Father-Son Relationship. Btw, no. I'm not going to make a part 2. Onwards!
__________________________

A deep coldness seeped into the little boy's pale, freezing skin. Harsh, cold, and icy air ran throughout his small, trembling and slowly, numbing body.

His teeth chattered, loudly. He buried his forehead into his trembling knees; seeking for more some warmth. But, there wasn't any... Only coldness.

The boy shivered, immensely. He could feel his chest and lungs aching and burning. He could practically hear his pounding heart in his ears. His breathing was coming out harsh and labored. The white, cloudy puffs were coming from his bluish, pale lips.

He tightened his hold around his small legs with his knees raised up against his chest. His back pressed against the rear of two random building's.

He wanted to cry.

He wanted to scream.

He wanted to yell out for help.

He wanted... No. He needed the help from someone... From anyone, who's willingly to listen to his needed help.

But, there wasn't anyone out there and there wasn't any words to say.
No words would leave his lips and it wasn't by choice, too. No. The poor boy was, unfortunately, born mute.

He huddled, tighter, in the dark of the night. In the distant, the teen could hear the cities clock struck midnight.

Another day.

Another night.

Another repeat.

Another day closer to his death.

Unless, tonight was his very last.

He hoped it was...

He couldn't stand the cold.

He couldn't stand the loneliness.

He wanted it to stop.

He wanted to be warm.

He didn't want to be cold.

He wanted to be with company.

He didn't want to be lonely.

The harsh, cold, wind blowed through the empt and silent street's. It looked so eerily and it also felt so eerily, too.

Especially, with the way the bright moon was shining down at him in such a spooky and hauntingly way.

The boy's eyes were dulled of life as he looked up and saw it glowing in the far off distance in a mockingly way.

The harsh, cold wind blew his hair in different directions, but he ignored it.
He reburied his head into his knees, no longer wanting to see the moon.

He was so cold and so tired.

Until... He felt exhaustion, suddenly, drag him with it's icy, deathly claws. He abruptly felt his eyelids drop more and more. Before the boy had knew it... He had no longer knew, anything.

However, just as he was about to be completely dragged into the depth of unconsciousness; the boy had heard heard a distant shout.

The male groaned and tired to open his heavy eyelids, but he just couldn't.

He felt too numb, to do anything.

Everything felt too numb.

His thoughts weren't working for him to think why a random stranger was doing outside at such a late time, and why they was concerned for him, too.

The young boy felt too cold to even care. He felt absolutely exhausted. He just wanted to sleep. Was that just too much, to ask for?

Just as he was about to be dragged back into the darkness of his mind...

The male, distantly, heard the steps of someone coming closer from the scrunching sound of snow and then...

The semi-conscious, young boy had unexpectedly felt a foreign feeling all over his freezing, numbing, and very exhausted body.

The boy, suddenly, felt warmness.

If he could've cry, he would've cried.
But, he was just too numb to do so.

He had honestly, forgotten what the warmth had felt like. It's been far too long. Too long, to have remembered.
When was the last time he had felt such warmness? He didn't know.
He couldn't think straight enough to remember. His brain was numbing.

Was there even a time he'd even felt warmth like this? It was too hard to remember. He just couldn't...

The boy's semi-concentration and semi-consciousness was interrupted by the distant feeling of strong arms picking him up.... What seemed like in bridle style? He just didn't know.

He felt dizzy from the unexpected movement and with that dizziness, the young boy had finally fainted.

If he is truly dying right here and right now, then he was at least grateful that death was granting him warmth.

He went completely oblivious toward his rapidly changing surroundings. If only he knew, how much his life was just about to change; for the better.
If only he knew, that the person who is carrying him would change his life.
__________________________

When consciousness had suddenly stirred him, the young boy had slowly felt warmth all over his once freezing body. The boy instantly sighed at the comfortable feeling and he snuggled deeper into the warmth around him.

Wait...

Warmth!? Huh!? What!? W-What... WHAT WAS HAPPENING!?!?!?!

He quickly opened his surprised eyes to look around his surroundings, with a small groan; only to instantly close them back due to the brightness, that had suddenly hit him in the very eyes.

This time, he slowly opened his eyes to only see that the light was coming from within a near by window.

It was morning, apparently.

The boy had then looked around his surroundings; like he had perviously tried to do, and unexpectedly saw to his utter shock, a bedroom... He is... He was inside a warm, comfy home.

He then looked down at his cozy body that was once freezing and shaking, and almost wailed at the unbelievable and shocking sight.

He... He is covered head to toe with thick blankets; only his pale face was showing. It'd became pale to due the freezing weather outside, that he had been in for what seemed like forever.

His musings were very unexpectedly interrupted by the sound of the door opening. The small child immediately looked towards the opening and felt fear consume his being.

That was, until the young child had suddenly remembered last night and how he heard someone calling out to him, and feeling sudden warmness around his previously freezing being.

He blinked back the sudden moisture within his eyes and saw the person who'd opened the door, come inside.

The person turned out to be a middle aged man with a athletic figure within his loose clothes. The older male had black hair with slight facial hair, and silver eyes that was directly into his.

Surprise was clearly evident within them, both ways.

Before the boy had knew it, a warm smile was suddenly directed to him. It confused him, immensely. He looked towards the older man with cautious when he saw the man coming closer.

He stopped shortly away from him.

Even if this man did save him, the boy couldn't help but feel guarded around him. Why DID he save him? When no one else did... No one had even cared.

"I see you're awake." The older man seemed to have waited for an answer and had received nothing, but a wary look. He'd continued on with a cough.

"How are you feeling?" Again, no answer. The man suddenly sighed.

"Look, I'm just trying to be helpful. I know you're probably feeling scared, but I'm not gonna hurt you. I promise. Now, can you please tell how you're feeling? I'm worried for your health. I don't know what happened that had cause you to be outside in a weather; especially in the middle of December, but I'm really worried. You could have died, if it wasn't for me. I don't know where your family is, but I'm positive they're worried for you. Now. Can you please work with me?" The man practically begged the silent boy.

The said person looked towards the older man that's standing above him, in complete shock. He suddenly felt something pricking his large eyes.

Before the man had knew it, silent sobs was leaving from the child in front of him. Only then, did the older man knew why the boy wasn't taking.

He's mute.

The dark haired man had immediately pulled the younger boy into his strong arms for comfort and reassurance.
He rocked the blanket-covered boy, back and forth, within his tight hold.

"Shush, it's all gonna be all right. I'm here, now. I'm here. I won't leave you. I'll stay with you. It's okay. It's gonna be okay. Let it all out; it'll make you feel so much better. That's right, let it all out." The athletic man reassured the wailing boy, softy and warmly.

The boy did just that. He wailed and wailed into the stranger's strong but warmth arms. He had thought he was gonna die! It was so scary! He didn't want to die! There's so many things that he hasn't done, yet! He... H-He
wanted to see his family, again!

B-But, he didn't want to die! He-He didn't want to meet them in h-heaven, only to see their faces h-heartbroken over the reason he p-passed away! It was painful being all alone, but now...

Now, this stranger... H-He... He said that he's not alone! He's now gonna be there for him! Now, he couldn't be anymore h-happy!

Without even knowing it, he managed to fall sleep within those strong arms wrapped around him, protectively. He felt safe and protected within those strong, rocking and reassuring arms.

For once since the nightmare, Natsu had finally fallen asleep, peacefully.
Dreaming about the new adventures with the strange man that saved him. Who knows... But, maybe, one day... He could call the older man, his dad.

~Fin!