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March 14th, X779
Lucy could hear the terror in Wendy's voice as she stammered, "L-Lucy–"
She silenced Wendy with a quick glare, and Wendy clamped her mouth shut, simply looking back at her with wide, frightened eyes. Lucy took a deep breath, trying to pick each word she uttered with the same caution she'd once used with the gods. "Look," she whispered, "we're not looking for trouble. My name is Lucy, and–"
"Asuka," the woman Lucy presumed to be Asuka's mother said tightly, "get inside." She waited until her daughter had bid the cats on the back porch farewell and slipped back inside before speaking again. The last Lucy saw of Asuka, she was tugging her sleeves down further over her wrists, sliding the door shut behind her. When she was gone, the woman said coldly, "I don't care who you are. I want to know why you were poking around my daughter."
She pushed the gun sharply against Lucy's head, and Lucy squeezed her eyes shut, trying not to panic. "We were trying to find our cats," said Lucy slowly, trying for honesty. "We didn't know you were here."
"Like hell."
Wendy shifted anxiously, shifting from foot to foot. Charle sensed her unease and bolted down to stand at her feet. Wendy didn't dare to scoop her into her arms as she usually would have. "Lucy, Virgo's going to get–"
Lucy tried to stifle the frustration that welled up in her chest, wishing Wendy hadn't said anything about their allies that might come looking. "Which is why we're going to do what we're told," she said quickly to Wendy. She tried again. "Our cats ran up there," she carefully gestured to the steps, "and we wanted to get them back. We were going to go back to our own place right after. We didn't know anyone was up there until your daughter stepped out."
The woman considered her answer, deciding if she'd accept it or not. "That still doesn't tell me why I ought to let you leave. THe last time I let someone live after they found us, it didn't end well. And there's more of you."
Lucy couldn't see the woman's face, but she didn't need to. She knew what the woman was contemplating: kill them and book it, but risk upsetting whatever friends might come looking, or put her daughter at risk by letting them live, knowing they were there.
"How do I know you won't come back and hurt us?" The woman's voice trembled.
"You don't," admitted Lucy, wondering what this woman had been through – what her young daughter had been through. "But I know how you must be feeling. The last time we ran into strangers didn't go well either." The scars on her arms felt as if they were burning; Lucy wondered if the woman had taken notice of them, clearly visible in the rare moment that Lucy had elected a shirt without sleeves. She was grateful for it at that moment.
Something about Lucy's choice of words must have rung true. The woman lowered her gun. Lucy spun around to face her, relieved. She was a handful of years older than Lucy, with pale green hair and tired dark eyes that were tight with fear. Lucy felt for her; she had a hard enough time. Lucy couldn't imagine how much harder this way of life would be with a young life depending on her.
Wendy dared to snag Lucy's hand. "Lucy, we should go."
Lucy squeezed Wendy's hand. "I know." It was unlikely by this point that Natsu wouldn't have started looking for them. At least there was no longer any danger, for the woman was reluctantly holstering her gun.
Discomfort prickled at the back of her neck.
Lucy paused, anxious, though she couldn't explain why. Wasn't the danger gone? The gun was put away. The woman was simply waiting for them to leave now. So why–
Something large shifted in the yard across the street, half-hidden by a privacy fence, and it watched them through a broken panel with a single, bright glowing eye.
Lucy choked on a breath that wouldn't come as a graceful, vulture-like head lifted high above the fence. Unlike a vulture, however, the head was graced with feathers ranging from yellow to crimson to gold, each simmering with heat. Its head ended in a lethal curved beak that snapped impatiently as it peered harshly at them.
"Natsu?" spluttered Lucy hoarsely, unsure of who or what else it could be.
Wendy and Asuka's mother both spun around, and both of them stared. "That's Natsu?" squeaked Wendy.
Lucy wasn't sure it could be anything else. She'd once asked what he turned into after meeting Gajeel.
"A very, very big firebird," he'd told her.
Lucy wasn't sure who'd given him that idea, because what she was looking at was sure as hell not a firebird. A feathered wing grasped the gutter of the house beside it with a single talon and hauled his massive body up. A scaled foot with equally sharp claws gripped the top of the fence to help him, but only ended up crushing the fence with a loud crash instead. A long, snaking feathered tail curled into the air as Natsu hissed, snapping that sharp beak.
