As finally the team ate there breakfast in peace with a new person joining them they were finally ready to introduce and ask questions.
"As you probably know I'm Erza Scarlet, I'm a mage that specializes in armor equip magic.
My other team member whose shirtless is Grey Fullbuster, he's a mage as well who specializes in ice make magic.
My friend the blonde is named Lucy Heartifilia, she's a Celestial Mage. She can summon spirits with her magic.
And finally this pink rascal is called Natsu Dragneel he's-"
*Erza was cut off as the boy interrupted her and began speaking."
"Im sorry for interrupting you truly but I can't be here for long I have some buisness to take care off but I would be gladly to answer your questions anytime after I'm done."
*the boy made a attempt at escape as he waved bye as he walked away with his belongs as he bumped into someone. That someone was a smiling natsu.*
"Oh you need to do something? Don't worry I'll help! Erza and Grey, please take care of Lucy. I'll be back with him after we take care of the 'thing' he has to do."
*natsu grabbed his wrist before he could protest as he ran in the direction the boy was heading for before bumping into him.*
"Does anyone see natsu acting weird lately? Especially after meeting that boy?."
*lucy finally spoke out as the two nodded in agreement*
"I'll tell you this.. One. natsu probably already knows who he is, Two. Natsu knows something we don't, Or three something happened in that hole last night that has natsu acting like that."
*grey stated the obvious as the other two looked at each other.*
"Don't worry, I think natsu knows something we don't for sure, but it's nothing bad. We can make use of this time instead investigating the case about that disturbance we still need to solve."
*Erza took charge now as she stood up readying her things to begin the investigation*
"Hmm I hope it isn't something bad…"
*lucy just sighed in a worried tone*
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*natsu had dragged the boy into a spa and stripped him which earned natsu a hit on the head for suddenly doing that. But the boy met a vicious scrubbing on his head as natsu was determined to clean this filthy boy up. Steel was only 6 years old but he hated the feeling of being cleaned up after, it felt so unfamiliar. He fought natsu some more but failed and finally surrendered on sitting on the little stool now as he patiently waited for natsu to be satisfied with his work.*
As they both walked out, many people began eyeing them. Mostly because natsu was now shirtless? He only had his scarf on and his white baggy pants as he walked down the street as he held steel's hand firmly. Steel was blushing so much because he had been washed, fed, cleaned, and now DRESSED in this weird guys vest. His pants were worn out and his old shirt had holes in it. So natsu burned up just his shirt which shocked steel. He landed some more punches as natsu told him to wear his vest for the time being mean while they go but him a new shirt and shorts might as well. Steel was so physically embarrassed because he felt like a snotty brat being dragged by his brother, natsu was even hood his hand for crying out loud! He could also hear the women in the area snicker as they whistled at natsu because in their views, he was some good eye candy and seemed like he was raising a single child on his own. It was very attractive to them for some reason.
"Natsu, c-can you p-please let go of my hand.
W-why are you even doing this for?"
*steel finally managed to hold natsu back as he stopped walking causing natsu to look back to see what's the problem*
"I'm doing this for you, I told you I would take care of you didn't I? Plus if your gonna be my friend then you have to be happy. I don't think you know what it is like to be happy.."
*that hit to close to home… steel began to hyperventilate now as he began spiraling into a train thought of how he didn't deserve to be happy*
"…. I don't deserve to be happy…"
"Hm? Why not?"
"Be- because,…"
" …"
*steel opened his watery eyes now as he looked up at natsu who was patiently waiting for him to answer. He really didn't deserve to be natsu's friend"
"because I'm a monster.."
"Hmm I see… so what? I'm a monster too~"
*steel huffed in a annoyed exhaled breath, he already somehow knew natsu wouldn't take him seriously*
"You don't understand, I'm a monster. Thai is why I spend my days like a animal in that damn hole! That's the reason why I don't have any friends because everyone here knows 'what' I am"
*natsu bent down now as he looked up at steel's face that was looking at natsu's feet. Natsu had a serious look since the beginning but somehow didn't know how to defuse this kids anxiety. So he was going with his gut and tried showing him the things anyone would experience happiness from. Eating, bathing, and even getting new clothes. They didn't get his clothes since he had forgotten to buy clothes first then bath at the spa in the village but he didn't think anything would be wrong if he lent him his vest for a bit. But as soon as natsu felt the kids hands clench when he would hear rude comments coming from the women in the area. Natsu found himself in both a trap and opening into this kids heart. He needed the boy to open up to him to know what's wrong so this was probably the best and worst thing he can do to make him explode and leave his emotions wide open. Natsu had a feeling that the kid never really expressed his feelings in his whole life, which was sad to him.*
"Hey steel, I'm serious too I'm a total monster.. probably more terrifying then you. I know you won't believe me but would you come with me and let me tell you my story?"
*steel was caught off guard as he sensed natsu's sincerity and nodded in agreement to follow him to a secluded area on a patch of grass away from the village they were in*
"*sigh* where do I even start? *sigh* what a bother.."
"JUST GET ON WITH THE STORY! Your the one who mentioned it first!"
