"Beneath the Surface"
Blame Ocil for this fic, for he believes Erza is a lesbian for Lucy and influenced me into believing the same. All Canon!Rape is therefore his fault. The fic is set right after the special chapter in which Lucy takes on the mission for Hilda. If you haven't read that chapter, it's cool. Just know that it happens after the Fighting Festival arc (Luxus), but before the Oracion Seis arc.
Chapter One: Of Memories, Bras, and Knocking
After she had clothes on again, Lucy felt much better about the day. After all, when the great Titania sees you completely naked, there's a little bit of embarrassment to be had, but completing a nice mission for a nice, albeit dead, old lady, and even making aforementioned greatest female wizard in the guild very happy, makes it all worth it. Completing a mission, any mission, made Lucy happy, especially if there was money to be had. Making her friends smile was even better, and (truth be told) she would take that over money any day (provided she had paid for rent and food first). Naturally, making Erza smile and scoring a piece of jewelry (Lucy was already pondering how much clothing she had that would go with it) made the day wonderful. Heck, it almost made Lucy forget about having been exposed. ...Almost.
That was something that made Lucy cringe. Come on! That was utterly ridiculous! It made Lucy go as red as fire when she thought about it. She sighed. There was no undoing it, she supposed. Still, there was time for better impressions to wash away that one. Still, it made her feel... interesting, for some reason. Lucy almost hoped it would never be brought up again. ...Almost.
-FAIRY TAIL-
Erza stood in front of the cold stone, noting the name and dates. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. It had been quite a while since she had heard Hilda's voice, her loud reprimanding tone. Erza stll remembered the warmth she felt when Hilda smiled at her. She recalled the wonder she had at seeing the fake jewels. It was such a happy day, talking with Hilda about the wondrous cat girl who would grace her with the shining treasure. But now she was gone, and that was that.
It was good to see that her spirit was strong enough to make the occasional wish or two come true, though. Erza smiled. Getting those jewels was nice... Knowing that Hilda was watching after her was the real treasure.
She thought back on the moment with a smile on her face. Her face turned a slight red color as she thought of the moment's end...
"Lu... Lucy... Your clothes are also disappearing..."
Erza took in a deep breath. Yes, it was a very nice gift from Grandma Hilda.
-FAIRY TAIL-
Lucy exited her room, feeling confident and hopeful. Erza gave her a light smile, and Lucy chuckled nervously. It had been a day since the incident with Hilda, and Lucy was eager to impress Erza. The Fairy veteran stood tall and proud as always, her Heart Kreuz armor glinting as always. Lucy wore her usual tank top-skirt combination.
"Are you ready?" Lucy asked.
"Of course. Are you quite prepared?"
Lucy nodded, and the two set out.
"So, where exactly are we going?" Lucy asked.
"Hrmm... Good idea..."
-FAIRY TAIL-
Lucy sat on the bench in the park, watching Erza interrogate a strew of men and women. With a resounding cry of "Where would you go on a nice day with your friend!?", Erza would shortly thereafter toss them aside, generally unconscious. At first, Lucy tried to protest, but Erza continued on with her hasty interrogations, until she finally received the answer from a police officer, "ICE CREAM SHOP".
"Ice cream shop it is, then," Erza said, contently, setting the man down.
Lucy sighed, glad the utter devastation of civilization was over.
-FAIRY TAIL-
The Fairies quietly sat in a corner, slowly enjoying their treats. Lucy had a simple vanilla cone, while Erza had some form of milkshake.
"You deal with spirits a lot, Lucy, do you know what could've caused Grandma Hilda to come back?"
"Well... my spirits are a bit different, Erza. I mean, my spirits are composed of just magic. I've read a lot of theories about ghosts. Some say they're imprints of a person's life. Some say it's the result of a last burst of dying magic. I'm not really sure..."
Erza sighed, "Magic... utterly bizarre. It needs order."
"Well, that would ruin the fun, right?"
Erza raised an eyebrow, and Lucy shrunk back. The Fairy veteran shrugged after a beat and resumed slurping her shake. Lucy looked relieved, and for a moment ate away at her cone.
"The fun of magic is spoiled by its misuse. So many people wield it improperly, causing such problems in this world. Dragon Slayer magic seems to be amongst the worst."
Lucy looked shocked, "But Natsu has Dragon Slayer and look at all the good he's done with it."
"Gajeel and Luxus stand in stark contrast, Lucy. While Gajeel switched sides eventually, he has still done a... great amount of damage," Erza said, her eyes narrowed. Lucy gulped.
"I still don't understand Dragon Slayer magic... the name implies you kill Dragons with it... but Dragons teach it."
Erza shrugged, a smirk on her face, "I don't pretend to understand Dragons... and I doubt Natsu knows anything about Dragon Slayer magic other than how to destroy people who wield it."
"D-doesn't destroy seem like a bit... much?"
"Natsu could use a bit of tutoring on how to be less destructive. I would be perfect for the job."
"Wouldn't that make him destroy more?!"
"Yes, I can see it clearly. Fairy Tail may actually be left alone by the others. Makarov will congratulate me! I simply must get started!"
Erza stood up immediately, looking towards the door, her eyes full of intent.
"Wha! But you've not even finished your milkshake!"
"Oh. Yes. That's true. My apologies."
Erza quickly sat back down, politely as ever. Lucy stared at her, head tilted.
"Apologies? For what?"