Things began going very, very wrong then.
Lucy ought to have kept a closer eye on the frightened human in their midst rather than the shock of what Natsu was doing.
The hum emanated from deep in Natsu's throat as Asuka's mother whipped her gun back out, this time aimed at Natsu. Her face was bleached white with terror. The hum jumped up several octaves when Lucy pushed Wendy gently aside and jolted between them, arms outstretched and back to Natsu. "Put it down," Lucy said urgently, voice low and soothing. "Just trust me and put it down–"
Natsu certainly wasn't helping himself. Seething, he lumbered forward a step, head snaking down until it rested beside Lucy. His long neck bristled, each feather sparking embers that threatened to catch on the ground around them. Lucy winced when one struck her.
Doubting Asuka's mother was going to listen to her, Lucy tried another method. She turned to Natsu, saying his name sharply as she reached out without a lick of fear. Her fingers snagged those hot feathers, searing, and he snapped his beak. "Stop it, right now–"
"God."
The startled realization Asuka's mother uttered startled even Natsu into a moment of surprise, giving her the chance she needed.
She fired the gun.
The crack of gunfire was followed by a yelp from Lucy and a lick of fire down his face. Natsu knew nothing but blind rage at that moment. A seething, piercing shriek burst from him as he reared his head back. The air around him began to shimmer in the heat that exploded violently. He'd not meant to take this form; it turned out when you were upset and concerned about what trouble your friends had found again – and you'd not had your full power in a long time – it was much easier to slip up. He was grateful for it now as he lunged.
Wendy slammed into the gun-wielding woman. She stumbled, fumbling her gun, and Natsu just narrowly avoided snapping Wendy up in his beak. As it was, Wendy ripped backwards to avoid the embers tumbling freely from his feathers. "She's a friend!" Wendy yelled, voice pitched high with anxiety. "She's just scared!"
Natsu didn't believe that for a moment. Not with the scathing look on the woman's face. She hated Natsu, and not because he'd done something to her. He was a god. She knew it, and she hated him because of it.
The woman rounded on Lucy, gun trained on her again, and the hum that left him made even Lucy cover her ears, even as he fell still. He didn't want Lucy shot. They didn't know how well she'd hold up against something like that, even if she healed much like the gods did. "You claimed you know what I'm feeling, yet you walk around with the likes of that…that monster?"
Lucy kept her hands up, only pressing her lips together. "You know about the gods?"
She laughed in response. "How could I not when my daughter's arms look like yours?"
Natsu felt the pierce of the woman's words in Lucy. He didn't take his eyes off the woman as Lucy said in a near whisper, "You ran into Erigor's group and escaped, too?"
"Erigor?" echoed Asuka's mother, momentarily bewildered. "No. I never met him. I heard plenty about him though."
Lucy dared a look up at Natsu, whose eyes burned with malice as he came to the same realization she had: there was another doing as Erigor had in the name of gods. Her face was incredibly pale, as if Lucy was recalling the moments in which Erigor and the other man had carved those sigils into her arms.
Asuka's mother suddenly looked incredibly tired, and she shook her head. "I don't want any more trouble," she rasped. "My daughter's…Asuka's been through enough. I don't care what you do, or where you go, but I know…I know I can't win in this situation if you don't want me to. So…please. Please just take your god and leave. Please. Just leave us alone."
She lowered her gun, and Lucy exhaled softly, relieved. Questions wanted to spill from her lips, but she knew she'd not get the answers she sought. Natsu didn't move as she spun around to face him. "Let's go," she said, not hesitating to reach up and shove at his big head. She had a lot to say to the idiot, but for now, she wanted to go before Asuka's mother changed her mind. "Natsu," she said sharply when he didn't move right away.
Grumbling, Natsu lowered his large head, leveling Asuka's mother with a final, warning glare before turning away. Lucy groaned softly in relief. Asuka's mother seemed to lose some tension and fear as he did so, and Lucy waved Wendy over. Wendy snagged Charle and was quick to run over. Happy was the only one who paused to look over his shoulder at the house. He purred one more time before leaping into Lucy's waiting arms.
The last Lucy saw of the woman who'd held them at gunpoint, she was running for her house, eager to check on her daughter, who watched them from a window.
They stopped just briefly to find Virgo, who'd been seeking out Natsu after Lucy and Wendy had been behind the house too long, just as she'd been told. She seemed relieved when they found her; she'd apparently gotten lost in the neighborhood, struggling to track Natsu, much to Wendy's eternal amusement. Wendy was still giggling when they reached their house of choice. Lucy mourned that they'd have to leave it.
By the time they got there, Natsu had returned to the appearance Lucy knew best. He seemed a little stiff, as if the shift had tugged at old muscles he'd not used in some time. He was stretching his arms over his head when Lucy abruptly rounded on him, throwing her own up in exasperation as she cried, "What the actual hell, Natsu?!"
He dropped his arms, bewildered. "What?"
Lucy could have strangled him.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about," she seethed, pointing at him accusingly. "That? That was not a big firebird? That was…was…" She couldn't figure out how to describe it. "And what was the point? There wasn't any danger whatsoever–"
Natsu's eyes flickered with irritation then. "She had a gun. Pointed at you."
"That doesn't explain the…" She waved desperately at him.
"I can't help it," he huffed. "It just…happened."
"You said a big firebird!"
Natsu's lips twitched. "That's what the others all tell me."
He was laughing at her–
"I pictured a damn chicken, Natsu!" she snapped, frustrated, and it proved to be too much. Wendy burst into giggles, her dark eyes sparkling with mirth. She tried to stifle her laughter with her fingers, but it did her no good. Virgo's lips were curved into a small smile, which only served to exasperate Lucy more. She couldn't understand why no one else was as frustrated as she was.
Snickering under his breath, Natsu reached out and tugged Lucy close, pressing his forehead to hers. "Are you okay?" he demanded.
She grumbled, poking at his cheek. It had already healed, leaving only smears of golden ichor to show it had ever existed. "Says the one who was shot."
He rolled his eyes, letting her inspect his face. "She knew what I was."
"And about Lucy's scars," added Wendy. "She said her daughter had scars like that."
Natsu's breath caught in his throat, and Lucy pulled back to peer up at him. He seemed to be searching the air, squinting at nothing in particular as he recalled slowly, "Levy once told me that Erigor wasn't the one who initially won her diale from her. He stole it from someone else – someone she said was around for a long time."
"How long is a 'long time?'" asked Lucy warily.
"Levy disappeared around seventy-five years ago."
Virgo's eyebrows shot up. "That was quite some time ago. It would not be hard to steal a diale from such an old mortal."
Lucy recalled the fragility of humans in comparison to what the gods were likely used to. Even someone Wendy's size could have stolen the diale from someone likely in their eighties or nineties. She didn't care so much about that as she did about the sudden realization she had. "Someone's out there hurting children like that," she rasped.
The hum that burst from Natsu made even Virgo jump. Lucy jerked, nearly knocking him in the chin with her head in surprise. "We need to find them and put an end to it," he said darkly.
"We don't even know where they came from," pointed out Wendy, looking troubled by the thought. "And…and if the man was sold when Erigor stole the diale, he might not even be alive now, Natsu. It could have happened before the Fall."
Lucy shook her head. "It couldn't have," she said, thinking back on Asuka's mother and what she'd said. She'd clearly referred to trusting people after the Fall, and the resulting devastation. "It happened after the Fall."
"Shall we inquire with them about such matters?" asked Virgo, looking inclined to go and find them there and then.
"Absolutely not." Lucy spun away from Natsu, who pouted at the loss of contact. "We will not further traumatize them by demanding answers about what happened to them. I think our best bet is to find Loke and go from there. We should leave as soon as the sun comes up tomorrow morning. Humans are dangerous when they're scared, and I don't want to push them more than we already have. Not when they have guns."
No one dared to argue with her.
Natsu didn't mind the fact that Lucy, in an attempt to help with her inability to sleep, had curled up so close to him. She'd smothered her face against his leg, her fingers loosely tangled in the pants he wore. In return, Natsu simply ran his fingers through her soft hair, marveling as he always did that she was simply there at all.
She was still half-awake at the moment, but Wendy had racked out completely nearby with the cats. Virgo watched out a window for any signs of danger at Natsu's request, though she didn't seem to understand why Natsu was so worried about the fact that other people were hanging around. It was the same confusion she'd expressed when they'd moved their base camp into a room at the back of the house on the second story, hiding any sign of their presence.
