Trust is the Key

Author's Note:

Hey guys! I'm back and clearly not on hiatus. For those that saw my April fools spoof chapter, would understand what I mean.😂

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this really long chapter of Fear of the Innocent Flame🔥🔥!! (It's almost 2000 words long! That's a record for me😱😱.)

Natsu's POV

Seeing Lucy's reaction to the information gave me an unsettled feeling in my stomach. She seemed angry... but also scared. I guess I can understand why she would be angry, but scared? What is she so scared about? What else has she held back from telling us? I thought to myself.

I looked at Luce as she tried to absorb this news. Her expression was blank; it was hard to read her.

It isn't like her to be like this. She is usually so chipper and bubbly. But at this time, she is neither of those things... I want her to be chipper and bubbly again soon... hopefully.

Lucy finally decided to speak after that moment of silence. "I-I should be the one that is asking for forgiveness. Mindy, I can't blame you for calling my father. I didn't tell you about the fact that I ran away from him. I should have told you both everything about my current situation when I first met you. But I struggled with trust, at first... I couldn't just tell you!... I also was scared you would leave me if you knew... I had to get to know you better. I can now say though, with full honesty, that you two are my best friends that I can trust with my life!"

Lucy looked so gloomy as she spoke, but towards the end she found a sort of strength. I could hear it in her divine voice. It was like Lucy was a small seed in the soil that one day gained the ability to sprout out of the dirt and reach for the sunlight.

To show I was listening, I asked a question. "Soooo... Luce, why did you run away from home? Also, you never answered my previous question, about your "dream"," I emphasized quotations in the air to show the sarcasm. It clearly wasn't a dream she was having... it was a nightmare...

"Don't worry! That will be explained with everything else. So I ran away because--"

Lucy was interrupted by none other than her stomach. When she realized the sound came from her, Luce began to blush out of embarrassment. Adorable~

I chuckled, "Well, someone is hungry! I would offer you breakfast in bed, but, according to your alarm, its way past noon. So, what do you want for supper in bed?" I grinned at Lucy's face that showed a smile.

I am glad I was able to wipe that frown off for the time being...

"Why are you asking, Natsu Dragneel? I know you can't cook!" she huffed, jokingly.

I pouted, "I can to! I can make water... and- Oh! Also milk. That's my specialty!"

Lucy cackled so hard from my 'cooking' skills that she almost couldn't breath from laughing for so long. Mission make Lucy happy is a success! I mentally noted.

"Kids these days... they make no sense! Obviously, water and milk can't be cooked. It's just plain stupid. I remember when the best joke was 'Why did the chicken cross the road?'! Those were the days..." Mindy clearly didn't understand the purpose of my joke. Oh well! I honestly don't care if she got it as long as Luce did.

Mindy then got up and said, "I'll make the food while you tell us your story. Come on, let's go to the kitchen!" I listened of course and left the room, closing the door behind me, so Lucy can change into more, than already, comfortable clothes. (Yeesh! I tried my best to write that, but it sounds weird...😅)

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Lucy's POV

I sighed as I was changing in my room. Saying what has been stressful for me for these past weeks has given me great relief. The heavy feeling that was on my chest is slowly being lifted.

As soon as I finish telling them, the heaviness will probably be completely gone... at least, that's what I am anticipating to happen.

Even though I want to tell them everything, I feel bad for bringing them into my mishap... I know they want to help me through this. But they have no clue what they are getting themselves into. I trust that Mindy and Natsu won't leave me stranded.

I just hope and pray that my father doesn't hurt them like he has me.

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I accomplished putting on my clothes, and I advanced into the kitchen where I saw Natsu sitting at the table, that was all set up for me.

The next thing I see is Mindy at the stove. She is wearing an apron and is holding a greased up spatula in her left hand. Mindy must be left handed then, interesting. I mentally registered. I watched as she proceeded to stir whatever she is cooking with a lot of gusto. She looks like a pro at work!

"Wow, Mindy! You sure look like your a pro chef! And whatever you are cooking smells tremendously good. What are you making?" My remark caused her to turn her body towards me. That was when I saw the apron. It said 'Hot Mama' on the front.

I chuckled at that and Mindy noticed this. She smoothed her apron out so I could fully see the phrase and design of the apron. It was mostly white, but had pink lace that lined the entire thing. The apron also contained two symmetrical pockets that were towards the bottom. In them, there was a pad of paper in one and pens in the other. Mindy looked like a waitress and a chef combined. I need this apron! I awed in my mind. (Me too!😆😍)

Mindy answered, "I am making my family's secret homemade Miso Soup. My great great great grandma was the first to make this. I live in a long line of amazing cooks. My mother was actually a cook for one of the famous guilds. I can't remember which one... Anyway, the recipe got passed down from generation to generation, and, now, I have it."