*natsu sat on his but as he leaned back looking at the clouds as a mini version of him sat across him. Actually now that natsu was looking at him, steel looked a lot like him. Hehe he can pass him as his lost child, which was dangerous because he knew lucy would lucy kick him for being irresponsible. Plus he knew already that steel wasn't his son because he never was interested in intercourse or any of that nasty things. He had morals of getting married having a nice time getting to know his wife then maybe he would think about kids. To say he was asexual in some way. But his thoughts were interrupted as he internally flinched as the boys bright blue eyes and crazy faded pink hair asked him a question*
"Whose Nashi?"
"What?"
"Whose Nashi? I'm actually curious who she is.."
Steel looked away now with a blush remembering that morning witnessing natsu's embarrassing moment."
"Oh. How do you know that name?"
"I might have heard you sleep talking while you were asleep… is she your secret girlfriend? And why are you with someone else when your engaged?"
*natsu starred in a blank expression as he roared in laughter after*
"Hahaha Nashi isn't my girlfriend, and yes lucy the celestial mage you met this morning is my fiancé."
"Then who is she? It seemed to me like you love her more then your fiancé.."
*steel grumbled a bit as he was starting to lose trust in natsu assuming he was two timing, and probably a cheater*
"Hmm.. I don't think I love Nashi more then lucy. But then again I don't know yet since she I haven't met her yet and she isn't born yet either.."
*steel was confused for a bit till natsu explained further*
"Oh right you don't know, lucy is my fiancé whose pregnant with my child so I kinda came up with the name 'Nashi'.."
*steel was now either shocked or impressed that a guy like natsu was about to become a father. What the hell!!! He almost made his fiancé and child fatherless!!"*
*natsu laughed now as he saw steels face fall into a shocked expression.*
"Ok ok, now I'll tell you my story I think I should start from when I was first born. It's really a long story so don't fall asleep on me."
*steel just rolled his eyes not believing him again, but as he heard natsu's story begin from when he was born to how his family was eaten by dragons, him actually dying but his big brother saving him to only have him raised by a dragon. This dragon sounded special to natsu as he would hear natsu refer to him as Igneel, the mighty fire king dragon. Later one he heard how he was seperated again from his family only being his 'father' igneel. How he was tooken in by a guild named fairy tail, to how he met lucy, then all the adventures, battles, and special moments that took place in his life. The thing steel kinda related to the most was when natsu explained to him how he felt when his brother told him he was just another 'monster' he made named END. He didn't know what this END was but it sounded like Natsu despised it as he saw natsu's face darken while talking about this. But soon after his face brightened up again as he finally began telling of how he began to fall in love with Lucy. He expressed his motions with no filter and told him how he was happy to hear her tell him that she loved him too. Then natsu blushed as he finally came to his end of his story with finishing off with Nashi.
" and that's how I came to know about how I would be getting to know my daughter soon.. I'm nervous as hell but I'm sure I would do anything for her if she ever needs help from her papa.."
*natsu finally looked up to see why steel didn't respond with his usual snotty or smart ass answers but was shocked to see steel crying*
"HWAT THE HELL! Why are you crying! It's my story not yours!"
"Stupid, I'm not crying… I'm just jealous that's all…"
*steel looks away to wipe the tears he had in his eyes now.*
"Ah I see… so what's your story?"
"Ha! It's nothing really, …
*steel made a heavy sighed before deciding to finally share with natsu his story*
… ever since I was born I was abandoned infront of a orphanage. I liked it there as I was growing up but, one day on my 3rd birthday someone mentioned that they saw me eat a metal spoon. From there on I would eat anything that had either silver, metal, or steel. Eventually kids would pick on my and decided my name would be 'steel'. I hate that name but also fond of it, the nuns never really bothered in giving me a name. I was a bit happy I had a name but, my habits began to get out of control to a point where i couldn't control myself anymore. That's why I left the orphanage right after and decided to hide in that abandoned house. I mean the house was actually quite homey and I didn't mind living in it but some drunkards would crash there sometime… one night they discovered I was living inside there and had beat me for ruining their 'special hide out'.. I got so angry that night that I lost control of my anger something inside me snapped….
*steel had begun to tremble at remembering that night but natsu patted his back softly*
… I tried to scream at them to stop but something more like a roar came out instead… the men all screamed and called me a monster, but when I looked at my reflection in a broken mirror I saw the 'monster' they talked about.."
*finally steel began to cry softly with such a heavy heart, he didn't want to be born like that. All he wanted was a place to call home and a family to love and loves him back… he reached for natsu as he hugged natsu's chest as he wailed now in a sobbing manner*
"It's okay kid… you probably have had a hard time huh? It's okay let it all out now… I'm here to help you whenever your ready"
The two different shades of pink hugged each other on the grass as the sun began making its way down the sky getting ready for sunset. Never did natsu think he would think of this kid as if it was his own child wailing in his arms. He cried a bit now as he began thinking about how life wasn't a safe place for children. And how steel had been putting up a strong front for himself ever since his early childhood. Is really wasn't fair…