Sorry about the long gap between chapters... Seriously I really tried to get something out as soon as possible. However, I was stuck at my brother's hockey tournament for the weekend without a computer to type this up with. But I'm back now, and hopefully for good! Thanks again for reading up until this point and enjoy the chapter!
It's late afternoon. Natsu Dragneel is ready. He isn't going to lose, no, he couldn't and wouldn't lose. Defeat is like motion sickness to Natsu, unbearable. As he walked through the empty hallway towards the front entrance of school, he began to think about how he got into this mess...
"I'm soo sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going and I accidentally ran into you!" He remembers the concerned look she gave him when his eyes met hers. Yes... he remembers it fondly. He blushed very lightly at the thought.
"Well she's perfectly normal. Actually she's really nice." Natsu remembers Sting telling him how nice she was. Wow, Sting was right. Lucy was really nice to Natsu, considering he beat the shit out of her boyfriend... Or once boyfriend...
"Dan, please no. For me. Don't do this. I don't want him to die. He's so nice." ... "He's so nice." He began to chuckle a bit when he remembered Lucy thinking about him dying. No way he was going down so easily. Then he remembered the last part. Wow, a compliment from her. Natsu didn't really ever receive compliments about being nice, especially not from strangers who had their boyfriends beaten up.
Natsu began to remember more of the things that happened to him during the previous few days...
When Lucy told him about her fear of lightning...
When they had to leave her house because of the fire department...
When they came to school and he saw the shocked looks people were giving him...
When Dan challenged Natsu... challenged. Natsu? Nobody challenges Natsu and wins!
When he made the bet... the bet...
Why did he make that bet? Was he trying to rub it in Dan's face when Dan would never be able to talk to Lucy again? Or was it that he wanted to keep Lucy safe? Lucy hated Dan, so it was only fair. Or was it both? He concluded that it was probably both. But why? He hadn't done something like that for anyone ever. So why now? What made him want to make the bet?
(A.N. It was an early stage of love, you idiot.)
Natsu regained his senses at the end of the hallway when his train of thought was derailed by some doors. He looked out the windows on the doors. People. Lots of people. He didn't think fighting Dan would be THAT big of a deal. Oh well, he figured, might as well show everyone what it means to challenge the great Natsu Dragneel.
He stepped outside. He saw the crowd split as he walked by, people looking at him in awe, some thinking he was digging his own grave.
"Did he even know who he was up against? That's the DAN STRAIGHT! There's no way he'd win, and even if he won he'd be totally screwed by their huge amounts of money the family has! They can do anything!" Reactions like these came from the people who were against him in the form of whispers. Natsu heard these whispers. They weren't hurting Natsu, no, they were encouraging him. Encouraging him to show them the fury of Natsu Dragneel, son of Igneel.
Natsu also heard whispers of support, coming from those who were mostly friends of Sting. Speaking of Sting, he was standing in the middle of the crowd next to Dan uttering taunting words to heir of the Straight fortune.
"You better be ready, Dan. Soon as Pinky comes out you're gonna be in a world of hurt just like yesterday!"
"As if! He can't do shit to me. Just like you, Sting."
"Oh yeah? How come you woke up with bruises the morning after we fought. Why'd you need a weapon? Too scared to get your shit rocked by me again, Dan?"
"No way in hell, Sting. You just got lucky, that's all."
"Just like Pinky got lucky yesterday when he kicked the shit out of you."
"He knocked me out! No way I consider that a fair fight. I'm not going to lose to him, Sting. I assure you."
"I heard he spent the entire last night with Lucy. Even slept at her apartment last night." Luckily for Dan, Sting didn't know Natsu and Lucy slept in the same bed that night.
...
That did it. Dan was so furious, and his newfound rage was greeted with a pink-haired teenager who was walking towards him casually but giving him a vicious stare. He had both of his hands in his pockets and his body posture tended to make him look uninterested if you excluded the facial expression.
"YOU'RE ABOUT TO DIE, PINKY. IN FRONT OF EVERYONE." Dan screamed. No way was he keeping his cool when Lucy spent the night with that pink-haired freak.
Natsu just smirked, shrugged his shoulders and said, "If it's a challenge you want, it's a challenge you've got, Dan Straight."
Dan couldn't believe how calm Natsu was. No one who ever approached Dan was this calm, not even the people he paid to be his friends. He probably should calm down so he doesn't look like a total freak.
"I see you've got quite a bit of confidence there, Pinky." Dan said, returning the smirk.
"I thought I told you that you can't call me Pinky. That's only for friends." Natsu answered.
"I thought I told you to stay away from my Lucy." Dan said.
"Your Lucy? I don't think she's yours after you cheated on her with Angel." Natsu responded coolly.
