Disclaimer: Do not own Fairy Tail, All creation rights goes to Hiro Mashima. Or anything.
The next morning had roll around with the weather cooler than normal since the clouds were covering the sky and no sun was in sight. Natsu had rollout of bed right when his alarm clock had gone off, since he didn't want to be in a rush again like last time. He went to do his normal routine and even grab a light breakfast with a bowl of cereal with two slices of spicy jam toasts. When he was done with his breakfast and checking his phone that it was 6:40 am, which was the optimal time to put everything in the sink, and get out of the house.
Natsu got into his car and punch the gas over to his mom's apartment. 20 minutes flew by like it was nothing when he reached his mom's apartment. Wendy wasn't even outside waiting yet. Natsu took out his phone to text his little sister that he was outside waiting for her. She came out 10 minutes later, ready to head to school.
"Natsu one day you're late and the next you're early, so I be worried about you." said curious Wendy.
"Maybe I am just back to my energetic self after a good night of sleep." replied Natsu with a small smile.
"I doubt that, maybe it has to do something with Lucy. You two might not have done much, but I can feel the tension between you two." said Wendy with a sly grin.
"Wendy just get in before I drive off without you." said Natsu while turning his head away from his sister.
Wendy just giggles and got into the car, buckle herself up. "Seems like Natsu have someone he likes." said Wendy with a smirk.
"Wendy where did you learn to be annoying now." questioned Natsu with curiosity.
"When you became my brother and now I have someone that I can pick with light hearted fun." answered Wendy.
Natsu turned his head to Wendy for a quick glare and back and sighed in defeat. "My life is getting weirder by days on end."
"Don't worry Natsu, as long as you can have fun and laugh it off, everything is all good." said Wendy with a sincere smile.
"Let's just get to school Miss Smarty pants." said Natsu. Put the car in drive and cruising their way to school.
"Correction, its Miss Smarty dress." said Wendy.
During the drive to school, there was never a dull moment, since like they to talk and joke with each other. Even sang the morning tunes that was on the radio. "Natsu since you woke up so early and even picking me super early even though this is only the second time, why don't you go ahead and pick up Lucy too." said Wendy.
"We don't even know each other that well yet. Plus it would be weird if I just show up at her door and be like, I'm here to pick you up for school." said Natsu with a flat look.
"Natsu we are kind of in the same situation before our parents made that marriage meeting for us. And you help me regardless of what the situation was. Also it seems like it's in your bones to help people." said Wendy with a serious tone.
Natsu thought about Wendy's words for a moment. "You may be right but I don't want to just rush in and end up digging myself into a pit of trouble." With his own serious tone.
"I think you will always find trouble wherever you go." said Wendy with a giggle.
Natsu let out his own laugh and thinking it might be part true. They had made it to school after 7:30am. Natsu pulled into the school parking lot and parked on the first space he sees, which just happened to be near the gate. They had gotten out of the car and where they separate ways for school.
During the walk to the school building, Natsu took his own to see where the blondie is. But much to his surprise, she didn't pick up the call. Even after calling several times. Natsu even texted her, but it was to no avail. Natsu didn't think much of it at the time and just went to class like normal and just see her in class. The whole day was just boring for Natsu since he didn't get to see his blonde acquaintance. Falling asleep in pretty much all of his classes. He pretty much avoided all of his friends too, didn't have the mood to stuff his stomach with three trays of cafeteria food.
He walked out of school with everything he needed with a slight disappoint look on his face. Heading towards his car, and hoping Wendy would already be there and not have to wait too much. When he arrive at his car and there was no sight of Wendy. He sighed and got into the car and started the engine. Slowly driving out of the parking lot and suddenly heard someone calling his name. He turns his head to the direction of the voice and saw that Wendy was running towards him.
After 30 seconds Wendy finally reached the car and open the door to get in, while still heavily panting from the running she did. "You were going to leave me weren't you." asked Wendy trying to control her breathing and heartrate.
"No, I was going to drive up to the middle school building since I didn't see you here yet at the moment I got to the car." replied Natsu trying to not show his sour mood.
After a minute had passed, Wendy finally return to normal. "Natsu what's wrong, you're happy at all, like you were this morning."
"Well nothing is wrong that I know of. It's just that when I try to call and even text Lucy this morning, there was no answer at all. And she didn't even come to school. So I was bored all day in class." said Natsu with a sad bored tone.
Wendy sigh. "Just go find out what's wrong with her, I'm sure it's nothing at all."
"I will after I drop you off at home, so if things takes too long, mom won't kill me for getting home pass crazy hours." said Natsu still in a monotone mood.
The drive to back home was a silent one, the radio was on, but there was a dull tension between the siblings. Driving up to the apartment complex, Wendy got out and just wave goodbye to Natsu and vice versa. His next destination was Lucy's house.
