A/N: Sorry for the super late update but I hope you like it! Also this is a modern day AU.
Lucy P.O.V.
I honestly can't remember the last time I was actually "happy." Maybe it was before my mom died... but I'm not so sure. Being a Heartfilia has always been hard on me. Having my mom there helped me a lot. It made me forget that I was the daughter of Jude Heartfilia. Even though my mom died was I was 5, I still remember what it felt like to be hugged. And what it felt like to be... loved. After she died my father wouldn't look at me, talk to me, or be in the same room as me. He blamed me for my mother's death and for that I can never forgive him. My mother was very ill and we didn't know until it was too late. My father started to drink a few times a week and it eventually became a problem. For each new problem my father had, a new bruise would form. Since I was home-schooled, nobody could ask me why I had bruises and scars on my body.
This went on for 15 years. It would have gone on longer but on my 18th birthday I ran away. I managed to slip out of the house with a huge sum of money and most of my precious items during the night while father was out cold. I took a train to Magnolia because it is very far from the estate. When I arrived it was already morning so I went and looked for an apartment for rent. Luckily I found one and payed for it plus the first 3 months of rent. It's already furnished and I'm the first one to be living in it, so at least the furniture isn't used. I finished putting my things away and it was only 5 pm. So I pulled out my laptop and went shopping for clothes. Since I have so many bruises and scars I have to hide my body with long sleeves and pants. It's honestly really annoying. I finally placed my order and it should come in a week. What am I supposed to do for a week?
Time Skip One Week Later
I ended up just lounging around all day and watching Netflix. I started worrying that my father might come look for me... but he never did. I've been living off of frozen food since I'm too scared to let people see me. I was about to start watching my favorite anime when I heard a knock at my door. So I get up and opened the door only to reveal not only my packages but this drop-dead gorgeous man with beautiful onyx eyes and... pink hair?! I've never seen someone with pink hair before.
"Are you Lucy Heartfilia?" He asks. His voice is deep but silky as well.
"Y-Yes." I manage to squeak out. He looks at the boxes and back to me. He couldn't fully see my body because I was poking my head out the door.
"The stupid delivery guy just left these in the hallway and I happen to live next to you and thought you maybe needed help. Do you want me to bring these inside for you?" He asks. I don't know why but I just nod my head. I open the door and he has boxes covering his face. He places the boxes in the living room and when he looked at me and he looked worry.
"What happened to you?" He asks. I just look at him. What is he talking about? I look down and I realize that I'm wearing a tank top and shorts because I wasn't leaving the house. He is staring at me with so much intensity. I start to fidget under his gaze.
"N-Nothing h-happened t-to m-me." I said while whispering. He just walked towards me and gently took my chin so I would look at him.
"Who did this to you? And you better tell me before I get mad." He said in a deadly tone. But his tone didn't frighten me like my father's did so I just weekly smiled at him.
"Can I trust you? I mean I just met you and all..." I said. He looked at me and extended his hand.
"My name is Natsu, Natsu Dragneel. I am your neighbor and I want to be your friend." He smiled at me and he looks genuine. So I shook his hand.
"Okay... I'm Lucy, but you already know that." I said while I smiled a genuine smile. I closed the door and we sat on the couch.
"Well can I kinda get to know you first?" I asked him. I don't want to tell him yet so I'll change the topic.
"Sure! I'm 19 years old and my birthday is July 1st. I'm an only child and I was adopted by my foster father Igneel when I was a baby. But when I was around 10 he just left and I was all alone. I was sent to an orphanage and I met so many cool people there. All of those people all live on this floor too and we're all family now. I really like spicy food and I love the anime/manga Fairy Tail. I would definitely be a fire dragon slayer. That's about it... I guess." He shrugs and looks at me. I just smile.
"Wow! You sound very interesting and I guess I can trust you now." He smiled at me and it was quiet for a little while.
"I'm 18 years old and my birthday is July 1st too. I also love Fairy Tail. I'm an only child as well and I used to live with my mother and father. My mother died when I was 5 years old from illness and that was the last time I even smiled until today. I was home-schooled and I had no friends. Since we were very wealthy my father would make me date people who always turned out to only want my body. My father didn't really care though because he hates me. I ran away from home on my birthday last month and he hasn't even looked for me." I waited until what I said sunk in. He was still looking at me with so much intensity.
"Luce... you still didn't tell me who did all of this to you." He said while still staring into my eyes. I looked down at my hands and I felt like crying.
"It started when I was 5 years old. My father would drink a few times a week... and then it turned into every night. Every time he had a new problem, I had a new bruise or scar. I ran because I couldn't take it any longer. These are still from the last day he beat me..." I said. I've never told anyone this before but I trust Natsu.
"When... was the last time?" He said with venom laced in his voice. I gulped because I was so nervous.
"O-Our b-birthday." I said as I felt a tear drop from my eye.
"Tell me what happened." He demanded.
"Since it was my 18th birthday, I was already supposed to be married. But, I hated everyone he arranged me with. And he was not happy. He said he had a present for me. I was confused and for a second I thought he was telling me the truth. Well my present was the worst beating I've ever had in my life. When he was finished he said something before he left." I paused.
"Happy birthday you worthless piece of trash." I paused again because I was crying so much now. "He bent down and whispered something in my ear before he left for the night." Natsu looked at me and was seething.
"What did he say" Natsu said.
"I hope you enjoyed your last birthday because you won't live long enough to see the next." I stuttered because of my tears. Natsu then pulled me into a hug and I cried into his chest. When I started to stop crying I pulled away.
"Sorry." I mumbled.
"Don't be sorry. Nothing is your fault and if I ever see your dad... I'll kill him myself." Natsu said in a murderous tone.
"Thanks." I said quietly. He looked confused.
"Thanks for what?" He asked.
"For comforting me and being my first friend."
"Correction, I'm your best friend. Nobody else but me, okay Luce?" I just smiled and nodded.
"Hey, why do you call me Luce?" He looked at me and laughed.
"Because I like that nickname and nobody else can call you that but me!" he said in a possessive tone.
"Sure." I said while yawning. I looked at the time and noticed that it was midnight. I looked at Natsu and he looked tired as well.
"Well... thanks for listening. I've never told anyone but you. I kind of feel like I've known you my whole life." I said.
"I can't help but feel the same way." He said while holding my hand. I feel so connected to him even though we just met. He then got up and headed towards the door.
"If you need anything Luce, I'm the apartment to your right. Goodnight." Natsu said.
"Goodnight, Natsu." I said with a smile. He then left and I locked the door. I quickly returned to the couch and continued to watch Fairy Tail. After a few episodes my phone rings and I pick it up.
"Hello." I said groggily.
"Lucy... it's me." My eyes shot open and I knew it was Virgo calling from the estate.
"Virgo?! What's going on?" I said with panic clearly evident in my voice.
"Your father has returned from that one month business trip and he is very upset. He is looking all over for you." She says with a panicked tone of voice.
"Oh no... What am I going to do?" I said. The lump in my throat was not going away anytime soon.
"Lucy... he just found out that you left and he said he is going to find you... I'm so sorry. But, he does not know where you are and none of us are going to tell him." Virgo said quietly.
"O-Okay V-Virgo... t-thanks." I say with a shaky voice.
"Who are you talking to?" I hear my father's voice on the other end.
"Nobody of interest sir, I was about to hang up." Virgo replied. Before she could hang up I heard something so terrifying.
"I'm going to find you Lucy, and when I do you'll definitely never see broad daylight again." My father said in a murderous tone.
Then the line went dead. He's going to get me and kill me. I'm going to die...? I said while the tears started to pour down my cheeks. I ran out the door and to Natsu's place. I knocked and waited for the door to open. I realized its 2 am and I'm knocking on someone's door. Before I could continue my thoughts, Natsu opens the door and it looks like I woke him up.
"Luce...?" He says groggily.
"I-I n-need h-help..." I said while I started to cry again. He gently grabbed my arm and pulled me into his apartment. Before he could even ask what was wrong I just hugged him. At first he was shocked but he quickly returned my hug.
"He's going to kill me." I said.
"Who?" Natsu asked.
"Father... he said that I would never see broad daylight again when he finds me... and he always finds me." I whispered.
"I won't allow it. He's not taking you away from me and he is never allowed to touch you ever again." Natsu said in a murderous tone.
"Thanks... but I'm still afraid." I said.
"Stay here then, I'll protect you." Natsu said. I just nodded my head and then I felt really tired. Natsu then picked me up bridal style and put me on his bed. His bed is huge! It would be big enough for the both of us. Natsu started walking away but I caught his wrist before he left.
"Stay... please?" I whispered. He just smiled and climbed in next to me. He is so warm, almost like fire. I quickly said goodnight and he did the same.
"Luce... come here." Natsu said. So I turned over and moved towards him. I left some space still but he just rolled his eyes and pulled me into his chest. The last thing I remember before I drifted off to sleep was what he said to me.
"Is it possible to fall in love at first site? Because I think I have." He whispered. I just smiled before falling asleep. Me too Natsu... me too.
Six Months Later
After that night I spent with Natsu, we decided that it was the best choice if I just stayed with him. My father never tried to even look for me. I also never told him about what I heard him say that night. I've been waiting for the perfect moment and it's finally here. We're lying in his bed once again and I can't sleep.
"Natsu?" I ask him. He turned over and looked at me.
"Yeah... Luce?" He asks groggily.
"Is it possible to fall in love at first site? Because I think I have." I repeated what he said that night. He looked at me sheepishly.
"You heard that... huh?" he asks while smiling. I nodded and he looked embarrassed.
"I feel the same way..." I said to him.
"Really?" he asked skeptically.
"Of course, anyone willing to protect me and be an amazing best friend is worth having a place in my heart." I said lovingly.
"I love you, Lucy." Natsu said. He never calls me by my first name unless he is serious.
"I love you more, Natsu Dragneel." I said coyly. He moved closer and he kissed me. It was the best kiss of my life.
"But I love you the most, Luce." He said smugly. We have a staring contest and my eyes start to water.
"Okay... you win!" I sigh in defeat. He just laughed.
"Hopefully one day you will be Mrs. Dragneel." He said with a huge smile.
"Is that a marriage proposal?" I say with a smirk.
"Maybe... maybe not." We both laugh. "But, I wouldn't want anyone else to be my wife. I want you and only you forever." he said shyly.
"I would like that very much. You know, Lucy Dragneel sounds very nice." I say.
"How nice?" Natsu asks with a smirk.
"Maybe I'll show you..." I said while moving to kiss him. "Tomorrow." I said with a smirk as I roll over and try to sleep.
"Oh... you want to play dirty, eh?" Natsu asks me and I can't help but laugh. He then flips me over and tickles me. He stops so I can catch my breath.
"Not too dirty... I want to wait to have kids until after the wedding." I say while winking.
We didn't get a lot of sleep that night but it both made us realize how we needed to be with one another. Mom… I finally found a man that I love who won't hurt me.
A/N: Hey I hope you liked it and tell me what you think. Until next time, Bye :D