"Well, I hear it is improper procedure to attempt to leave in the midst of a date."
Lucy froze, her eyes wide.
"Huh-wha!? Date!?"
Erza looked to the side, "Well, yes, a meeting between two people... a date, correct?"
"That's not at all what a date is!" Lucy shouted, nearly falling over.
Erza crossed her arms, "I... apologise, then. I must have been confused."
Lucy settled back in her chair, smiling from ear to ear, "It's fine."
The Fairy girls finished their ice cream, quietly. Lucy reclined back, satisfied, while Erza smiled contently, throwing her cup into the garbage can behind her.
"Lucy, would it be alright if I went back with you to your house? I decided I would relax today, but I'm unsure as to what to do with the day."
Lucy scratched the back of her head, nervous, curious, and more than a little bit weirded out, "Uhhhh... sure, I suppose."
Not sure why she wants to hang at my house... Ah well.
-FAIRY TAIL-
Lucy busied herself in the kitchen, pilfering through her fridge. After a moment, she pulled out a pitcher and picked out two cups, which she filled. Sighing, she laid out a spread of meats and vegetables and made a large sandwich. Why Erza had wanted a sandwich this large was baffling to Lucy, though she was used to large appetites. She pondered on what Erza was doing by herself in the living room. There was no sound, really. Lucy listened intently, wondering what Erza was up to...
Wait.
Oh god.
Is that... turning pages...? Oh. Wait. No, no, no. CRAP, THE MANUSCRIPT WAS IN THEIR.
Lucy picked up the sandwich platter and one of the glasses, before bolting into the other room.
"ERZA, NO!"
Miss Scarlet looked up from the book, curiously, "What is wrong, Lucy?"
"My book! It's not finished, yet, and I don't want anyone reading it!"
Erza tilted her head to the side, "Hrm. I can see why."
Lucy looked down, "You didn't have to put it like that!"
"Your use of commas is terrible. I suggest you look over comma rules a bit."
"...Is that it?"
"Well, yes. I only managed to read a few pages of it, but the characters seemed quite real, which is a problem I've had with a few novels I read recently. Not sure about the plot. I didn't read enough to get an image of that, yet."
Lucy blushed, profusely, before giving a brief bow and setting down the sandwich, in front of Erza. She quickly returned with the other glass and sat down on the chair across from Erza, who blinked.
"Lucy, I intended to share the sandwich with you, you know."
"...Really?" Lucy asked, surprised.
"I asked for a large sandwich because I knew you were hungry, as well," Erza said, "Friends share meals after all."
She gave a friendly smile that warmed Lucy's heart a bit. The Stellar Spirit Mage sat beside Erza, looking at the sandwich for a moment.
"Oh, let me get a knife to cut the sandwich!" Lucy declared.
A moment later, Lucy screamed at the sight of the table sliced in half. Erza blinked after a moment, her sword digging deep into the floor.
"No need, I got it," Erza said, smiling.
Lucy turned white, staring at the hacked table, "Ohhhhh... that's going to be expensive."
Meanwhile, Erza munched happily on her sandwich, unaware of Lucy's signficant distress. After a few seconds, Lucy sighed, then picked up her sandwich and began (more or less) happily chewing away at it.
"Erza, do you ever go clothes shopping?" Lucy asked.
"I have a few sets of clothing... I tend to let the others go out and retrieve it for me. I'm more interested in collecting armor."
"Hrmmm... We should go clothes shopping at some point! We could get dresses, shirts, skirts, bras! Ohhhh!" Lucy shouted, excitedly.
"...Bras?" Erza asked.
"Uhh... yeah. Bras."
"What are bras?"
Lucy blinked, completely dumbfounded. Erza stared back, equally confused. Lucy looked around for a moment, as if trying to make sure no one was there.
"They hold up your... you know...," Lucy said, indicating her chest.
Erza tilted her head, "Why do that?"
"Well, personally, I get sore without a bra. Plus, they look bigger in a bra."
"Why make them look bigger?" Erza asked.
"Well, it gets more guys interested," Lucy replied, looking away, her face burning.
Erza tapped her chin, pondering that, "I wonder why the others never bought one for me."
"Did you give them your cup size?"
"My what size?"
"How big yours are!"
Erza tapped her chin, "That may be why. I am not quite sure what size mine are."
"Well, maybe you could try on some of mine. I ended up keeping a couple of older bras when I wasn't quite as... big."
"You gained weight? You must've been a skeleton before I saw you."
"What? No! Not big like that... never mind. Look, I'll go grab a few."
Erza shrugged, nodding, then proceeded to finish off her sandwich as Lucy walked out. When the less-experienced guild girl returned, holding seven different bras, Erza's eyes widened.
"Is that... lingerie?" Erza asked, startled.
Lucy held up the cluster of bras, "Uhhh... well, some of it is. You don't mind, do you?"
"I... I love lingerie."
The room was perfectly still. Lucy stared at Erza, unblinking, shock quite apparent on her face. Erza blushed and looked down.
"Is that... uncommon?" Erza asked.
"Well... guys really like it... I like lingerie a good bit. Makes me feel better about myself," Lucy trailed off.
"What was that?"
"Nothing," Lucy said, setting the bras beside Erza, "Well... you'll need to take off your top. I'll help you put the bra on."
Erza, after a moment, removed her torso armor and shirt, while Lucy turned away.
"Ready," