Chapter 16: Mard Geer
"Hey Luce where should I put this one?" Natsu asked, holding a large cardboard. Lucy looked up from the box she was currently digging through that was marked Fragile in sharpie.
"Umm I think you can throw that one in the kitchen for now. Oh dammit Happy get out of the box! There's glass in this one!" She exclaimed as the blue cat decided to leap into it. Natsu chuckled as he emerged from the kitchen. It had been a week since Lucy's confrontation with her father, and since most of his possessions were either sold, Natsu and Lucy had found a nice little apartment on Strawberry Street, it had a great view of the nearby creek, and had two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a living room. So for Natsu it was just like it was back with Igneel, and for Lucy it was going to require some adjusting, that being said it was a nice place that only cost them a few hundred bucks a month. Lucy had sold the expensive car her father had gifted her, and they were currently using that money for groceries, furniture, and the leftovers went to rent. It wasn't all bad though, the new Fairy Tail building had been finished, and Lucy was being paid to waitress there, and help Mira around the place. Natsu however had been stressing about how he was supposed to juggle a job, school, and being the Salamander and a member of Fairy Tail.
"I'm pooped…" Natsu muttered, taking a seat on the ground. They were far from finished with unpacking, they had only unpacked their essentials so far, Lucy felt especially bad since they only had one mattress so far and Natsu just got a cheap blow up mattress and was sleeping on that, so far their entire day had been dedicated to unpaking what they could. Lucy's stomach rumbled.
"Me too, and I'm starting to get a little hungry, maybe we should take a break for now." She suggested while she finished unloading what was in her box, and tossed it aside. Plopping down next to Natsu she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Sounds good to me, how are you holding up by the way?" He asked her softly as he began to rub her lower back, Lucy sighed.
"It's just a lot...Part of me wants to go back to how things were a year ago, but the other half knows that it's impossible…."
"Our lives have never been normal that's for sure…"
"Not at all…" The quiet moment was interrupted by their blue feline friend making strange coughing noises, Natsu and Lucy's eyes shot open.
"Shit no, no, no, no!" Natsu sprung up to his feet/
"Happy please don't hairball on the new floor!" Lucy begged as Natsu rushed to grab Happy and plop him inside an empty box to hairball in. Natsu began to chuckle and Lucy soon joined him, after coughing for a bit Happy leapt out of the box Natsu dropped him in. Natsu shook his head at the cat.
"Poor guy, he has also been through quite a bit in the last few months." Lucy muttered. Natsu chuckled.
"Ain't that the truth." He replied walking into the kitchen, the sound of him rummaging through the fridge made Lucy hungrier than she already was. Standing up she walked to the doorway. Natsu peaked his head over the fridge.
"Lucyyyyy, we don't have anything to eat…." He pouted. Lucy sighed, they had been so preoccupied with moving in groceries weren't a top priority yet. Feeling her own stomach begin to rumble she gave him a soft smile.
"Let's go see if Mira cooked something up at the Guildhall." She offered. Natsu shut the fridge.
"Sounds good to me." The two quickly changed into winter clothes and walked out of their apartment only to be greeted by the neighbors across the hall screaming at each other with the door wide open. Lucy and Natsu avoided eye contact with the screaming spouses. Power walking down the hall they exited the apartment complex. The second they were out in the cold outdoors they began conversing.
"I can't believe those two…." Lucy began, Natsu just shrugged.
"I mean at least they'll be doing something else with their mouths instead of screaming at each other when we get back." Natsu jokes, Lucy wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"Natsu Dragneel! I do not want to think about that!"
"But even then they are still pretty loud….like a couple of rabbits those two…."
"NATSU!" Lucy tried her hardest to sound disgusted and not laugh as her and Natsu kept walking.
"Hey say what you want, but at least they love each other." He shrugged, Lucy quirked an eyebrow.
"You call that love?! Those two can't stand each other, if anything it's lust."
"I mean sure….Why else do they stay together?" Lucy opened her mouth to form a comeback, but nothing came out, due to a loud ruckus interrupting her. It sounded like a loud crowd cheering, and chanting something.
"What's going on?" Lucy asked Natsu who looked equally confused.
"I don't know it sounds like it's coming from Fountain Plaza, wanna check it out?" He offered.
"After you." Lucy agreed. The two continued to walk side by side following the winding streets that lead to the Fountain Plaza. When they got there they found the source of the sound, a large mass of people were gathered. Most of them were holding signs, and all of them were chanting.
