Disclaimer—I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United Fandoms of Fanfiction. And to the lawyers for which law stands: one franchise, I'm under oath with a lack of invisibility with...wait—okay, I don't own Fairy Tail or any of the characters included in said anime-package. Please, don't sue me.

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Everything stops for us, in that moment
Let's meet again, one of these nights

— July 7th by Red Velvet

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|July 7th, 2005 — Mira's Noodle Stand|

kid·nap (verb)

to take someone away illegally by force, typically to obtain a ransom

Lucy frowned as she scanned the definition on her phone's screen. She glanced around at her surroundings (from the billows of steam floating from overheated stove tops, to the drunken men and chattering women surrounding her) before once again looking down at those daunting virtual words.

Illegally. By force. To obtain a ransom.

This...can't be right, she thought with narrowed eyes and tapped a few buttons to refresh the page. Did she make a typo? Was her connection poor? Was the search engine somehow broken? That couldn't be the definition she was looking for, could it?

Lucy risked a glance to her left where Natsu was shoving a giant wad of ramen noodles down his throat.

Yeah no, there was no way. Because, if there was, that would mean the wild and positively insane pink-haired teen beside her wasn't kidnapping her. Because, according to her stupid lying phone, being kidnapped was supposed to be a lot more...frightening than this. Yes, he had forced her to go on some weird pseudo-date with him for his own personal amusement (or to anger her already pissed off father, either one), had waved a gun around in her face, had gagged her with ice cream, and had taken her away from under her father's watch against her will, but…

"Hey, are you gonna eat that?" He pointed at her unfinished bowl of ramen with his chopsticks, mouth full and cheeks bulging.

She merely shook her head and pushed the steaming bowl towards him. He gave her a smile (or at least attempted to) and gladly dove his abused chopsticks into his sixth serving.

Yeah no, everything about this was wrong. She peeked down at her phone once again, and groaned when she realized the page still hadn't loaded. Why must the internet on phones be so slow, the blonde mentally cried. She flinched at all the missed calls and texts her father had sent her, and struggled to not reply to them. Five minutes after he'd dragged her away from 8-Island, Natsu explicitly warned her to not let anyone know where they were. That meant no phone calls, no texting, and basically no communication with her father whatsoever, "or else you'll really regret it, Luce."

Lucy was a brave girl. Heck, she'd gone to study overseas at the age of seven without her parents, had lived alone with a maid named Miyuki who was practically a robot with lungs and only appeared when called, and had basically been on her own for as long as she could remember. A boy around her age currently suffocating himself with noodles shouldn't intimidate her, he really shouldn't...

But he did anyways.

Because he wasn't just any boy, Lucy had to keep reminding herself. He was a boy who could kill her at any moment. A boy who had a weapon stuffed in his back pocket. A boy who managed to slip past her father and all of his fifteen armed men in less than ten minutes. And a boy who was now...offering her a dumpling?

"Mira makes the best dumplings in town. Man, probably in the whole world! You should try it." He gently pressed the warm treat against her lips, face encouraging, and with wide eyes, Lucy hesitantly took a small bite out of it. "You like it, don't you? I inhale these things every chance that I can; breakfast, lunch, dinner, whenever."

I'm sure you do. "Um…" Her voice was muffled as she began to chew another offered bite. "I-I like it," she said, "it tastes good."

He gave her a toothy grin. "I knew you would. Everyone loves Mira's cooking. She's not here today, but she always keeps a stash of these behind the counter just for me. It's a shame she wants to murder you though. If you were anyone else, she'd probably love to cook you a batch of these everyday."

Lucy nearly choked and Natsu frowned as he handed her a small cup of soda. "W-wait," she wheezed, "what did you...what? She...what?"

"Oh, uh. Yeah." Natsu scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Don't worry about that. If it makes you feel any better, it's not a personal vendetta against you, just your father. I mean, she's not the only one that wants you dead. Pretty sure everyone who works for my father does." At Lucy's paling complexion, Natsu quickly tried to fix his words. "N-no, don't listen to me! That just means you're...popular, okay? Yeah, popular. Some criminals would love to have a reputation like yours and oh my god, I'm not making this any better, am I?"

If Natsu hadn't been such a spluttering idiot in trying to calm down her racing heart (with his wild hand motions and ever-changing expressions), she'd probably start crying and screaming for help at the top of her lungs, previous threats to her life be darned. Instead, she let out a breathy laugh, watching in amusement as Natsu stumbled over the right thing to say.

"I just...I mean. I'm not even supposed to be here. With you. Because, you know, all of my friends want your head on a silver platter as payback for Elfman and his mother. B-but I don't." He coughed, and averted his gaze from hers. It was strange to Lucy, seeing him act like all the other seventeen year old dorks she knew, like a normal (non-homicidal) teenage boy.

