go."
Wendy could hear Gray yelling at Gajeel to stop beating Bora. Wendy knew that Gajeel wouldn't stop for just anyone. "I have to stop him. Gray can't stop him...he'll kill him." Wendy never heard what the woman on the phone said. Wendy didn't even hang up the phone, she just ran. As she burst through the door to the fourth floor, she saw Gajeel over a man on the floor. The man wasn't moving. All Wendy could see was Gajeel at 12, beating Dave.
She didn't see Gray pulling at Gajeel, trying to get him off the man. She saw Rogue running up to him, jumping at him, trying to knock him off of Dave. She saw Gajeel backhand Rogue in the face, knocking him away, and turn to keep beating Dave. "GAJEEL!" Wendy ran. She jumped over someone laying in the hallway, she wasn't sure who it was. "GAJEEL, STOP! Please. Gajeel...stop." Wendy put her tiny hand on her cousin's large shoulder. "Gajeel, if you don't stop, they'll make you go away." He didn't stop. Wendy walked around him.
"Wendy! No, get back! He'll hurt you!" She ignored Rogue. Wendy put her little hands on Gajeel's cheeks. She gently turned his face to her own. "Itoko, Stop." Wendy put her forehead to Gajeel's, eyes closed and tears running hot down her cheeks. "Please Itoko. If you don't stop, they'll come take you away. If they take you away, who will protect me? I need you, Itoko. Please don't leave me." Wendy felt the tension leaving Gajeel's muscles bit by bit. She felt him breathe deeply as he wrapped her in a hug.
"Wendy?" Wendy nodded, still forehead to forehead with Gajeel. There was silence between them for a long time. Wendy heard sirens approaching outside. Gajeel must have heard them too. "Wendy, go back to our room. Quickly. We will all go to the hospital. Gray will come get you when he can. I love you Munchkin." Wendy opened her eyes and nodded. "I love you too Itoko." Wendy ran back to their room and locked the door. She put the phone back in it's cradle and waited.
There was a knock on their door not much later. Wendy was afraid, but she went to the door. She was to small to see out the peep hole, so she hollered through the door in stead. "Who is it?!" The voice on the other side of the door didn't belong to Gray. "This is Captain Porla, of the Royal Guard. Are you Wendy Marvell?" Wendy didn't know what to do, Gajeel had said to wait for Gray. "I'm not supposed to open the door. I'm supposed to wait for Gray." Wendy backed away from the door.
A few hours later, Wendy heard voices on the other side of the door. Pressing her ear to the door, she heard Gray talking to the Guard Officer. Captain Porla...was it? Wendy couldn't remember. The knock was loud with her ear pressed to the door. She jumped back. "Hello? Who is it?" Wendy waited. Hoping it was Gray. "Wendy, it's Gray." Wendy knew the drill. "If you are really Gray, then riddle me this...How did we first meet?"
Wendy heard Captain Porla scoff. "This is nonesense, just open the door!" Gray ignored the Guard and answered Wendy. "Gajeel was fixing my van, I was running late for work, I didn't have any money until I went to work to pick up my paycheck. Gajeel didn't want to let me leave, he didn't believe that I would come back on my lunch break to pay him for the work. You came bounding out of the office, you were wearing a blue and yellow dress, your hair was down and blue, you were 8 years old, holding a white kitten. Her name is Charle. You took one look at me and decided I was 'good people' and that Gajeel should trust me." There was a long pause. "I gave you my cell phone to hold on to to make sure I came back. You text every girl name you could find in my phone telling them that I 'lllliked them'. Gajeel wouldn't let me even say anything to you about it."
Wendy threw open the door and launched herself into Gray's arms. "How are they? Is everyone alright? Are we going to go see them now? Did they make him go away?" Wendy's mind was running at a million miles a second. Her mouth couldn't keep up with her brain. "Shh. Wendy, Get your purse. Take your time. We can leave for the hospital whenever you're ready." Wendy nodded and ran to grab her purse. Rushing back to the door, she looked into Gray's deep blue eyes. "Ready." Gray nodded and they headed out.
