Ok, guys, here we go. I have read almost every LaLu fanfic here and frankly I couldn't get enough haha. Since English is not my first language, I apologize in advance for any spelling errors, misused collocations and such. I would appreciate your opinions!
Oh, and one more thing: since I have been intensively reading all the fanfics one after another, I still have them stuck in my head, and I can unconsciously refer to them throughout the story. Please bear in mind that it is not my intention to steal or copy the work of the wonderful writers of . If you see any blatant resemblance to previous works posted here, please let me know.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail, any of the characters or places mentioned. All credit to Hiro Mashima.
Here we go!
CHAPTER ONE... In which Laxus says too much and Lucy is sent to hell... almost literally.
It was a sunny, but otherwise freezing cold winter morning and the Fairy Tail's guild's main hall was swarming with people trying to get a little warmer from the cold hell outside. Every newcomer who dared to open the doors for more than a few seconds, was welcomed with a murderous glare from his guild mates. Even the guild's residential Ice Mage, Gray, agreed that it's a bit too cold and decided to quit stripping for the time being.
Team Natsu sat in their usual places by the bar, accompanied by Levy, who was wearing at last four sweaters, which made her arms stand to the sides – she looked like a little wooden doll, unable to bend her elbows. Next to her, Gajeel was trying to take off all of his metal earrings and studs to avoid frostbites. He sighed heavily after taking off each one, complaining that he feels naked.
"Oh don't whine. I'd rather see you without your piercings than without a nose." Levy tried to cheerfully pat him on the back, but couldn't reach him. Instead, the sudden motion caused her to move on the stool and she started sliding off. With a muffled squeak she landed on her back and stayed like that for a couple of minutes. "Uhh... hello? Could someone please help me up?" Levy tried wobbling from side to side, but the thick layer of clothing made it impossible for her. With another heavy sigh, Gajeel reached and lifted her up like she weighed nothing. He held her close for a bit, which made the little bluenette squirm and blush in his arms. "Why do you need so much sweaters anyway, Shrimp?" he asked with a frown. "It's not that cold in the building you know."
"Easy for you to say." Levy pouted when he finally let her down on the stool. "I don't even weigh half of what you weigh, there isn't much to keep me warm." The Iron Dragon Slayer stared at her for some time, which made her uncomfortable again. He finally nodded and commanded "Okay. Take at least two of these off."
Levy stared at him in shock. "E-excuse me?". "You heard me. Take them off before they kill you. I'll keep you warm." he answered in an annoyed tone. When she obliged, trembling, Gajeel simply lifted her and sat her little figure in front of him, his chest touching her back. He circled her arms with his and slowly started huffing puffs of warm air on her ear and neck. Levy, now bright red with embarrassment, wriggled weakly in his embrace. "G-Gajeel..." "Oh, calm your perverted mind, Shrimp. I just don't want you to turn into an icicle or twist your own trying to keep warm."
Happy, who was wrapped in a heavy blanket on the bar, opened one eye and purred silently "He llllikes her..." before falling back to sleep.
Lucy, who was sitting next to them sipping hot cocoa Mira made her, gaped at her little friend with jealousy. "Hey, Happy" she poked the blue Exceed with a cold finger. "Where's Natsu?" The cat again opened only one eye and murmured "He refused to leave our house. His magic doesn't cooperate in such cold." Lucy groaned. "I thought he could warm up my apartment a bit. The landlady left to visit her sister and forgot to turn the heating on in the whole building, it's unbearable..."
Unfortunately for Lucy, she didn't see a certain blond Dragon Slayer who just happened to take a place behind her. Laxus' head jolted upon her words and he smirked devilishly. He slowly leaned on to the Celestial Mage and remarked loudly "Hey Bunny-girl, I could warm you up in your apartment if you want..."
Lucy squeaked and jumped a few feet up in the air. With eyes widened by fear she slowly turned her head, trying to move back at the same time. "L-Laxus..." she whispered, her voice trembling. Before the said Dragon Slayer was able to throw any more perverted remarks, a powerful roar caused every member of the guild to jump.
"LAXUS DREYAR!" Guild Master Makarov, face red with anger, was staring at them from the second floor of the building. "MY OFFICE, RIGHT NOW! Lucy, you too if you may, darling." With this, he simply turned back and entered his office.
Downstairs, Laxus gritted his teeth, his eyes shooting lightning. "Great." He snared. "Time for another scolding." Without even glancing at still shocked Lucy, he got up and went upstairs. Lucy, still frozen in place, breathed heavily. "W-what does master want from me?" she asked in a shaky voice. Levy patted her hand with a sympathetic face. "It will be okay, I'm sure it's nothing serious." She smiled. "Yeah, he'll probably just want Sparky to apologize to you, that's all." Gajeel agreed.
Standing up in front of the door to Makarov's office, Lucy sighed. She didn't want apologies. She didn't want to enter the same room as the giant Dragon Slayer. Truth is, since the Battle of Fairy Tail, when he ordered Ever to turn her into stone, Laxus scared the hell out of her. She knew he lusted for her, he has made that point very clear in front of everyone. This is why she tried to stay away from him anytime she could. After Gildarts allowed him to return to the guild, everyone seemed to have forgotten about his previous behaviour, calling it his 'rebellious stage'. But Lucy couldn't forget. Not completely. Yes, he has helped them defeat Hades, he has helped them during the Grand Magic Games, but she felt as if it was just to show off his power, as if he was looking for occasions to shove it into their faces that they are weaker than he is, that they need his help.
She sighed again and knocked on the door. She heard a loud snicker before Makarov said "Come in, Lucy." "Wow, I thought you'd never enter after standing in front of that door for like an eternity." Laxus remarked sarcastically. "And why the hell did you bother knocking? You knew we were waiting for-"he wasn't allowed to finish, as his grandfather's enlarged hand smacked him on the back of the head. "It's called being polite, Laxus. A virtue of which you have yet to learn." Laxus grunted, but added nothing more. Makarov turned to Lucy. "Sit down, child." he smiled. The Celestial Mage, who was busy with mentally cursing those damn Dragon Slayers with their damn heightened senses, didn't hear him at first. When she finally lifted her head, she saw two pairs of awaiting eyes staring at her. "Ah...? O-oh, I'm sorry!" She exclaimed, feeling her cheeks burn. She quickly sat down, hiding her face behind her blonde bangs.
Laxus just sighed. 'How can she be so bothered about something so trivial?' he wondered with annoyance. But the longer he stared at her rose cheeks, the more he thought about how she looks kind of cute... He shook his head. 'Get a hold of yourself, Laxus. You're not interested in weaklings. Though that body...' His train of thought was halted by his grandfather's cough. "Laxus, you probably know why I called you here." he started. The Dragon Slayer just waved his hand with his usual, bored look on his face. "Yeah, yeah, I acted immature, it won't happen again and so on. Can I go now?" he started getting up from the chair. "Actually, no." Makarov's hand on his shoulder halted him. "I have been watching your behaviour towards Lucy and others in the guild for quite some time, and I have to say, this is not exactly how I raised you, my boy." Laxus felt a slight jolt of embarrassment pinch his cheeks. 'Oh Mavis, is this really a serious scolding this time?' He sighed as his grandfather continued. "This is why I brought you here. First, you're going to apologize to Lucy right here and now." Laxus watched as the blonde's head jolted up and her eyes stared at master in disbelief. She started waving her hands. "N-n-n-no master, this is really not necessary, really, nothing h-happened, it's okay..." she blabbered, fake smile plastered to her face. Laxus could tell, however, that those hands she was waving so frantically were shaking like crazy and her heart could jump out of her chest any second. He started smiling cockily, when he noticed one more thing. She didn't look at him even once. Her gaze would tax the whole room, the master, the ceiling and the floor (especially the floor), but didn't land on him even once. He raised his eyebrow. '… the Hell?' he thought.