She jumped when he reached out to grab her hands, his eyes still refusing to meet hers. "I...I um, I think you're innocent in all of this," he stammered. "You shouldn't have to suffer for your father's mistakes, and if anyone ever heard me say that, they'd probably want to kill me too, fuck." His grip tightened and Lucy could faintly feel his hands shake. "But wait, they most likely already want to kill me! Right, because I fucked up their plans and I don't even know why I took you, and I'm not supposed to be here and neither are you, but—"

"H-hold on," she interrupted, and he blinked out of his stupor. Finally he looked at her, doe-like brown eyes clashing with those of dark ebony. They were silent for a moment, simply staring at one other, before Lucy cleared her throat and asked, "what...what are you talking about?"

That's what sent him back into near hysteria. He broke out into a cold sweat, hands quivering once again and eyes on everything but her. "I'm sorry," he began softly and Lucy's head tilted in confusion. "There...there was a plan. I was supposed to...we were supposed to stay in that restaurant. I was just a distraction. Your father and his little bitches," he shook his head, "okay no. Not the time. Y-your father and his force, I mean, were meant to stay focused on me. They weren't going to notice the other patrons. So when they finally would, it'd be too late and you'd sort of...be a hostage...until Jude would release Elfman and I don't know why I didn't follow the plan. I really don't," he sighed and released one of her hands to thread his fingers through his hair in frustration. "After ensuring Elfman's freedom, we were supposed to kill you anyways. It's cruel, but that's how they...we work. But I...I didn't want to see them hurt you. You're not Jude. From what I've seen, you're nothing like him. And I tried to tell them that, but they wouldn't listen to me. They wanted their revenge, no matter who got injured in the process, so I asked Levy for her help and I...I," his words faded off and his eyes clenched shut.

Lucy pried her hand from his (which wasn't hard considering how clammy they were) and Natsu let his arms fall to his sides. "You," her voice was strained and weak, sounding as if it could break at any moment, but she continued after a heavy swallow, "y-you saved me?"

Natsu looked up at her and shivered at the gratitude shining in her eyes. "No," he whispered, "don't. I'm not the good guy here. Please, just don't, okay? I didn't mean for any of this to happen, I didn't ask you out on a date that day to help them with their plan. I did it because I thought you were...you know," the faintest of blushes blossomed on his cheeks and Lucy had never seen him look more like the child he was, "you were kind of pretty and your dad was getting on my nerves and I just...wanted to get to know you? I don't know. But they used my asking you out to their advantage. I didn't think they'd do it, I wasn't thinking at all, but they did and I'm so sorry—"

"Natsu," Lucy cut him off again, and raised her hand to rest against his cheek, slowly bringing his forlornly lowered head up so he could face her. "It's okay. Don't you know I was forced to do the same thing? Of course, my father's plan wasn't to hold you hostage and kill you." Natsu backed away from her touch at that, but she refused to let him go. She brought him closer, making sure to look him directly in his eyes. "But his plan was to hurt you in some way. Maybe not physically, but he didn't want you around anymore. I was the distraction in someone else's plan as well. But, as you said, I'm not him. And you aren't your father either. You're not the people who wanted to harm me. You saved me, Natsu. Yes, you scare the shit out of me with your crazy antics, and I hardly know you, but just like you knew I was nothing like my father, I know you're nothing like yours. You...you're okay."

Natsu's face contorted into one of sorrow, his own palm coming up to rest against Lucy's. "Why…" he muttered, "why would anyone want to do something bad to someone like you?"

Lucy shrugged, her smile thinning but still remaining. "I don't know. Maybe because they're jealous of my dashing good looks and killer charms?"

Natsu body seemed to stiffen, and he gave her a disbelieving look before erupting into a fit of chuckles. His eyes began to water, a lone tear falling down his cheek (Lucy pretended not to see it), but his smile was wide and his laughter warm. "I wish I wasn't who I am," he admitted after a while, "and I wish you weren't who you are. Maybe then we could've met under different circumstances. You..." he paused, "you'd make an amazing friend."

Lucy patted his head affectionately. "Well, it can't be helped, can it? We've already met like this."

"Yeah," he hummed, "we have."

After that, they both continued to talk about random things. From the way Natsu's noodles were now bloated and practically inedible (that didn't stop him from greedily devouring them though), to Lucy's lonely yet exciting life abroad, to their likes, their dislikes, their personal fears, anything, everything (except their current circumstances, of course). And before they realized it, it was already late into the afternoon, almost evening and both of their phones were full of disregarded messages and calls.