On their way to the hospital, Gray filled Wendy in on the story they were telling. According to Gray, Bora had been fighting back until Gajeel knocked him out, then they tied Bora up and waited for the Guard to arrive. Wendy had arrived just as Gajeel had knocked Bora out. Gajeel had told her to go wait in their room until Gray could come and get her. Also, Lucy and Natsu were engaged, as were Gajeel and Levy. As Wendy's eyes lit up, Gray explained that it was only so Natsu and Gajeel could stay with Lucy and Levy, to make sure no more bad things happened to them. Wendy nodded and ate her cheese burger. They had stopped at Harpuia's on their way to the hospital, because hospital food was gross.
When they arrived, Gray led the way to Levy's room, where Gajeel was. He also pointed out Lucy's door. Wendy smiled and thanked Gray. She opened the door to Levy's room with a brave smile on her face. She saw Levy, IV in her left hand, oxygen tubes up her nose, PulseOx monitor on her right index finger. Levy looked so small and broken. Wendy looked to Gajeel with a question in her eyes. Gajeel brought his finger to his lips as he looked at Levy. Good, get some rest. Wendy sat in silence with Gajeel while they waited for Levy to wake up.
Several hours later, Levy woke up crying softly. Gajeel stood at the same time as herself. Wendy caught his eye and shook her head silently. Wendy knew kind of what Levy was going through. She knew Levy wouldn't tell Gajeel what was really the matter. She knew that Levy needed someone who understood, truly understood, her fear. Wendy climbed into Levy's bed as Gajeel took his chair into the hallway and closed the door.
For a long time neither woman spoke. Levy just cried softly and Wendy held her. After a time, Levy spoke watery words. "It's over. It's finally over. He isn't coming back." Wendy said nothing, she just let Levy cry. "I can move on with my life. I can get a cell phone, a bank account, have my mail sent to my house." Levy cried. Wendy still said nothing. "I can...I can get a boyfriend, I'm free of my past Wendy. He can't hurt me anymore." Wendy nodded sadly.
"Have you been with someone since he hurt you?" Levy froze, her breath still in her chest. "I didn't think so." Wendy sighed. "When you think you are finally ready, you will see his face, feel his body, smell his scent. I can't even look at boys as more than friends. I was 5 years old. I don't remember anything but being afraid, hiding in my closet, pain, lots of pain. Every time I think of kissing a boy, I see his face. His angry eyes. If someone comes up behind me and touches me, I panic. I can hide it pretty well, but sometimes I can't." Tears were now running down the faces of both girls. "I tried to kiss a boy once. I cried. He hadn't even done more than hug me. He didn't understand, and I couldn't explain something like that to him."
Wendy wiped her nose with a sniff. "I ran to Gajeel. I told him what had happened. He didn't say anything. He just held me and let me cry." Levy was nodding. "Gajeel's good like that." Wendy wiped the tears from Levy's face. "Find a boy you trust with your life. Let him inside. Tell him everything. Let him see the sad, angry, little girl still hiding somewhere inside you. If he doesn't run away, then he is the one that can help you overcome your past. He might just be the first of many boys, but you have to start somewhere, Levy." Levy was nodding. "Gajeel told me about what happened at the train station. Let him help you a little. He's good at that."
Levy nodded. "He really is like a big teddy bear." Levy laughed through her tears. "He doesn't like that I call him Bear." Wendy and Levy chuckled together. "Wendy?" Levy's eyes were full of fear and hope. "Yes Levy?" Levy looked away for a few seconds. "I-I-I think...I think...if it's ok with you that is...I might...ask Gajeel for his help. With my past...you know." Levy kept sneaking glances at her, as if she were afraid of her reaction. Wendy knew her face was shining like the sun. She didn't care. "Only if you promise me one thing." Levy nodded. "Don't hurt him. He's been hurt enough for one lifetime." Levy nodded again.
Both girls were quiet. Wendy holding Levy and brushing her hair away from her face. Levy eventually stirred. "Thank you Wendy. You are amazing. Don't ever let anyone change you for the worse." Levy smiled up at her. "Should I go get Gajeel now?" Levy nodded. Wendy helped Levy get comfortable and covered her up. She looked over her shoulder as she opened the door. Levy had already fallen asleep. She stepped out into the hallway and into Gajeel's arms. "Thank's Munchkin." Wendy nodded and disentangled herself from Gajeel. Without another word, she walked towards Lucy's room. Lucy was probably awake at this point. Wendy didn't know anything about Lucy, but she did know about being afraid of people. About being hurt by someone. She would kick Natsu out and spend time with Lucy too.