"No Lucy, it's not okay." he heard Makarov say. "You are supposed to be friends, nakama, just like everyone in the guild. I cannot allow that kind of negativity to continue. Laxus, apology. Now." he growled, staring intensively at his grandson.
Meanwhile, Lucy was in her personal hell. Master has just ordered Laxus Dreyar, the Laxus Dreyar, to apologize to her. Of course he will oblige, eventually, but what if, after leaving the office, he won't ever let her forget that because of her, he had to bow down and apologize to anyone? He will hate her, truly the her for the rest of her life... She could feel tears gather in her eyes. She quickly shook her head to get rid of them. Laxus was watching her that whole time, when he finally realized.
She was scared of him. He usually didn't mind seeing that in his enemies, and even enjoyed the looks of respect the got from his guildmates, but that girl in front of him, she was so afraid, so scared that she was going to faint any second. It made him very feel uneasy. Well, of course, he kind of brought this up on himself, but he always thought his comments were more of a jokingly-reasing kind, he would never force that delicate creature to do anything she didn't want to... He scratched his head and finally, hesitantly, held out his hand. He cursed under his breath when he felt his cheeks warm up once again. "Look, Bunny-... Lucy, I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to scare you and stuff." he sighed. Lucy slowly lifted her head once again and stared at his reached out hand. Slowly, she grabbed it with her own small palm and shook it lightly, as if she was convinced he will explode. It was only then when she finally looked him straight in the eye.
Laxus was shocked. Never had he seen such look of an absolute terror in anyone's eyes before... And then, in a second she let go of his hand, it was gone and that bright smile of hers was back on its' place. She stood up vigorously and turned back to Makarov. "Thank you for your time, master. May I be excused now?" She asked happily. Laxus tsk-ed. She didn't want to be in the same room as he was so badly, huh?
Makarov, who observed Lucy with concerned look that whole time, finally sighed. "I'm sorry, Lucy, but I have one more thing to ask you. Laxus, wait outside." His grandson looked at him for a second, but said nothing. "Thank you master. Lucy." He nodded and left the room.
Back inside, Lucy still kept a smile on her face, but by looking into her eyes Makarov could see her concern. His heart ached when he thought about what he is going to ask her to do.
"Lucy..." he started, taking her hand into his. "Since you joined Fairy Tail, everyone felt like a new light has come down from the sky. You can light up a gloomy room like the brightest candle; you believe in everyone, you can see good in just anyone. Your kindness is your strength. It was you who convinced us to take in Gajeel and Juvia, which, judging by the look on little Levy's face, was one of the best decisions I have taken." They both smiled for a couple of seconds, after which the serious look returned on master's face. "And I remember, Lucy... it was also you who came to me after the Fantasia Parade to convince me to take my grandson back to the guild, despite everything he did to you in the past. Even if you didn't believe he's changed, you told me, he still was family."
Outside, Laxus clenched the wooden railing in his hands. 'It was her...?! She wanted me back here?' Obviously, he could hear anything thanks to his dragon hearing. Hell, he could hear them even if he went outside. He froze when Lucy spoke.
"M-master... you didn't tell him, did you?" Laxus could still hear the trembling of her voice. "No, my child, I didn't, just like you asked me to. I figured maybe you would do this yourself someday."
"I... I can't master. I know that he is your family, your blood, he's Fairy Tail and my nakama, but..."
'But what?!' Laxus thought, clenching the wood even harder. He didn't notice when wood started to crack under his grip.
"I know you are afraid, child. But you have to understand, I'm also doing this for your own good. You told me you need to train, and you need a strong training master..." 'Wait, where is this conversation going?'
"... and my grandson must learn humility and politeness. He must know that everyone in this guild are to be treated like a family, not potential enemies. You are going to train with him. You are going to train him."
"SHE'S WHAT?!" Laxus broke into the office, leaving behind the railing shattered into pieces.