"She will be mine. I assure you. I won't give up until she is. Even if you fill her head with lies." Dan defended, not willing to admit he cheated on her.
"But it wasn't a lie! You told me yourself! And I told you where Lucy was!" The young kid who Dan threatened yesterday said shakily from the crowd.
"WHAT WAS THAT?" Dan roared in the direction of the kid.
"Woah, Dan calm down. Your fight is with me, not him." Natsu said. Better not to get anyone else involved, he thought.
"I'll deal with you later." Dan said pointing to the kid. The young boy gulped.
"No you won't. You're not going near him." Natsu responded. Most peoples' jaws dropped at hearing Natsu command Dan. The young boy smiled up at Natsu.
"What. did. you. just. say?" Dan said, pausing in between each word.
"I told you that you're not going to lay a finger on him."
"You can't tell me what to do." Dan chided.
"Watch me."
Sting was getting pretty bored of the conversation and wanted to get on with the fight. He stood between them and acted as the referee.
"Alright, we're not here for bickering. We're here for a FIGHT!" Sting screamed enthusiastically. That got the crowd's attention. "We're here because we want to see Pinky and Shit-bag fight! AM I RIGHT?" The crowded responded with lots of cheering. "Okay, you two are going to fight until either one of you drops. You have as much time as you want but make this quick 'cuz I got a date and I don't want to be late!" Sting cheered. "Take your stances, Pinky and Shit-bag, you have thirty seconds until you begin." The timer started... 30...
"What did you just call me?" Dan asked, enraged. 29, 28, 27...
Sting paused, not answering Dan. At last, he spoke:
"You heard me, Dan." Sting said confidently. 19, 18, 17...
"I don't like it when people talk to me like that." Dan answered. 16, 15, 14...
"And I don't like it when you talk to me." Sting answered with a smirk. 13, 12, 11...
Silence. For a few seconds, silence among everyone in the crowd, as well as Dan and Sting.
"I'm going to beat you up after I'm finished with Pinky." Dan said. 6, 5, 4...
"You can't expect to beat me after Pinky shoves your face into the pavement." Sting answered with a smirk. 3, 2, 1...
30 seconds had passed. No more, no less. After exactly 30 seconds, only one sound was heard. Fist-to-the-face. Dan didn't even see it coming.
Natsu's fist collided with Dan's cheek so hard that it sent Dan back a couple of steps. Dan lost his balance but quickly regained it.
"That's a cheap shot! The fight didn't even start yet!" Dan screamed, while grabbing his cheek in pain.
"Not at all. We were both in our positions and 30 seconds had passed. That marks the beginning of the fight. Isn't that right Sting?" Natsu said with a smirk.
"Pinky's telling the truth, shit-bag." Sting said, turning to Dan.
"I TOLD YOU TO STOP CALLING ME THAT." Dan screamed about to punch Sting when a fist out of nowhere caught his.
"I'm your opponent, Dan. Not Sting. Me, Natsu Dragneel." Natsu said with a serious face. Then he twisted Dan's fist so that Dan would jump back in pain.
Dan listened to Natsu and shut out the world around him. It was just him and Natsu, fighting to what he thought was death, but was actually just a brawl outside of school. Regaining his footing, he ran to punch Natsu, but Natsu once again caught his fist. Upset with this, Dan swung his leg around, kicking Natsu's left leg hard. Natsu jumped back and glanced at the bruise to see how serious it was. As he glanced back up a fist was coming fast towards him. With no time to move, it collided with his face, making him shout in pain. Dan smiled at this, and for a moment was so hyped up in his accomplishments that he turned to face the crowd that had once again captured his attention.
Natsu took advantage of this and hit Dan hard on the back of the head. "If you're not going to pay attention to me, I'm going to hurt you so that you will!" Natsu screamed as he punched Dan across his right cheek while he was turning around. Dan didn't hesitate to throw another punch at Natsu, and quickly balled his left hand into a fist that punched Natsu in the stomach. It was a perfect hit. Natsu jumped back as pain spread across his body. He didn't realize Dan had gotten the upper hand on him. Natsu decided it was time to end the games. It was serious mode.
Natsu adjusted his posture so that he was standing straight up. Dan was facing him with a murderous glint in his eyes. Natsu wasn't afraid and went to punch Dan in the chest with his right hand when Dan lifted his right arm to block it. Natsu predicted that Dan would do that and brought his left arm around to punch Dan across his right cheek, for the third time. Dan's left arm reeled back, ready to come down and punch Natsu, but Natsu caught the punch as it came down. With Dan's left fist in Natsu's right hand, Natsu pulled Dan towards him by the arm while Natsu's knee rose to hit Dan in the stomach. Natsu let go of Dan's arm as Natsu's knee came into contact with Dan's stomach. As a result, the knee to Dan's stomach sent him back a couple of feet where he lied on the ground.