Natsu picked up and un-silenced his phone with a sigh. He flipped it open, and nearly dropped it with the amount of notifications he had. Sixteen calls from Mira, eleven from Gray, two calls from Gajeel, and one sole text from his father. Natsu slammed his phone shut, not even bothering to read it, and shoved it in his pocket. He could feel his head begin to ache.

Lucy had done the same, Hello Kitty phone charms dangling as she opened her phone, and felt her stomach twist uncomfortably. Her father had used up all of her phone's storage with the number of messages he had sent her and the sudden guilt she felt at the sight slammed into her, the weight unbearable. He must've been so worried about her. Yes, this had all been his idea, he had been the one to put her in danger, but he was still her father. She should've said something to him. She should've replied and eased his anxieties. He probably searched all of Japan for her by now and here she was...with the very boy who caused all of this. Eating with him, laughing with him, befriending him. God, she was an awful daughter.

"I think...I should go home know."

Natsu heaved yet another sigh, his finger absentmindedly toying with his chopsticks. "I kind of don't want you to go."

"I'll be fine," she reasoned, "I have my father with me. He won't let me out of his sight from now on, and I doubt your...people will come after me anymore after today."

"You don't know that," he countered fiercely and Lucy couldn't find the words to disagree. "I don't even know that. What they plan on doing next, my father never tells me. He knows I despise everything that he does, so I won't be informed about missions until it's too late and I'm being forced into it. Everyone knows that I can't disappoint my father. I'm his heir, his only son. And if I refuse to do as he says…"

"You're worried about me," she lightly plucked him on his forehead, "but you really should be worried about yourself. Just take me home. I promise I'll be okay."

Natsu lips formed into a grim line and Lucy barely stopped herself from shrinking under his piercing stare. "Why do you trust me?" he eventually asked and Lucy's eyes fluttered. She couldn't even answer that herself. Why did she trust him? Someone who literally had a gun to her temple just days before? Who she had seen (or heard) help murder the innocent people of her father's department? Whose family and friends wanted her own, and even her, gone. Someone who would soon have hundreds upon thousands of criminals standing behind him, ready to steal, dominate, and kill at his command. He wasn't a trustworthy person, was he? He was exactly who her father made him out to be. He was a bad person who had done bad things and to put her life in his hands would be foolish.

Wouldn't it?

Lucy shook her head at those thoughts. They were her own just a few hours prior, yet she couldn't find it in herself to believe them anymore. It was amazing what a small chat over lumpy ramen noodles could do, huh? She simply rose her shoulders in reply, murmuring an I just do, and it was his pleased smile that sealed the deal for her. How could she not trust him? He was no different from her, he was nothing more than a boy seeking his father's approval. He didn't want the life he had. He didn't want to make the decisions he was forced to make. It was so easy talking to him, discussing all of her secrets and wishes for the future. He'd laugh at the right time, become somber at the right time, squeeze her hand in comfort at the right time, tease her playfully, offer her more dumplings, and tell her his own desires and wants. Yes, he had done bad things before, but he was still a good person. And despite his rough exterior hardened by painful experiences and his spontaneous nature, he was...he was...

"You're the first person besides my cat to ever trust me," Natsu said and with a snort added, "then again, he's not a person, is he? Thank you, Lucy."

...he was a new friend.

|July 14th, 2005 — Heartfilia Estate|

Lucy remained locked in her room for an entire week. No, she wasn't grounded or anything (her father still didn't know where Natsu had taken her that fateful day and he never would, if Lucy had anything to say about it) but she was instead put on a "safety lockdown," as the flustered chief of police had put it. According to him, he'd spent hours looking for her that day and nearly lost his job after he tried assaulting the two men sent to watch over her in the restaurant. Afraid to add more stress to his already full plate, Lucy didn't tell him about Fairy Tail (the name of Natsu's father's syndicate, she'd learned from a recent newspaper. A silly name, in her opinion, but she knew not to be deceived by it) and their plan to kill her. That'd only fan the flames already burning her father's ego and she didn't want him to suffer more than he should. He'd already had to face criticisms from his boss for his failed operation, and his men didn't hesitate to show that they looked down on him for his costly mistake. The Natsu Dragneel was right there for their taking, after all. Lucy could understand their annoyance.

But it seemed no one could understand hers. Her room had changed drastically from the last time she had been inside it, which was a given since her parents had moved to a much bigger home during the time she was away. This house was more like a mansion, with too many rooms and too much of a distance between her, her mother, and her father. While Lucy was stuck in her room (guarded day in and day out by a pair of men in tacky black suits), her mother spent most of her time on the eastern wing of the large estate, and her father either spent his time in the western wing or at work. Lucy was sure she hadn't seen the two of them together since she had returned home, and neither of them seemed to care about this little fact. It scared Lucy, to think her once warm and inviting home had been altered so much in the few years she was gone. There was no more late-night snacks in the kitchen, all three of them laughing over spilled cocoa and melting ice cream. No more marathons of old cartoons and low-budget films. No more games and fun banter over the dinner table. Heck, Lucy had felt less lonely at her boarding school and she was basically alone there.

So Lucy didn't particularly mind when her father ordered her to never leave her room (which was now expansive enough to have everything she may need) until things were "cleared up with those Fairy Tail scum." She wouldn't be spending time with him or her mother anyways, unfortunately. Exploring the area and re-familiarizing herself with her home city was off-limits until further notice. And all of her old friends probably didn't even remember who she was. It was...sad. But Lucy was used to it. She could manage.

The first few days on lockdown were spent reading all of her old favorite books her mother was kind enough to save from their old home. Lucy cringed at her awful taste in young adult novels, sticking her tongue out at the mushy kisses and ridiculously corny confessions the main protagonists gave each other. The next days were spent watching all of her favorite movies. She was sure that, within those seven days, she had watched The Lion King II: Simba's Pride more times than she had in her entire life. She memorized every word, swung her hands around like a conductor to each song as if she were the mastermind behind them, and when the movie would finally end, she'd rewind the cassette and play it all over again.

And sometimes, after she finished a book or waited for her movies to restart, she'd gaze outside of her window and think about him.

Natsu. That weirdo kid. She wondered if he was alright. Was his father mad at him? Did he disappoint him by saving her? Did he go on any new missions? Did they involve hurting more people? Was Mira still giving him her prized dumplings after what he'd done? He loved those things...it'd be such a shame if he couldn't taste them ever again because of her.

Suddenly, an idea popped into her head and her eyes twinkled mischievously as she turned to face the miniature kitchen (recently stocked and ready to be used) in the corner of her room.

A thank you present, she giddily thought, that's all this will be.

She rolled up the sleeves on her Hamtaro pajamas and cracked her knuckles, pulling a cookbook from one of the many shelves on her wall. "Hopefully those torturous Home Ec. classes weren't a complete waste."

And, of course, they were. Her first batch of dumplings were a mess. She had gotten the ingredients everywhere, her oven-mits were burnt at the tips, and to make matters worse, the dumplings themselves tasted like hot cardboard. It had taken her hours to make those, and it was one of the simplest recipes she had besides boiled water. But Lucy didn't give up, she wouldn't be Lucy if she did. Instead, she cleaned up her station and prepared for round two. "You won't win this time," she cackled to herself, vigorously mixing the dough.

Three disasters later and Lucy had finally produced a batch she was somewhat proud of. Visually, they looked straight out of the cookbook. The taste, however...well Lucy hadn't exactly tried them yet. She was about to, mouth open wide in the most unflattering of ways, but the sound of a pebble being thrown at her window stopped her. She blinked and waited. And, like clockwork, another pebble flew into the glass. She dropped her dumpling back onto its plate and stumbled over to her window. Opening it, she peeked her head through and looked down, and if her eyes could grown any bigger, they'd be flying saucers.

There, dressed in all-black and standing in a tall bush, was Natsu (and was that...a cat?) He was gearing up to throw something else at her window, a rock that was much bigger and much more dangerous than the last two, and when he groaned at its weight after lifting it over his head, Lucy knew it was either she get his attention now or be smashed in the face with a Godzilla-sized stone.

"Hey!" she whisper-shouted, "heeeey!" But Natsu didn't hear her, still teetering under the heavy rock in his hands. Thankfully, his cat somehow did hear her call and scratched at Natsu's leg in a silent plea for him to look up. When he finally did, not even the black mask tied around his face could hide the excited smile that graced his features.

He almost dropped the monstrous rock on his cat who yowled at him in return. "Hey," Natsu whisper-shouted back and Lucy couldn't believe a guy like him could actually exist, "let's go on another date!"

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一━══┳┻︻ To Be Continued ︻┻┳══━一

Author's Note: ah. Over a year has passed since I uploaded a chapter to this story. To all of those who have waited, thank you and I'm sorry. But, if you've read my profile, then you know I never thought about abandoning this story in the time I was away. This story probably has more duds than KSKM. I have a whole folder of them. So yes, writing this chapter was a struggle for me. It wasn't until I decided to randomly re-write it a few days ago that I finally found a potential dud that I actually considered decent (surprise, surprise). Thus, a new update has arrived! Yay~ I won't upload this chapter until I have the next one written (or at least halfway done) so the wait won't be as long. Until next time then, folks! Stay tuned for chapter four and review if you wanna!

chu~