Lucy shifted, huffing softly and pressing her face closer. She didn't seem the slightest bit concerned about the heat that had diminished ever so slightly since his display of power earlier in the day. Natsu tugged affectionately on a lock of hair, leaning down to mutter in her ear, "Luce?"
"Sorry," she said roughly, voice low. In the dim light, he could see her starlit eyes glittering up at him unhappily.
He remained focused on Lucy, even when he felt Virgo's curious gaze burn into them. Rather than trying to demand why Lucy had apologized, he poked her cheek gently and said, "You good?"
"No." Lucy rolled onto her back. She stared up at the ceiling, frowning. "I…I had this weird feeling earlier. I thought maybe it'd go away, but it's still there."
Natsu narrowed his eyes, startled. Mostly because he knew precisely what she was talking about. He glanced at Virgo again, who inclined her head ever so slightly. Virgo felt it, too. "You're not the only one," was all he said. "Hopefully it goes away when we leave." They intended to leave at first light. Lucy had insisted upon it despite the potential answers they could garner from Asuka and her mother. Natsu was more than happy to leave. He didn't like the idea of Lucy staying in the same area as someone who'd pointed a gun at her.
Lucy hummed, falling into a quiet, thoughtful silence.
She lay there, simply thinking, and Natsu settled in to keep her company until she finally dozed off. He hoped it would be soon. Lucy was incredibly cranky and hard to deal with when she didn't get enough sleep.
Lucy had just begun to at last fall into a restless slumber, her breath evening out, when she was abruptly awoken by the sound of something slamming on the front door. Lucy bolted upright, eyes wide with fear, and her fingers darted out to grip Natsu's arm. Virgo narrowed her eyes, rising slowly from her seat. Even the cats snapped their heads up. Only Wendy remained asleep, curled up with her little stuffed cat.
"Natsu?" whispered Lucy.
It only took a moment to decide what he ought to do. Natsu rose to his feet, knowing it wouldn't go away if they pretended they weren't there. Especially not as it came a second time. "Stay here. Virgo–"
"I'll protect them," Virgo promised quietly.
Natsu threw Lucy a reassuring smile as she spluttered in protest. "Don't worry, Luce. Virgo's a lot scarier than you give her credit for."
Lucy eyed Virgo suspiciously, unsure of what that was meant to mean. "Be careful," she said after a moment, biting her lip.
Natsu ducked out of the room, losing his smile as he descended the stairs. Another series of slams that he realized were knocks hit the door at the bottom of the stairs. They were violent and urgent – almost desperate. After taking a moment to steady himself, he ripped the door open.
A man stood on the other side, face pale but determined. His chest heaved, and Natsu could practically taste his terror as he rasped, "Help us."
Natsu narrowed his eyes, taken aback. "Who–"
The man cut him off. "The gods owe us for what was done in your name. It's… My wife. My daughter." his voice cracked, dark eyes frantic. "Help us. Please."
Natsu didn't know how to answer for a moment, studying the man. He was covered in grime and dirt, scratches, and blood smeared over a spot on his shoulder where he was clearly injured. Whatever had happened, it had taken a lot out of him to find their house. How he had was definitely an interesting thing Natsu would need to investigate.
In the meantime…
He recalled the little girl who'd peered at him from a window, watching her mother defend her home against a god. A little girl whose eyes matched those of this man, but had shone with interest and awe rather than fear despite what had reportedly been done to her. She'd not even warned her mother of his approach when she'd spotted him before Lucy had.
Asuka, Lucy had called her.
He'd been unable to protect Lucy from Erigor's wrath, Wendy from Ophiuchus, all those children from Igneel's eruption. He couldn't watch another child die if he was able to potentially help them.
He met the man's gaze, eyes glowing like little suns. "Where?"
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE! I fell into a severe bout of depression and had to take care of myself before I could get more writing done. I'm good now though, so here we are! :)
I've been waiting to find a good spot to reveal Natsu's little firebird form since I brought it up ages ago. He is quite literally a phoenix-wyvern hybrid. Perhaps I'll draw it someday. ;)
Thanks to reviewers (InWonderl4nd, Sir Sasquatch, hopelesskar, galactiaconstella, InfiniteMiste, Meow Orbit, and XxStar'sDustxX!) as well as those who favorited and followed!