Natsu walked up to the motionless Dan and scowled. He said, "If that's all you've got you might as well use your dad's fortune to your advantage."
Dan's eyes shot open and he smiled, "I think I'll do just that."
Before he could react, Dan had already grabbed a sword, thrown to him by a member of the crowd who was hiding it in hopes that Dan wouldn't need it to win. When Dan grabbed the sword he held it in both hands and while still lying on the ground he swung his sword parallel to the ground in a semi-circle. It almost collided with Natsu's feet until Natsu jumped in the air. Natsu, being extremely acrobatic, jumped a stunning seven feet in the air before gravity began to take its effect. As Natsu was falling, Dan stood up and got ready to swing his sword like a baseball bat. As his sword was about to come forward, he felt resistance build up and saw a foot colliding with the blade. Able to push it back long enough for Natsu to fall, Natsu rooted himself into the ground. No longer pressured by Natsu's foot, Dan swung at Natsu's neck, in which Natsu responded by ducking. As he ducked underneath the sword, Natsu grabbed Dan's right arm which was currently holding onto the sword above the left arm. Dan frantically tried to free his arm but was unable. Natsu smirked as he used his free hand to punch Dan in the stomach. Dan attempted to step back but couldn't because of the grip Natsu held on Dan's right arm.
Dan, still able to rotate the sword, readjusted it so that it'd face Natsu's left arm which was currently holding Dan's right arm.
"If I were you, I'd let go right about now." Dan smirked at Natsu. Unbeknownst to Dan, Natsu's right arm went into his pocket as he began to search for something.
"Now why should I do that?" Natsu answered in a mocking tone. He finally grabbed onto the little box in his right pocket and began to pull it out.
"Because your arm is about to be sliced in two if you hold any longer." Dan said, readying his sword. Natsu pulled a match out of the little box with using one hand and lit it on fire without using the box. He connected it to the rest of the matchbox. The box began to light up in flames.
"Oh so you're going to slice my arm off?" Natsu mocked, pretending to be stupid.
"Exactly. So let go and surrender, or lose your arm. Your choice." Dan said, thinking he had won.
Gasps could be heard from the crowd. Never once had Dan Straight had to threaten a person with their limbs to make them back down. That was uncharted territory, even for the ruthless Dan Straight. Nobody expected this kind of outcome from the fight. Many people covered their eyes, they didn't want to watch his arm fall to the ground. Even Sting was starting to question if Natsu was going to come out okay. He never thought Dan would go this far himself. Not even when he was fighting Dan did Dan threaten to cut off his limbs. Yes, he had threatened Sting's life, but that was a clear bluff. Dan knew he couldn't kill anyone without being able to cover it up, and covering it up at a school isn't the easiest of places to hide the fact you just killed someone.
There was only one person in the crowd who knew better than to pity Natsu. That was Lucy Heartfilia. She stood with a straight face, refusing to believe that Natsu would lose. After all, Natsu beat Dan before. Lucy stood and watched the scene unfold. She was the only one to notice the smirk on Natsu's face after Dan threatened him with Natsu's left arm.
"How about the fire option?" Natsu asked with a smirk.
"Are you suggesting I burn you?" Dan asked.
"No, actually quite the opposite." Natsu said. His smirk grew into an evil smile and he pulled his right hand out and threw a box of matches now completely on fire at Dan. All of the lit matches inside of it scattered all over Dan's clothes, some hitting his skin, the others lighting his clothes aflame. However, the paper box itself hit Dan on his forehead, but not without lighting a piece of his hair on fire.
Dan recoiled in massive pain. The sword fell, and Natsu was able to retract his arm just in time to avoid a cut or worse from the gravity-propelled sword. Natsu took a step towards Dan as Dan's hair started lighting aflame. There were many burn marks all over his exposed skin from where the matches hit. Luckily none of his clothes caught on fire. Natsu felt pity for the man and patted his head enough to put out the fire. He would have eaten it but that would be scary to the crowd and also disgusting because it was tainted by Dan Straight's hair.
After putting the fire out, Natsu grabbed Dan by the back of the neck, holding Dan a few inches off the ground. He spoke up and said:
"IF ANY OF YOU DARE MESS WITH LUCY'S EMOTIONS LIKE THIS HEARTLESS BASTARD, YOU WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH ME PERSONALLY." Natsu screamed at the crowd.
"I...never said ... that... I gave... up." Dan slowly spoke.
