"Dear Diary,
Today is different. It's warmer than usual. Brighter. More calm and quiet. It's more comfortable. I can hear the birds chirping around me, singing to some melody. I can feel the wet, itchy grass beneath my feat—tickling me. The air is fresh, opening up my lungs; it's scent is flavored with salt and leaves.
Everything is colorful. Everything is alive. The trees are breathing. The flowers are blossoming. The sun is shining. For the first time in a long time, I feel connected to nature. Like she and I are one in the same. I feel relaxed. Safe.
Maybe I have him to thank. Ever since I met him—which was not too long ago—I've felt different. Or no... I've felt more like myself. I could just be. Without any worries, without any stress. I could just forget about what happened that day. It's been a few weeks now. I could move on with him by my side. He makes me feel like there's something to move on to. He makes me feel like I have a future. One where—"
"Lucy?" He placed his hand on her shoulder gently, bringing her out of her thoughts.
She had her knees up and journal laying on her lap as she scribbled those words with her inky blue pen.
Upon hearing his voice, however, she immediately shut her book and laid it next to her.
She looked up to him and squinted due to the sunlight shining behind him, against his back, blinding her eyes.
"You finally came," she smiled.
"There was traffic," he placed the picnic basket down on the grass.
A lie.
"Did you wait for too long?" He asked as he unfolded the red and white strapped blanket and landed it on the ground.
"I didn't," she shook her head. The golden strands of her hair glowing with the warmth of the sun.
He seated himself next to her as he let out a sigh and brushed his hands together, finally getting to rest after the long day he had.
The long day she knew nothing about.
As he began unpacking the things in the basket, she sneaked a few grapes in her mouth.
"No suit today?" She asked smiling as the juicy, sweet grape exploded in her mouth.
He was wearing a black shirt with black jeans. Plain and simple, for the first time ever.
"Do you like me better in a suit?" He smirked teasingly as he handed her a wrapped cheese sandwich.
Her cheeks turned rosy as she smiled.
"You look good both ways," she said shyly. Her words barely clear as they jumbled up together.
"What was that?" He teased, placing his palm behind his ear as he leaned in.
She threw a grape at him and it landed on his chest before falling.
"You heard me," she giggled.
He held her chin gently to look straight into her eyes.
"Your smile," he paused, "it's beautiful," he gazed into her orbs, exploring her different shades of chocolate pools.
She felt her heart thump, beat by beat against her chest. She felt the blood rushing to her cheeks. She felt her stomach tingle as she looked back into his jade orbs.
And that's when she knew, she wouldn't stop smiling from now on.
She barely got the chance to respond before he slowly leaned in, tilting his head as his eyes lingered over her plumped lips.
Warmth surrounded them under the smoky sky. The sun creeked in between two clouds, gleaming brightly on the golden strands of her loose hair and his ruffled salmon one.
He pressed his lips against hers, giving her a sweet kiss. His fingers dug into her hair as he held the back of her head, going in deeper.
She softly moaned against his lips as he licked hers. She opened her mouth as his tongue swirled around with hers, dancing in rhythm.
She tasted like honey. Sweet. Luscious. Watery. Her lips were soft; warm; tender; vulnerable; compelling.
It was different.
A string of saliva formed in between as he drifted his lips away, looking into her eyes.
She was out of breath. She was always out of breath. It was cute, to say the least.
"W-What was that for?..." she loudly whispered, her heart beating fast against her chest, her cheeks red.
He stroked her chin with his thumb,
"No reason," he backed away, a small smile on his lips.
Maybe this pretense isn't so bad after all.
...
Hours Earlier
His heavy footsteps trailed down the hall, heading to the bar.
The room went silent.
As they always were when their Do n entered.
"Mira," he called out, sitting on one of the bar stools.
"Coming right up," she warmly smiled, knowing his order already.
"Where's Erza?" He asked.
"She's at work," responded Gajeel from behind him, walking up to the bar.
He turned around with the assist of his bar stool.
"What is she doing?"
"She's meetin' up with your small mafia bases here and there around the country," he seated himself on the bar stool next to the Do n . "She's tellin' them to keep an eye out for Europe's mafia. Y'know, after we spotted those Sandler brothers sneakin' around lookin' for ya, we gotta be more careful,"
Natsu stayed silent.
"Gray and Juvia are helpin' her out, so it won't take too long,"
Mira placed his drink of scotch on the bar table in front of him.
He grabbed the drink before standing up,
"The Europeans are cowards. They won't dare do anything." His voice echoed through the hall.
Every pair of eyes were on him.
They all thought about what he said, and visited their memories.
Their memories of that day.
As the Do n walked towards the door, Laxus followed behind him.
"What do you need?" The Do n asked as he stepped out and into the hall of his office.
"We found information on the girl," he said, which made Natsu stop in his tracks.
He turned around.
"And?"
"She called her father three times this week and twice last week. Something's going on,"
He stayed silent.