Mindy seems so comfortable with talking to me now. I think, and hope, that she has forgiven herself.

I nod to her to show my approval and I walked to my seat. Before I could pull out my chair, Natsu had rushed out of his to seat me in mine. His face showed very intense concentration as he pulled out my chair. Natsu is so sweet to do this for me.

I mouthed a 'thank you' as I sat down. He then slowly and gently pushed it closer to the table. It looked like he had never done this before...

They are both being so comforting... I don't think I could thank them enough for their endless kindness. What have I done to deserve it?

As I was sort of daydreaming there, I had not noticed Natsu staring at me. I don't know why, but he made me blush. It was as if his eyes were longing to know what has been bothering me. His eyes were not like my dad's in the nightmare I had. They were sincere, calming, and loving... I ended up getting kinda lost in them. I think Natsu did too.

We were snapped out of this... trance? When Mindy sang, aloud, "Soup's on!~"

I was both glad and upset to hear that. One, because I was hungry. And two, I wanted to stay in that 'trance'. It is weird, but his eyes are like a void that has no definite end to it. Or, I might have just thought that if I stared longer I would know more about him, and his past. He kinda is still a mystery to me.

Once again, Natsu was a gentleman. He didn't let me get out of my seat to get the soup. Instead, Natsu got it for me.

I mumbled another 'thank you' and dug into the Miso Soup. It was delicious! I was surprised to taste that it wasn't as spicy as most soups are. It was just right with the spices. I told Mindy this and she gave me the biggest smile I had ever seen her give me. My friends are the best! I gleefully thought as I finished the bowl in front of me and went for seconds.

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I ate so much soup that I think I gained ten pounds... Yeesh! It was worth it though.

Now that I am full, I need to complete my story I had started. I stared at both of them and they stared back at me. It was my way of signalling that I was going to say something.

"So," I began, "As you already know, I am the daughter of the Heartfilia family." They both nodded.

I sighed, "You must think that because of this that my life was perfect... It wasn't really that perfect when I left there. It all started when my mother had her stroke... My father and I were hoping for her to be healthy and fine, but... that didn't happen. The doctors who came to check on her condition told us that she won't make it, that her body would slowly shut down. I was heartbroken, but apparently not as much as my dad. Without me even knowing, he had an alcohol problem that flourished when he found out about his wife, my mother..."

I paused to see if Mindy and Natsu were following. They seemed to be so I continued, "I-I found him in our kitchen, chugging down wine bottles like it was the end of the world. To him, his world probably did fall apart. I confronted him... like an idiot... and tried to stop him from drinking, for Mom's sake. My father became enraged and grabbed the empty wine bottle off the counter a-and h-he slammed i-it against my a-arm... the force shattered the bottle and the glass went everywhere..."

The memory was still painful for me, but I need to tell them. I unconsciously began to rub my scarred arm. They couldn't see my scars because I wore long sleeve t-shirts. So, I pulled up my sleeve and showed them. Mindy had a look of shock and Natsu...  showed rage.

"This makes him sound like a bad guy, but, really, he wasn't. Something just... snapped? I am still not sure what happened in his mind, but he went insane. Jude wasn't himself in that moment... He also said some pretty mean things to me like how 'I should have died instead of her' and how I am a 'b****'. It hurt... to hear those words come out of his mouth. I was also frightened by this new 'aura' he had..."

"I packed up my things and made my last goodbyes to my mother. I wouldn't have left her if I didn't think she would be fine. It seemed like he wouldn't do anything to her. Jude was crazy, but he clearly loved her more than me. Jude wasn't my real father after that... after that... he was my ultimate fear." By the end, I had closed my eyes. I, for some unknown reason, was a little scared to see their reactions.

My hands, that were clenched together on top of the table, were grabbed suddenly. I opened my eyes to see Natsu, holding my hands, towards his chest, dotingly.

"Don't worry you are not by yourself anymore, Luce. I will always be here to protect you from your fears." That was all it took for me to hit my breaking point. I began to cry again. The tears that came out were from the pain that I had closed up inside me. Natsu and Mindy brought out the pain I had been feeling.

Thankfully, the heaviness is now completely gone...

And with that, the trust in my friends has strengthened.

Author's Note:

I hope you enjoyed this really long, serious chapter! What did you think about it? Are you loving this series? To let me know, leave a vote and/ or comment. Both are always greatly appreciated!☺️

Also, I want your guys' opinion on something. Would you rather me have an author's note at the beginning only, the end only, or continue to have both? I am asking to see what is best for you and me. Please comment your thoughts on this!

As always, thank you for reading this.😄

I hope you have a great day!💕💕