Wendy opened Lucy's door and walked in. Looking to the bed she saw Lucy sleeping too. Natsu had pulled a chair up next to Lucy's bed. His elbows were on her bed and his hands were clasped, as if he were praying. His head rested between his elbows and his clasped hands rested at the back of his neck. Wendy took a seat opposite Natsu and waited for Lucy to wake up. She didn't have to wait long. Lucy woke with a scream and Natsu jumped to his feat. "Lucy. Relax. You're safe." Natsu went to put his hands on Lucy's shoulders.
"Natsu." Wendy's voice was soft, but brooked no argument. When Natsu looked at her, she shook her head and motioned for him to take a break. Natsu looked like he was going to fight her for a few moments. Lucy's soft tears only helped to punctuate Wendy's point. Natsu took a chair into the hallway. Wendy pulled her chair up close to Lucy's bed, but said nothing for a while.
Lucy tried to hide her tears from Wendy, but Wendy knew better. "You don't have to hide your feelings from me. I'm not some dumb kid. There is a lot you don't know about me. Just like there is a lot I don't know about you." Lucy peeked out from behind her hands, a deep confusion in her eyes. "My step dad...Dave...did...things to me. I was 5 when it stopped. Gajeel saved Rogue, that's my half-brother, and I from him. I have had both of my arms broken. I was 'clumsy'. I 'fell down the stairs' a lot. When my mom died, there was nobody left to protect us from him. Until Gajeel spent the night and stopped him. I still can't let go of my past. There are a lot of things I don't remember, but what I do isn't good. I can remember hiding in my closet, buried under all my stuffed animals, praying he wouldn't find me. I can remember his angry eyes, a dull copper, burning holes in me. Some days my scalp still hurts from the memory of being thrown across the room by my hair." Wendy took a deep breath and wiped an errant tear from her face.
She looked up at Lucy, who had come out from hiding. "Pity Parties don't help. You think they do, but they really don't." Lucy sat up and hugged her knees to her chest with a wince. "He broke two of your ribs and your kidney is bruised. Your pee will be pink, if not blood red, for a few days. You didn't suffer permanent physical damage. But that isn't why you're crying." Wendy looked down at her hands. "It wasn't why I cried. Or why Levy was crying." Wendy looked back to Lucy's hazel eyes. "Her eye socket is broken and she has a concussion. She didn't suffer permanent physical damage either."
Wendy was quiet. She was waiting for Lucy to make the next move. Unless Lucy started letting things go, even if it was only one thing today, there was no point in Wendy being there. Lucy picked at her nails nervously. Wendy decided that Lucy wasn't as brave as she pretended to be, Lucy needed a push. Wendy stood and started walking towards the door. "Wendy wait!" Wendy smiled. Yes Lucy. Being brave is scary. But being alone is even scarier. Wendy put on a curious face as she turned around. "Yes, Lucy?" Lucy looked down to her toes wiggling beneath the blanket. "Can...umm...will you...sit with me." Wendy smiled softly. "Yeah. I'll sit with you. But I won't stay if we are just going to sit in silence. I'm not going to be doing all the talking either."
Lucy looked terrified, but nodded anyway. Wendy went to sit back down in her chair when Lucy scooted over on her bed. Wendy climbed up to join her in stead. They sat in silence for a while. Wendy broke the quiet tension with as neutral a topic as she could think of. "Natsu is a good guy. I know he seems over the top sometimes, irrational every other time." Lucy nodded. "He is strong, but he is also very gentle." Wendy chuckled under her breath. "He has a cat." Lucy's eyes softened. "He named it Happy. He said it's because the cat is always smiling. Happy does look like he is always smiling."