"What are you gonna do?"
"I'll simply ask,"
"Ask?" Laxus narrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"The whole point of getting her to trust me is getting her to tell me things," he turned around and continued walking. "What's the point of this whole charade if I can't just ask?" he sighed.
...
Present
"And that's why it's my favorite color," she explained with a smile as her eyes gazed upon the smoky clouds moving in the sky.
He hummed.
They were both laid down with their backs on the grass.
He had his arm around her body as she had her head laying on his chest. She could hear his heartbeats. They were slow. Cold. Empty. Hallow, in a sense.
Maybe he really didn't have a heart. Or it was just frozen.
His other arm was behind his head as he gazed upon the sky he found to be so gray.
They were both looking upon the same sky, but they just saw it so differently.
"What about you?" She asked. "What's your favorite color?"
A moment passed as the birds sang around them.
"Red too,"
Her eyes lit up as she smiled.
"But for completely different reasons," he paused. "Red doesn't remind me of the sunset, roses, love or romance as it does you,"
"Then what does it remind you of?" She turned and laid her chin against his chest as she looked into his jade orbs that just looked lighter under the sun.
"The blood that runs in our veins." His gaze didn't leave the clouds. "It reminds me of power and strength. Of revenge and danger. Of bravery and boldness." He paused. "It reminds me of survival."
She took in a deep breath as she laid her head on his chest again.
"Maybe that's why it's my favorite too..."
His soft fingers ran down her arms in slow motion, back and forth, unconsciously.
"Why did you lie to me at the ball?" He suddenly questioned.
"Hm?" She narrowed her eyebrows, her mind rallying through the events that occurred that day.
When did I lie to him?
"That phone call. It wasn't your manager, was it?"
She sighed.
"How did you know?"
"I saw who was calling you before you left the table," he said. "It was your father,"
She stayed silent for the next couple of moments.
"He wants to see me tomorrow," she confessed.
He paused.
"I thought you cut ties with him,"
"I did," she said. "But he's telling me it's urgent. I need to see what he needs,"
He stayed silent, searching for his next words.
He needs to be delicate for this to work.
"I don't know if I can I trust him, though," she said.
He froze.
The moment he was waiting for.
"Why do you say that?" He asked.
She untangled herself from around him and sat up on the grass, bringing her head down.
"I want you to promise not to freak out..." she said.
...
Hours Earlier
"Come in," the Do n said after hearing two sharp knocks on his office door.
The door opened and a scarlet-haired woman crossed the threshold.
His eyes were kept stuck on the documents before him, not lifting his gaze.
"Natsu, I alarmed all of your bases around the country about our possible threat from the Europeans," she said. "I thought you should know,"
"I do," was all he said.
Then he looked up and met his eyes with hers.
"And what happened? Did any of them know anything?"
She shook her head,
"Europe's Head's whereabouts are still unknown," she said. "We can be certain he's still in hiding,"
He stayed silent. Thinking.
...
Present
He sat up after her, narrowing his eyebrows, trying to play his part perfectly well.
"I won't," he held her hand, showing her comfort. Building trust with that simple gesture. A silent way of telling her to go on and speak.
She looked up into his eyes, admiring the nature that lived in them.
His eyes were the olives that arose from plants.
Her eyes were the soil.
"A few weeks ago..."
And she went on telling him. She told him of the dreadful day that had been haunting her for multiple nights now. She told him of the men with guns and knives who cornered her in her public backyard. She told him how their suits were drenched with her blood as they ran away after hearing cops' sirens. She told him how she ran to the station and pleaded for help, and how now it had been weeks and they still haven't found anything.
He stayed silent. Listening intently to her words. His face cold and icy. His eyes dull and murderous.
As she ranted on how almost getting killed traumatized her, all he could think of was how he failed in doing so.
"And the worst part is, I think my father arranged all of it..." she said. "I think he was the one who wanted to kill me," her voice cracked in the end.
His face remained straight, his eyes remained dark and dry.
"Why do you think that?"
She gulped as she looked down and nervously played with her fingers.
"Many reasons," she said softly and vaguely.
Could she possibly know?...
He brought her into his arms, placing her head on his chest as he took in a deep breath. Silent tears escaped her eyes as she visited her memories.
"I'm sorry that happened to you," he said, his voice a little robotic. But maybe he meant them. Maybe a part of him really was sorry.
Before he knew it, she was sobbing into his chest.
Maybe he does feel an ache. Maybe it hurts hearing her.
But even so, it would never matter.
As he played along the strands of her hair, she began to quiet down.
"Shh," he comforted quietly.
"I'll come with you tomorrow," he laid his chin on her head. "I'll come to make sure you stay safe,"
This couldn't have worked out more perfectly.
She nodded against his muscular chest which somehow felt like a pillow.
"Okay..."
Little did she know, that simple agreement would lead to every treacherous thing that would happen next.