Natsu was nearing Lucy's house since he was on the street that she lived on, slowly thinking what he was supposed to say that didn't make him feel like a stalker to her, since they only known each other for like less than a day. He thinking that is street is a little too quiet for him and for anyone that is living here. Suddenly a burst of a scream from a girl or woman but yet the sound is somewhat familiar. He quickly park the car on the side of the street and got out. Running towards the sound in an alley and making a right turn, then left, and a last right turn.
Natsu only stood there for less than 5 seconds when his brain was processing the image that he was seeing through his eyes. Four guys on one girl, more importantly that the girl had middle length blonde hair. Without any more delay, he roars into action. Catching everyone's attention, before anyone could say anything, Natsu had already knocked out two of the four guys. One guy had a frighten look on his face, while the other scary but frustrated look on his, and guessing he would be the leader of this small group.
The leader lurch at Natsu with full force, but only to find out that Natsu can easily dodge his speed and attack. Natsu raise his right hand and deliver a palm strike to the chest of the leader. Which the leader fell to the ground and is gasping for air to return to his lungs. The last guy wanted to run away but Natsu wouldn't allow it, as he chase him down and knocked him out with a quick back hand strike to the guy's back neck. Natsu walk back to the girl that was still on the ground, but he had a feeling he knew who is was on the ground crying.
Natsu had crouch near her. "Lucy." With soft tone.
"N-natsu…" said Lucy with barely audible voice through her tears and chocking on saliva.
"Come on, let's get you out of here." said Natsu adding more tenderness to his voice. He put his arms around her shoulders and arms to help her up. Walking out of alley together, Natsu helped Lucy with the car door and settling in the car seat. He went to the driver side to get himself situated.
"I'll take you home so you can rest." said Natsu in low soft tone.
Lucy jumped a little and it didn't go unnoticed by Natsu. "No, I don't want go home. I don't want to be alone." With more tears streaming down her cheeks.
Natsu didn't know what to say but instead just drove to park that was just outside of the area. The drive wasn't long at all, as he park randomly since the park is practically empty. He turned off the engine and wanted to know what is going on. When he turned to ask her, he saw that she was already peacefully sleeping with her head tilted to her left. Natsu did noticed that it seem like her left eye was bruised and yet he still found her cute sleeping under the circumstances. He didn't know how long her sleep was going to last but the silent surrounding him right now was peacefully and it felt right to him.
Four hours had passed. Lucy's eyes started to shift, slowly opening her eyes and saw that it was night time but didn't know what it was. She shifted her glaze slightly and see that Natsu is also sleeping, then she noticed that they were in the same car sleeping, feeling heat rising from her body. At the same time, Natsu started moving his own eyes and slowly opening.
"So you're finally woken up from your nap." said Natsu with raspy voice.
"Yeah and it looks like you were taking a nap yourself." replied Lucy with a simple smile.
Natsu moved his body and stretch his arms to make himself comfortable. "Lucy…how did your left eye get bruised." With hesitation in his voice.
Lucy readjusted herself and looked away from Natsu with his sudden question about her injury. "Natsu…" but on cue her stomach growls for food.
Natsu laughs. "I guess the first thing we should do is get some food. How does pizza sound to you right now."
"Sounds wonderful." said Lucy with a simple smile that she doesn't have to answer questions right now.
Natsu fire up his car and drove to 8 Island restaurant. Since Lucy had injuries on her, he didn't want to expose her to other people right now. He told Lucy to stay in the car and he went inside to order a meaty pizza with 2 liters bottle of sprite. That was somewhat long since it took 20 minutes before Natsu could get back to the car with the food and drink. They ate in silent but it was the good type of silent where no words had to be said, and they understood the comfort of each other.
"Now that we finished eating and all cleaned up. Let's take you home so you can rest for the night." said Natsu, whiling starting the engine.
"Natsu…I don't want to go home." said Lucy with a sad voice and casting down her head.
"At least, let's go to your apartment and grab things you need and I guess…you can stay at my place till you're ready to go home again." said Natsu, hoping that he is doing the right but didn't want to be creepy, with a hint of hesitation.
Lucy didn't say anything but nodded to agree and feeling good that she didn't have to stay at her place with her dad. But it would be her first time being at a boy house. Especially since the boy's house is the one she only met yesterday. Her cheeks are growing warm, but stayed normal color, while Natsu didn't notice this. Natsu drove to Lucy's apartment. Waited ten minutes before she came back out with all the things she needed.
"That's a really huge bag of stuff you need." said a confused Natsu.
"It's everything I need and the school stuff just makes it look a lot." said Lucy, trying to hide her nervousness. Without telling him that she had packed more than just for a one night stay.
"You're weird. It looks like you're ready for camping trip to be more accurate." said Natsu with a snicker.
At this point, Lucy's body was boiling making her face red. "I'm not weird. I'm a girl and there a lot of things that I need." said an irritated Lucy.
Natsu put up his hand, signaling a surrender in silent, and not wanting to continue this little war. Putting his hand back on the steering wheel, got the car moving and on its way to his house. The silent ride lasted for ten minutes, since there wasn't much cars on the street. Parking his car on the drive way.
Lucy got out of the car first to see the place he lived at and where she will stay for now. "Natsu you have a pretty big house."
"I think it's a good size for my family. Anything bigger would just be a waste of space." said Natsu while getting out of the car with Lucy's bag and package that he didn't let her see and locking his car for the night.
The two walk up to the door. Natsu use his key to unlock and the door open. Once Lucy had step inside the dark house, it instantly light up.
"Is this a smart house." asked a curious Lucy.
"You could say it's something like that. Since I have ask my dad's team to install a sever unit for Drago here too." replied Natsu.
Natsu took Lucy upstairs to show her where she will be staying. "Lucy your room will be across from mine."
Lucy walk over to the door that was the opposite of his. She open the door to see that it was just plain white. "Your family must not be very creative since the room is white."
Natsu let out a small laugh. "That's not true. That's because only my dad and I live here alone. So we didn't feel the need to make anything of the other rooms. Why don't go on and get yourself clean up and ready for bed and everything you need should be already in the bathroom."
Lucy walk into the white room and slowly close the door behind her. 'The house isn't too big like her family's old estate. This house feels comfy with everything not feeling so distanced.' thought Lucy. It took sometimes when she was finally done with cleaning up and get situated for the night. She walk out of her temporary room to see that Natsu wasn't around. Inching closer on his bedroom door. She lightly knocked on it. But there was no answer from him. Slowly opening the door to Natsu's room and took a peek to see if he was inside. At the same time, the Natsu's bathroom door open to reveal the boy in his shorts only. Her face turn red and quickly close the door.
'Probably a good idea to have a shirt on since there is a female in the house now. Yeah good idea.' though Natsu. Went over to his draw to grab a fresh shirt. Then went over to the door and open the door for Lucy again. "Lucy, you can look now I am fully clothed this time." said a grinned Natsu.
Lucy looked back. "May I come in." with a nervous voice. Natsu just nodded and move away from the door and let her enter. Natsu suggested that she can seat on his bed, while he would take a chair to not make things awkward.
"Since you look nice and comfortable. Did you need something or you have something on your mind." said Natsu while still noticing the bruised left eye.
"I just wanted to thank you for saving me when you did. I wouldn't know what I do if you haven't been there when you did. I wouldn't know what would of happen to me." said a sad Lucy with downcast look.
"You don't have to say anything like that. No one deserves to be treated that way. But if you don't mind would you tell me how you end up like that and your left eye." said Natsu with a careful voice, not like he is expecting her to give him the whole or any part of her story.
Lucy sat silent for the time being. 'He wasn't a bad person, even though I only know him for a day. And even though I don't want to trouble anyone or him, he is still willing to help. And I feel safe around him like I can open to him and he might be able to shield me from anything.' thought Lucy.
"I guess the best place to start is from the beginning. Last night when you had drop me of at home. I try to go into the apartment as quietly as possible so I didn't wake up my dad. But much to my dumb luck, he wasn't sleeping at all or laid out, he was drunk with all the alcohol he had been drinking for the day. Like every day he was angry, but last night he was over the top with rage. He was mumbling a lot of thing that I guess that had to do with his business and my mom. He started to hit everything around him and including me. I tried to call the police to settle thing down but he even smash my phone into pieces. So this afternoon when I know he is passed out, I tried to go to the local drug store to get a few things I needed and that's when you came." said Lucy, sad with fear, telling her horrible memories.
Natsu widen his eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't know so much had happened to you after I left."
"There nothing to be sorry about Natsu. Even though my dad is very strict business man, I wish he would go back to his gentle self, like when my mom was alive. But that seems to be impossible." said Lucy with her face in her hands and sobbing.
Natsu got up from his position and sat next to Lucy and comfort her. "It will happen Lucy, it will just take time for your dad to think clearly again. Let's stop for tonight, so you can get a good night sleep. You can even stay where you are, while I take the floor." With a gentle soothing voice.
Lucy didn't say anything, she made herself comfortable in a sleeping position with the blanket over her. 'Everything in here smells like Natsu, such a spicy cologne that fits him perfectly. He have a gentle soul with a fiery feeling that can comfort or burn anything that come across him.' thought Lucy, leading her to good night sleep.
Anything or this story is too boring to read?