Wendy's eyes misted over. "Happy almost died once. I have never seen Natsu cry. It was 4 years ago. Happy got out of Natsu's house. Natsu couldn't find him and needed to go to work. When Natsu got home, Happy was laying on the porch. Happy had been attacked by a dog. He still has a big scar on his back. It kind of looks like the outline of F.T University's mascot. Happy was dying. Natsu doesn't have a car." Wendy lowered her voice and leaned into Lucy conspiratorially. "He gets motion sick!" Lucy cracked a small smile. "Natsu wrapped Happy in his scarf to keep him warm and ran 10 miles to the vet. Natsu came to stay with Gajeel and I while Happy was at the vet. I could hear him crying every night that Happy was there. Two weeks later Happy was allowed to come home. Happy doesn't try to run outside any more."
Lucy's eyes misted over. "He really is a great guy, isn't he?" Wendy nodded, but said nothing. "I don't know anything about him." Wendy nodded again. "Do you want to?" Lucy blushed, but nodded. "He's cute. I just don't know how I'm going to tell him anything after this." Wendy sighed. "I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Levy knows this too. I just told her. When you find a boy you feel you can trust, let him see all of you." Wendy saw the look on Lucy's face and giggled. "I don't mean get naked. Not physically anyway. No. Show him who you really are. Let him see the terrified, insecure, little girl that you're hiding somewhere deep inside yourself. It's really scary to even admit that that little girl lives inside you, and introducing her to someone else may seem world ending, but I promise, it won't be. When you find a boy who isn't afraid of little girl Lucy, then you know you have found someone truly special. Let him help you with her. You can't take care of little Lucy all by yourself."
Wendy let the silence stretch out for a minute before she looked back at Lucy. "I haven't found the right boy yet. I'm still looking. Until I find that boy, I ask Gajeel to help me with 5 year old Wendy. Find someone you want to help you with Little Lucy. Let him see her. You may have to be hurt a few times before you find the right boy, but when you find the right boy, don't hurt him. I know it's scary, terrifying actually, but trust in yourself. I have a feeling we all know, somewhere deep down in our hearts, who the right person is. I'm sure you'll find him soon. I can feel it." Wendy smiled at Lucy again.
Lucy was quiet, Wendy could see the wheels turning. She waited patiently for Lucy to speak. Lucy took a deep, steadying breath before she spoke. "I think I have found that boy Wendy." Wendy smiled. She had a good guess about who that boy might be. "Yeah? Who?" Lucy blushed. "I think it may be Natsu." Wendy's smile was so big, her face hurt. "Don't smile like you already knew!" Lucy made flustered noises before she continued. "How did you know before I did?!"
Wendy smiled. "Because..." She jumped out of Lucy's reach. "I don't lie to myself." A thought struck Wendy. "Oh, by the way, when the Guard asks...IFthe Guard asks, you and Natsu are engaged. It is the only way he is allowed to stay in here with you all the time." Wendy smiled at the look of horror of Lucy's face. With a mischievous grin, Wendy kept talking. "I know Levy's pet name for Gajeel...Bear...what is Natsu's pet name? I need to know these things!" Lucy looked confused. "Oh come on. I know there is something you think of; a name, an aspect of him that you find endearing, something; when you think of him. What is it? I need some ammo against him. Something that will shut him up completely."
Lucy blushed. "His hair." Lucy's cheeks flushed more. "His big pink hair. It's cute." Wendy climbed back up on the bed with Lucy. "So...his pink hair...huh?" Lucy nodded. "Lets think of something good..." Before Wendy could offer a single suggestion Lucy spoke. "Pinky. I like Pinky. It is so much the opposite of him. It makes him seem less..." Wendy offered a valid suggestion. "Masculine?" Lucy laughed loudly before she grabbed her side and told Wendy not to make her laugh. "No, I was thinking more along the lines of making him seem less intense. Less full on." Wendy nodded. "He won't see it that way when I use it. He will think it's cute when you use it, he may even blush!" Lucy nodded.
Both girls were quiet for a while, just enjoying each other's company. "Should I go let him in now?" Lucy nodded. Wendy gave her a gentle hug. "It'll be ok. Trust yourself. Trust Natsu. It will all work out. Promise." Lucy nodded. "Thanks Wendy." Wendy nodded as she opened the door. "Any time, Lucy." Wendy smiled one last time before she nodded to Natsu. Grabbing his arm, Wendy looked into his black eyes. "Hurt her, and Gajeel will be the least of your worries." Natsu nodded with a mumbled "Yeah" before he went to Lucy's bedside. Wendy closed the door and went to find Gray.