The waves crashed against the shore, white foam kissing the sand gently with each breath the Ocean seemed to take. Melodic whispers could be heard, whispers that caressed the ground until they became less of a whisper and more of a hiss.

Within minutes, the hiss turned to a roar, foam no longer kissing the shore as much as pushing against it mercilessly as the golden rays of sunlight gave way to grey stormclouds that covered the skyline for miles.

The feeling of chaos and danger was practically tangible, a restless energy filling the shoreline for miles.

The average person would have left the coast immediately in an attempt of self-preservation.

But some people, well, some people lived for the euphoric feeling, the danger, the cataclysmic clashing of energy that resulted in the kind of beautiful disasters one would be unable to look away from.

But those kind of people were usually dragon-slayers.

Natsu Dragneel was not your average fire dragon slayer. Maybe it was his bright pink hair that he insisted was salmon, upon threats of death, or maybe it was because he was actually raised by a dragon. Perhaps it was his fearless, and often reckless fighting style, that while brilliant, often did more damage than was necessary.

But whatever it was, Natsu found himself drawn toward the Ocean every day.

Gray, an ice mage and his best friend/arch nemesis, found the concept that a fire user would be so drawn towards water, his natural opposite, baffling, and teased the dragon slayer for it mercilessly.

Gray could be such a dick sometimes.

Maybe if Natsu had shared the reason why he was drawn towards the water so strongly, Gray would have understood.

Or maybe he would have pulled Natsu away from the shoreline so fast that Natsu wouldn't even have the chance to say goodbye.

It had been four years since he had found himself washed ashore, four years after the shipwreck that should have left him at the bottom of the Ocean with the rest of the crew.

And yet, here he was, rescued by some guardian angel.

It had been four years since he had felt the burning sand beneath his skin as his mind slowly tried to grasp exactly what had happened.

Their ship had been sailing near a few cliffs off the coast of the Hargeon port, just a few days after decimating a pirate ship hanging around the coast, when the singing started.

Even now, he couldn't remember the notes, simply the feeling that he needed to get closer to the water, to sink into it's murky depth.

Every man aboard that ship had stopped what they were doing, their ears straining to hear the harmonies that came from the waves. They all abandoned their posts on the ship, heading towards the railing as their eyes clouded over in a haze.

And there they were, beautiful creatures that sat on the rocks, their long wet hair covering the bareness of their breasts, while others wore discarded sails around their bodies. They did not turn to look at those on the boat, simply continuing to sing to each other as they captivated the men's attention.

As Natsu felt the boat shift, his motion sickness distracted him from the scene in front of him as he retched over the railing. The sound distracted one of the creatures, her feet flicking against the rock she sat upon in distress.

Soft brown eyes met his gaze. But what surprised the dragon slayer was that the eyes were not empty as he thought they would be, but were held by fear. Her singing looked less like joy, and more like pain.

As the girl, or what Natsu assumed was a girl, stopped singing, he found his mind clearing as the song lost it's effect on him.

But it was too late.

When the ship crashed into the cliffs, most of the men no longer had the energy to fight back, or they were still under the spell and they sank into the waters, none of the women even glancing in the direction of the broken boards.

Except one.

Before Natsu hit the water, he saw her leap from where sat on the rock, diving into the water as quickly as she could.

And then, everything went black for him.

He woke up on the sand, later, his head pounding. There was a warm presence curled up next to him, but as he shifted into consciousness, he felt the warmth dart away, catching only a glimpse of shimmering blonde hair as the form dove beneath the surface of the waves. His body ached, but he tried to sit up, crawling towards the water after her.

"Wait!" he croaked, his voice cracked from disuse. "Come back, dammit!" he shouted, his weak body collapsing on the sand.

That moment, he made a vow, one that he kept close to his heart, locked in silence.

He would do whatever it took to rescue that girl from the pain in her eyes, just as she rescued him. And Natsu always kept his promises.

00000000

What were you thinking?

Lucy listened to the voice of the Ocean, knowing very well that she was seething in indignation.

Lucy had saved that man, the one with the obsidian eyes and the wild pink hair, and in the process had denied the Ocean of what was rightfully hers.