"Is that so?" Natsu said with a smile. He turned to the side and threw Dan so fast and far that he hit a tree almost 20 feet away, headfirst. People stood in shock as the kid easily chucked 150 lbs of Dan Straight-yness across the front of the school.
"How about now, Dan?" Natsu said.
"N..never." Dan croaked out.
Natsu walked over to the tree and grabbed Dan by the shirt, punching him across the face.
"What was that Dan?" Natsu said.
"I...said... that... I ... won't... give up..." Dan said in between breaths and screams of pain.
"Do you want me to throw you off the top of the school building?" Natsu said.
"I'd...like to... see you... try." Dan said, again, in much pain. With that, Natsu grabbed Dan, and ran into the school building. Before anyone could question him, they saw him on the roof holding a barely conscious Dan Straight over the ledge.
"Do you give up now?" Natsu asked again.
No answer.
"I SAID, DO YOU GIVE UP?" Natsu screamed at Dan.
No answer.
"WOULD YOU LIKE TO KISS THE PAVEMENT?" Natsu screamed at Dan.
No answer.
"Umm... Natsu is he even conscious?" Sting asked.
"Of course the damn fool is. He's got his eyes open and he's breathing in a conscious manner. He's just being stubborn." Natsu replied.
"I'm going to give you to the count of three to give up. No pile of money could save you now, Dan Straight." Natsu said.
"ONE." He said sternly, and loudly.
"TWO." He said, even louder.
"I'll never give up my Lulu." Dan croaked out, barely audible.
"NEVER GIVE HER UP? DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU DID? YOU BROKE HER HEART! SHE DOESN'T EVEN WANT TO BE NEAR YOU AND YOU THINK YOU CAN STILL HAVE HER? SHE CAN'T BE BOUGHT DAN, SHE'S NOT YOUR LITTLE TOY. SHE HAS FEELINGS TOO AND SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THEM WITHOUT SOME OPPRESSIVE BOYFRIEND." Natsu screamed.
"But... she...told me that... she loved me." Dan said, barely audible.
"LOVED YOU? ARE YOU KIDDING? YOU USED HER. YOU KNEW SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE AND YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT. AND THEN YOU WENT AND CHEATED ON HER. YOU WERE THE ONLY PERSON SHE HAD AND YOU FUCKING CHEATED ON HER. HOW COULD YOU DAN?" He screamed, even louder.
"Because... she won't ever stop... loving me.." Dan said.
"WAKE UP DAN. LOOK DOWN AT HER RIGHT NOW. DO YOU SEE THE FACE SHE'S MAKING. SHE'S FROWNING AT YOU. SHE DOESN'T LOVE YOU. YOU BROKE HER HEART. SHE DOESN'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE. YOU USED HER, YOU DIDN'T TREAT HER WITH RESPECT AND NOW YOU PAY THE PRICE. GIVE UP NOW, OR DIE." Natsu screamed again.
A long silence passed over the school property. Nobody could believe what the saw. One minute a brawl was taking place, next their was a man being held over the edge of the school who was being yelled at for being an oblivious fool to the obvious. They were shocked that this random pink haired student cared so much for a random girl he probably just met.
"Lulu, do you still love me?" Dan croaked. Lucy shook her head, tears surfacing. She didn't expect it to be this hard.
"Fine then," Dan continued, "I give up."
Natsu dropped Dan mistakingly, and everyone began to scream. Dan fell into a tall bush planted in front of the school and was perfectly fine aside from the scrapes he had. Everyone sighed. As the crowd began to disperse, Natsu, who had come down the stairs and walked over to Dan, said:
"I hope you remember my deal. No talking to Lucy, ever. Understood?" Natsu said. Dan simply nodded his head. He knew there was no point in fighting back at the moment.
After talking to Dan, Natsu walked over to Lucy. He went over to her and said:
"Hey Lucy, I finally got you away from that idiot!" He finished that sentence with a bright smile.
"Hey N-Natsu?" Lucy asked, still emotionally confused. She wasn't sure, but she thought that Natsu just turned that into a fight for her.
"Yeah, what is it Lucy?" He answered, still smiling.
"Did you fight that for me? I mean I don't mean to be self-centered and all but you said that you would make whoever messed with my emotions regret it and so I thought that you fought for me but I'm not sure because you never said that so could you please tell me so that I don't have to worry?" Lucy asked, embarrassed and blushing, literally sticking three or four sentences into one, saying them extremely fast.
"Of course, you weirdo, who else would I have fought for?" Natsu said cheerfully. With that Lucy blushed even more. Natsu grabbed her hand and asked her:
"Hey we have a project due soon, would you like to work on it at my place today?"
"Of course." Lucy said, smiling back at Natsu, while blushing. Her blush was not going away anytime soon.
Those two found themselves walking home together, again...