"INHUMANS MUST GO! NO MORE POWERS! INHUMANS MUST GO! " Natsu, and Lucy looked at each other with wide eyes. Looking back towards the crowd, a dapper man wearing an all white suit with a black sash, he stood at a podium that was placed right in front of the fountain that had frozen over. He was speaking into the microphone with conviction and the crowd loved it.
"Brothers….Sisters! There is a plague contaminating our once great city. A plague that our former mayor was too weak to stop it! We saw a fine example of it on Christmas! City Hall was a battleground for inhumans, they cause destruction everywhere they go not caring for anyone else! Take the infamous Salamander for instance, a pyromaniac who runs from the law, while posing as a hero. We don't need a wannabe vigilante to protect us, we need a system that protects us from them! Vote for me Mard Geer, and together we will cleanse this city! We must fight back to these inhumans and let them know that we are stronger than them! They hide behind their mutations thinking it makes them invincible! The likes of Laxus Dreyer, Doranbolt, and of course Salamander! Those monsters must be stopped! They are freaks, cowards, and of course abominations of nature!" Mard Geer finished his speech by holding out his arms as the crowd broke into applause, and cheers the chants also picked back up. Natsu clenched his fist and growled. Lucy was also glaring at the man at the podium.
"Natsu, let's go." Lucy deadpanned grasping his hand, Natsu didn't protest as Lucy dragged him away from the large crowd. He turned his head to give Mard Geer one last glare, he could've sworn he looked back at him and winked. Clenching his fist he fought the urge to light his entire being on fire and burning Mard Geer to a crisp. Lucy seemed to sense his temper rising, because she squeezed his hand that she still had a grasp.
"Just ignore them, they don't know what they were talking about. Everything that happened on Christmas was because of my dad and Jose, you were just trying to rescue me." Natsu stopped in his tracks, turning to face him Lucy tilted her head in confusion.
"Luce...what do you see when you look at me?"
"What do you mean?" She was confused, and looking for clarification.
"I mean, could you see what those people back there saw in me?" Lucy could see the hurt in his eyes and frowned.
"Natsu….of course not."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am." Lucy offered him a small smile. He looked her dead in the eyes, and took a step closer to her.
"Then what do you see when you look at me?" He asked, she was a bit taken aback by his question but nonetheless answered honestly.
"You look like my Natsu...the one I've always known, powers or no powers, it doesn't change who you are." Natsu smiled softly. Lucy's smile grew when he felt better.
"Now come on, I bet you're hungry huh?" She asked, he beamed as he followed her in the direction of the Fairy Tail building. When they arrived however things got worse. As they walked down the path that led to the front door four figures were storming in the direction heading away from the guild. Natsu and Lucy recognized Laxus and his friends walking in their direction, and the looks on their faces told the two that they were not in a good mood. The two kept walking making sure to sidestep Laxus so that they didn't get on his bad side seeing as how he already seemed a bit upset. However things never go according to plan, because Laxus stopped in his tracks, and turned to face Natsu.
"You know what upsets me most about that oaf's speech was that he held you up to the same pedestal as me Salamander. It makes me sick to think someone thinks that we are even close to being in the same league." Natsu came to a halt real fast, Lucy gulped afraid of what was about to happen. Looking forward she saw a group of members of the guild also outside watching without taking a breath to see what was going to happen. Natsu whipped his head backward to glare up at Laxus who easily towered over him, but he didn't back down.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked through clenched teeth, Laxus scoffed turning his nose up at Natsu.
"It means you're pathetically weak, and yet everyone including my own grandfather seems to think you and I are on par with each other." Natsu growled, Lucy could feel heat start emanating from him, and took several steps backwards joining the other onlookers.
"I can assure you that I am not weak...Perhaps you would like a demonstration first hand?" Laxus snorted.
"Yeah right, if you're so tough how come you let your girl get taken by those clowns at Phantom Lord?" He looked over in Lucy's direction.
"Seriously babe, why stick around this loser? You'd be much safer with me and the Thunder Legion." Lucy gagged at the way he talked to her, but it also just fueled Natsu's annoyance with Laxus. Makarov and Mira walked outside joining Lucy and the others.
"What's going on?" Makarov asked, Cana just pointed over to Natsu and Laxus who had gotten closer to each other, they were merely inches apart, Laxus looking down at Natsu, and Natsu glaring right back at him. Makarov's eyes widened.
"You really are a Grade-A asshat aren't you?" Laxus smirked at Natsu's statement.
"What can I say it's just more fun this way. It gets boring being better than everyone else."
"Well I'm not everyone else."
"You barely beat Gajeel, I could knock that fool out with one punch. Don't try to hold yourself up to me."
"It would do you some good for someone to knock you out. Gajeel was tough, sure, but in the end I still won."
"Bold words, can you back it up?"
"Would you like to find out?" Natsu's body swelled up in a swirl of flames, all the snow around his immediate vicinity melted in a cloud of steam.
"You know what...I got a minute to spare, why not?" Laxus smirked, lightning began to dance around him, cracking with each quick flash of light. The onlookers held their breaths. Makarov began walking forward to put an end to this, but it was too late. Natsu, and Laxus had rushed forward at the same time, their forearms crashed into the others. They stood there in a deadlock as Natsu's flames, and Laxus' lightning built up. Before Natsu could even react, Laxus had broken the deadlock, grabbed his arm and flipped him into the ground. Natsu shook off his temporary blurred vision in time to see Laxus' big fist coming down onto his face. Natsu kicked at Laxus' leg, throwing him off balance. Rolling back up to his feet Natsu went in for a punch, but he couldn't move a muscle. Looking down he saw glowing purple text swirling around his entire body. Laxus took this opportunity to knock Natsu down hard with a hefty punch, Natsu cried out as he hit the ground hard, electricity sparking around him. He struggled to get back up, but he still couldn't move. Laxus hovered over him, holding out his hand a lightning bolt formed in his grasp, he held it up preparing to bring it down on Natsu.
"LAXUS! CUT THAT OUT THIS INSTANT!" Makarov yelled, fuming as he grew closer to the two. Laxus rolled his eyes, and the lightning bolt vanished.
"Whatever. I was bored anyway…" He walked off the Thunder Legion following behind him. The second they were out of sight Natsu could move again. Sitting up he rubbed his jaw from where Laxus had hit him.
"God that guy is a dick." Makarov sighed.
"You must excuse my grandson, he might seem cold-hearted and malice on the outside, but there is good inside of him. " Makarov offered his hand to help Natsu up. Natsu took it.
"It must be buried really deep inside I'm guessing. What was he so moody about anyway?"
"Unfortunately that fool Mard Geer's speech at Fountain Plaza was broadcasted, Laxus didn't take particularly kindly to being singled out." Natsu sighed, that was twice now Laxus had whooped his ass, with one blow no less. Makarov seemed to pick up on Natsu's thoughts, and changed the subject.
"Anyway it's quite brisk out here, would you and Miss Lucy like to come in and have a bite? Mira made chicken." Natsu smirked.
"Sure, that sounds nice."
Laxus had his arms folded as he walked in front of the Thunder Legion, a scowl on his face. Freed, walked besides him and eventually spoke up.
"Laxus, I am sorry for interfering, but I just felt that it was in our best interest to end that scuffle as soon as possible."
"It's whatever, I'm just annoyed is all."
"Annoyed? You? I'm shocked…" Evergreen spoke dryly.
"Now, now, Ever. I'm sure whatever is bugging Laxus there is a valid reason." Freed defended his leader.
"What is annoying ya any way Laxus?" Bickslow chimed in. Laxus let out a cross between a sigh and a yawn.
"It's just Gramps, and that Mard Geer clown, of course Salamander didn't help matters either."
"Yeah I'll say that Natsu sure had some nerve trying to start a fight with you." Evergreen huffed.
"Natsu, that's his name? Man and I thought mine was weird." Bickslow laughed. Freed sighed.
"I am terribly sorry you feel this way Laxus. Is there anything we can do to help?" He asked. Laxus stopped, and looked off into the distance at something.
"I'm the strongest person in this entire country, quite possibly the world. Yet nobody seems to fully grasp that. Mard Geer thinks that him and a bunch of other regular people can keep me down, and Gramps doesn't see my full strength. Nobody does, nobody respects me. Those weaklings my grandfather brought into Fairy Tail are making it worse, only I can save it...I think it's time they all found out who I really am, and what I can do. This city doesn't need those losers at Fairy Tail, nor does it need Mard Geer. All it needs is me."
"What are you saying?" Freed asked.
"I'm saying it's time I stage a revolt. I will show them all my true strength...I will destroy Mard Geer, and overthrow my grandfather…."
"I guess you could say a storm is brewing…." Bickslow joked, receiving glares from the others.
Natsu sat at one of the benches in the Fairy Tail staring down at his phone, clicking it to try and get it to work. It had shattered during his encounter with Laxus. He was so preoccupied with his phone he didn't even notice the glares he was receiving from across the table, and besides him.
"Damnit, that jerk totally busted it." He exclaimed, throwing it onto the table. Before stuffing his face with the chicken leg he had on his plate in front of him.
"That's what you get for being an idiot…" Lucy muttered in annoyance.
"Huh? Did you say something?" He looked up at her face. She feigned a cheery smile.
"Me? Nope I haven't said anything." She said dryly, the sarcasm of course went right over Natsu's head.
"Oh okay then." He chirped before going back to his food. Gray rolled his eyes.
"She said you're an idiot." He stated, Natsu's face darkened.
"Who are you calling an idiot, you big fat idiot?!" Natsu shot back at Gray.
"I'm calling you an idiot! And I am not fat, I am in better shape than you could ever be!"
"Yeah right in your dreams, Frosty!"
"Why you little…"
"Natsu, Gray. Knock it off." Erza glared at the two.
"Yes ma'am.
"We weren't doing anything see?!" They spoke in unison. Lucy put her face in her hands, why did she even try with this kid anymore. Oh yeah it was because she had been crushing on him since Freshman year. Maybe even a little before that. Luckily for her Erza was there to inform Natsu of his stupidity.
"I must say Natsu, as stupid as it was. I must commend you for standing up to Laxus."
"Wait what?" Gray and Lucy looked at her in disbelief, Natsu smiled at her.
"Why thank you Erza. I just figured somebody should attempt to knock him down a few notches." He shrugged.
"I agree with you full heartedly. I would have done the same if I were in your shoes." Erza stated. Gray, and Lucy's jaws dropped.
"No, no, no….Do not encourage him! What he did was stupid and irresponsible!" Lucy scolded.
"Yeah! What gives man you were supposed to put him in his place!" Gray added. Erza ignored them.
"Truth be told, he hasn't always had a chip in his shoulder like he does now, he actually used to be kind. Well as kind as Laxus can be."
"What changed?" Natsu asked. Gray, and Lucy were now also curious.
"Truth be told I really don't know, back in the day it only used to be me, Mira, Gildarts, and Laxus. Then we began expanding, gaining new members each one with different powers than the last. Most of them hand selected by Master himself. So maybe it's jealousy, whatever it was, Laxus soon grew colder, he claims to want what's best for Fairy Tail, but at the same time wants to destroy what makes us strong. He thinks that the strength of Fairy Tail comes down to its weakest member."
"Which means he thinks that we are weaker than ever now, because of me and Levy?" Lucy stated, Natsu looked at her, the two locked eyes from across the table.
"I never did like the guy anyway, him or his little possy that follows him around like dogs on a leash." Gray added.
"It's sad really. Part of me feels bad for him, he probably feels like Master chose other people, because he wasn't enough, but that isn't the case. Far from it. Master loves him, Laxus just has always hated the feeling of being weak. Humility never was his strong suit." The conversation ended there as the four decided to head to their respective homes as it grew later. It wasn't until Natsu and Lucy were back inside their shared apartment did they touch on the subject again. Upon shutting and locking their door Natsu turned to face Lucy who had made herself comfortable on a box on the floor. She flipped through theTV channels looking for something that peaked her interest.
"I don't like him at all." Looking up Lucy tilted her head.
"Are you talking about Laxus? Or Gray?" She asked remembering the lengthy argument Natsu and Gray had on the walk back into the city about pineapple pizza.
"Well both technically, but I was talking about Laxus." He folded his arms, and leaned against the door.
"I don't like him either, Natsu, what brought this up?"
"He just had no right to say the things he did about, or to you." Lucy gave him a puzzled expression.
"Really? The dude knocked your face first into the snow, and you are upset about the things he said about me?"
"Well yeah, it just bugged me that he thinks I can't protect you...Not that you need protecting or anything, it still rubbed me the wrong way." Lucy smiled at him.
"You're right, I don't need protecting, but if I did I would much rather it be you, than him."
"Well that's good to know." Natsu chuckled.
"Besides, he could never make me feel as safe as you do. So don't worry too much about it."
"Okay…"
"Hey Natsu?"
"Hmmm?"
"Is that why you tried to fight him? Because he said that you weren't strong enough to keep me safe?" Natsu's cheeks flushed, and he avoided eye contact.
"Maybeeeeee." He admitted. Lucy giggled at how adorable he was when he blushed.
"That's sweet Natsu, but please refrain from punching super strong assholes in the future. I hate seeing you hurt."
"I'm sorry, I'll try but he just has this way of getting under my skin."
"I know, it will be okay, I'm sure someday soon he will find someone who can beat him in one punch like he beat you…" Lucy smirked. Natsu's face lost all color.
"Now that's not fair, he cheated!" Lucy burst into laughter.
"Sureeee likely story! What else happened, did you trip?" She continued laughing hysterically.
"As it so happens, yes I did!" Natsu let out a huff.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say."
"You are being really rude right now. My feelings are hurting." Natsu put on a fake pout and sad voice, but Lucy saw right through it.
"Awwwww, poor baby, come here I'll keep you safe from the mean Laxus." Lucy stood up and wrapped her arms around Natsu, who smirked. He wrapped his arm around her waist and picked her up. She shrieked, as he began to spin her. She giggled like a child.
"NATSUUUUUU PUT ME DOWNNNNNNNN I'M GONNA THROW UPPPPP!" She jokingly punched his back lightly. A knock on their door interrupted their playful moment. Natsu set the now dizzy Lucy back on the ground, and looked through the peephole of their door.
"Oh my God Luce….you're not gonna believe this. It's those neighbors from across the hall."
"Oh dear lord, if they ask us to be in something weird that they are doing, I am going to use my whip on them."
"I dunno, they'd probably be into it."
:I already feel like puking thanks to you, do not make me want to gag, cause my dinner will come back up." Lucy muttered sitting back down on her box. Natsu swung the door open, he was greeted by the bearded man, and his short ginger wife that lived down the hall, and were screaming at each other this morning.
"Hello?" He asked the two. The man had a scowl plastered on his face, but the wife put on a fake smile.
"Hi yes, we were just hoping you and your girlfriend would keep it down, we are trying to put our kids to bed, and you woke them up." Lucy rolled her eyes at that comment.
"Oh, our bad I'm sorry it won't happen again."
"Yeah it better not brat otherwise I have a 12 guage slug with your name on it." The husband scoffed before turning on his heels and storming off, the wife following behind him, leaving Natsu speechless. He shut the door with wide eyes, turning to face Lucy who had the same deer in the headlights expression. He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
"Sooooo, that just happened….."
"Yeahhhhh. Like those two are ones to talk about noise." Lucy massaged her temples, Natsu walked over to his bedroom.
"For real...Anywayyyyy I am going to go out on patrol." Natsu replied walking back into the living room wearing the lower half of his outfit, replacing the sandals which really weren't the best for fighting with a pair of black boots with gold trim that matched his jacket. Lucy had suggested them after she had repaired his jacket. He had to admit, she was very right. Lucy tried her hardest to concentrate on the tv in front of her and not the very shirtless Natsu, but that became impossible as he walked over to her and dropped something into her lap, looking down at the bandage wrap he dropped in her lap she sighed.
"Here spread your arms out." She began wrapping around his injured midsection, his ribs were practically healed, but they still hurt him. She carefully focused on wrapping it around him. Her eyes flickered over to the arm he had wrapped up still, he said he had an accident against Erigor, but surely it had healed by now. After finishing his midsection wrap, she made a move to grab his right arm.
"Whatcha doin?" Natsu asked confused as she looked for the start of the bandage. After finding it she grabbed it and was about to unwrap it, but Natsu's hand clutched hers, preventing her from doing so.
"Natsu, I'm just going to check on your cut from Erigor. It has to be healed up by now right?"
"Actually it isn't I just checked it this morning…" He bluffed. Lucy raised an eyebrow.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing, I'm just not ready to unwrap it yet!" He lied yet again.
"Okay then weirdo." She let go of his arm. He took it back, and threw his jacket on. Lucy smirked and she had to admit he did look really good in it, it looked like it was made for him. She stood up, and grabbed the zipper of it. She zipped it up for him, he blushed as she did this. She looked up at his face after zipping up his jacket and the two made eye contact. Both of their faces turned pink as they stared into each other's eyes. And just like so many moments they had shared before this one was interrupted by a very recognizable meow. Lucy mentally groaned as Natsu turned to walk towards the fire escape.
"Hey Natsu, be careful out there. Remember what I said, I don't like seeing you hurt." Natsu smiled at her as he climbed outside.
"Don't worry bout me Luce, I'll be careful just for you!"
"You better." Natsu laughed as he climbed up to the roof leaving Lucy alone, she looked down at the blue cat at her feet. He meowed lovingly at her.
"Ya know Happy, you really do know how to ruin a moment." She stated exasperated. She picked him up to sit on her lap while she watched TV. That's when it came on.
Chapter 17: City of Stone