You have endangered yourself and your sisters, the usually gentle voice of the Ocean hissed. And for what?

For his life, Lucy shot back venomously.

You would risk your sisters and yourself for something so trivial as the life of a man?

It's not trivial!

Lucy, the Ocean whispered gently, the previous anger giving way to genuine concern for her the girl as the waters played with her hair in a comforting gesture. How long have you been with me?

Almost five centuries.

And how long have you known this man?

The girl took the Ocean's words into consideration. The Ocean had cared for her for almost five hundred years, almost half of her contract. And here she was, throwing away all of that care for the sake of a man she had never met, never really known.

And somehow, the thought of that didn't bother her.

The Ocean's next words caressed her thoughts, sending chills down her spine.

Have you forgotten where the love of a man once got you?

The Ocean was not usually a vicious creature, but she knew exactly how to cut down to the core of her girls, having been their only comfort for so many years. Not only was the Ocean the only entity they could communicate with on a regular basis, besides the other sisters, but She could easily read their thoughts whenever she came in contact with them unless they were tightly locked away.

Lucy shuddered at the memory of the man, the man who was part of the reason she was now contracted to the Ocean to do her bidding.

The love of a man had hurt her before.

Lucy, you are one of my most beloved daughters. I want only what is the best for you, and the love of this man is not that, the Ocean said gently.

Where the water was once choppy and cold in agitation, the push and pull of the current was now filled with warmth, as though the Ocean was trying to soothe her thoughts and ease the tension in her body.

After a few moments, Lucy caved, allowing the Ocean to take control of her body once more and lead her back to her sisters.

When Lucy floated back her sister, Levy was the first to notice her.

The slender blue-haired girl waved her over to their place on the shore, long abandoned to any civilians.

The girls all agreed to never speak if they could be overheard by men, as their voices would throw them in a trance until they threw themselves into the sea to drown. This was their curse, to live this way for a thousand years, until their contract ended. That was the price of being saved by The Ocean.

To feed her the souls of men so that She would live.

Many knew the legends of such women, referring to them as Sirens.

But the girls just considered themselves cursed.

"Lucy! What happened to you? After the singing you just disappeared!" Levy shouted across the sand as Lucy dragged herself out of the water. "We saw you jump off the rock and then disappear."

Levy's shouts drew the attention of the other sirens, causing the other three to fly out the door of their cottage in haste.

"Lucy, what the hell?!" Cana grumbled, the brunette sauntering out of the doorway in annoyance as she tried to strip seawater from her hair.

Mirajane and Lisanna, white-haired sisters, looked over Lucy in concern as though searching her body for any signs of injury, even though they were practically immortal while in the service of The Ocean.

The blonde siren pulled her hair back with one hand, an embarrassed smile on her face. "I- uh - I thought I saw something in the water."

Cana arched an eyebrow at the girl, causing Lucy to shift in discomfort. "What exactly did you see?"

"I know what Lucy saw!" Lisanna said sweetly, throwing her arms around said girl's neck, nearly toppling her over in the process. "Lucy saw a man."

Levy gasped in shock as Mirajane went starry-eyed, suddenly cooing about love at first sight.

"Was he hot?"

"Cana!"

"Oh come on, we're all wondering!" Cana shouted back, shrugging her shoulder as she grinned mischievously.

Levy reached out and grabbed Lucy by the arm, her small hand tightening in irritation. "Lucy, you know the rules! The Ocean won't allow it! And besides, you still have half your contract to go. You're risking everything, Lucy."

Lucy could see the tears welling in Levy's eyes, knowing very well that the girl had given up love of her own, and her mistake had caused another century to be added to her sentence.

"You saved him, didn't you?" Levy asked quietly.

Lucy stood in silence, chewing on her cheek while all attention turned to her.

"Lucy, did you really save him?" Mirajane whispered. She reached out to touch the girl gently on the shoulder but Lucy flinched and took a step back.

Cana let out a low whistle. "You're lucky She didn't add on to your sentence."

As the oldest, Cana had only a year left on her contract, and she was not going to do anything to mess up and get another century added to her time. She was so close to freedom she could practically taste it.

"Of all the reckless things," Levy muttered as she turned away from the other sirens, directing her attention back to the house.

Lucy wanted to call after Levy and apologize, but she couldn't find the words, the tears watering in her eyes. Pale fists were clenched at her side, nails digging into her palms in an attempt to distract from the pain.

The pain of the contract, the pain of disappointing her sister, the pain of leaving him.

She didn't even know his name, but she felt like their souls were connected. Lucy heard him call after her as she fled into the water, but she knew that if she turned around it would kill her.

So she swam away.

"Lucy," Mirajane said softly. "You can't see him anymore. You know that, right?"

The Siren nodded numbly. "The Ocean told me as much herself."

"You have to content yourself with the fact that he's still alive," she reasoned.

Again, Lucy nodded, her body quivering in resentment.

"He's alive, he can travel, fall in love-"

At those words Lucy's head whipped back up.

He would fall in love and die in the time that she spent finishing out her contract.

The blonde didn't say anything as she turned quickly and dove back into the Ocean.

00000000

Lucy kept her mind completely shut off from The Ocean, allowing her thoughts to remain focused on following the current, using the waves to her advantage as they jettisoned her closer to her destination, her blood pulsing heavily in her body.

Lucy, your sisters are calling for you. Where are you going? Lucy!

The siren could feel the waves shift in agitation, but they did not impede her. Rarely, did The Ocean use Her power on her sirens because it drained so much energy.

I just need some time alone, some time to think and swim, Lucy shot back to The Ocean, silencing any responses. The girl felt Her recoil slightly at her words. There was a reason she was a favorite with The Ocean. She often sought comfort from her, speaking to her whenever she wanted to, not just when she needed to.

And she had never messed up before.

She had always sung when The Ocean told her to, no matter whose death it would have caused. Lucy always found it easier to look away when she was singing because she hated watching the bodies sink to the bottom of the sea, drowning with their eyes open in adoration. Once, she had watched, but had vowed to never do so again.

Whenever The Ocean needed to eat, she called for her Sirens, her handmaidens, to sing and allure men with their ethereal beauty and incomparable voices.

Never once, had Lucy refused. Never, had she stopped singing, even when she felt her heart break into pieces as men threw themselves over railings in an attempt to be nearer to her.

She watched countless ships sink to the ocean floor but she never cried out, even as her soul fell apart, writhing in turmoil.

Here was where she drew the line.

Lucy found herself close to the shoreline where she left him, her brown eyes gazing longingly on the sand. It had only been a few hours since she had left him at the edge of the waves, but she found the spot to be empty.

This is a dangerous game you're playing, Lucy, The Ocean warned.

I risked everything for him. I just have to know he's alive.

Very well. But if you put your sisters and myself in danger again, I will not hesitate to kill him.

The siren shivered, but she understood The Ocean's fear. If people understood that The Ocean was a living entity that was killing human to survive through the aide of sirens, they would avoid the body of water at any cost.

And then The Ocean would die.

And so would her sirens, and everything in it.

Lucy watched quietly from the waves, her eyes just above the surface as she continued to scan the shoreline. But much to her disappointment, the beach was empty.

00000000

At the edge of the beach was a small alcove, a cave of sorts, formed by a haphazardly placed rock formation. This was where Natsu had dragged himself after awaking on the shoreline, his body unable to go any further.

Here he watched the waves, brows knit in confusion as he contemplated how he was still alive and how such beautiful creatures existed.

As his mind wandered, her caught sight of a shimmer on the water, an irregular movement not far from the shoreline. From where Natsu's cave was situated, he couldn't be easily identified from the water, especially by someone close to the edge, but he could easily see out onto the waves.

He waited for his vision to focus when he realized that it was a head.

A glimmer of gold caught his eyes and he knew, he knew, that she had come back for him. He wanted to thank her for saving him, and to ask her why her eyes looked so sad, but his mouth couldn't for the words.

He needed to call out to her to grab her attention when he noticed that she was swimming towards him now, her feet touching the sand only a moment later.

She touched it hesitantly, the white fabric wrapped around her body drying almost instantly, as did her hair as soon as she left the water.

When her feet touched the sand she sighed gently, appreciating the warmth after of each individual sun-kissed grain. She leaned forward, scanning the beach once more when Natsu finally found his mouth forming the words he had been wanting to say.

"Hey!"

Well, not quite as articulate as he had hoped for, but it certainly got her attention by the way she jumped, her gaze turning towards him in confusion.

When she caught sight of him in the cave her eyes brightened and she walked towards him purposefully.

The sun was setting behind her as the wind blew through her tousled hair, and Natsu knew that there was no way she could possibly be human. The dragon slayer swallowed thickly, shifting his weight as he sat up, ignoring the dizziness in his head.

"Thanks for saving me," he croaked.

She nodded as she sat down in front of him, tucking her legs to her side, her lips set in a firm line.

"Listen, um - what's your name?" Natsu asked, somewhat uncomfortable with the silence.

The girl opened her mouth and then quickly shut it, her eyes widening. She shook her head and then blew her bangs out of her face in frustration.

"Oh, okay then. So you can't talk?"

Again, the girl shook her head.

"So what letter does it start with?" he asked, his mind becoming curious at her muteness.

The girl held up her right hand, bending three fingers down and sticking out her thumb to make an "L" shape.

Natsu leaned forward in concentration, resting his chin in his hands before he spoke up.

"Luigi?"

The girl stuck out her tongue and shook her head in irritation.

"Damn, I totally thought that was going to be it."

She rolled her eyes in response.

"Hmmm. Lexi?"

She shook her head again, throwing her hands out in front of her.

Natsu's gaze flickered around the room as if looking for inspiration.

"Okay. Ummmm, Lacee?" he asked again.

This time she had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing, shaking her head no at the same time. She put her right hand out in front of her, leaving only a little space between her index finger and her thumb, gesturing that he was close.

"I'm close, eh?" Natsu said with a grin, rubbing his hands in anticipation. His entire face lit up before he blurted out, "Lucy?"

Lucy sent him a broad grin before nodding vigorously.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Luce," he said, sticking his hand out for her to shake.

"I'm Natsu."

00000000

It had been four years since that fateful day that they had met on the beach. Four years since Lucy had rescued him from the Ocean, and four years since the siren found her humanity returning.

In those four years, Lucy had never spoken to Natsu aloud, but they found ways to communicate, even though he often misunderstood her and it took her several tries to communicate her feelings.

Lucy never once revealed to him that she was a siren, serving the Ocean and bringing others to their doom on the high waves of the sea. She told him that he must never return to the water because she feared he would drown, but he never seemed to understand that it was because of The Ocean's hatred for him.

The siren spent less time with her sisters, refusing to tell them anything about Natsu, knowing that his existence was safe with her, but if The Ocean ever found out about him, She would not hesitate to end his life in an effort to keep her secret's safe.

No, it was better that She never knew of him.

So Lucy kept her secrets locked inside. She spoke only when spoken to, singing whenever it was requested.

She was beginning to recognize The Ocean for what she truly was.

A necessary evil that she did not want to serve.

But there was no way out of her contract, and no way for her to ever be truly happy with Natsu, because that's what her heart wanted more than anything.

And he must have wanted it too, or he wouldn't have come back each day to their spot on the shore, resting with their feet in the sand, careful to avoid the incoming tide. The sun warmed their skin as they lay on their back or their stomachs, hearts full even though their future's were empty.

Because, at the end of the day, whenever Natsu's questions hit too close to him, all she could do was shimmy back into the cold water, the waves washing over her as she swam away.

The Ocean never released anyone from a contract, and Lucy still had half a sentence to go, and Natsu wouldn't be able to live that long.

It would be better if she could forget about him, if he could forget about her.

But every day, as the tide came in she emerged from the waves, ready to let her heart rebuild just to be rebroken again.

Such is the life of a siren.

Seen by many, loved by none.

A/N I wrote this because I'm working on a long NaLu fic, and I felt like I needed a little more practice in writing the characters. I really like this as a stand alone piece, but I could see myself continuing it. This piece was inspired by The Siren by Kiera Cass, who wrote The Selection novels. Fantastic books if you're ever looking for a good read. I don't own Lucy or Natsu, they belong to Hiro Mashima.

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Lot's of Love,

-Wri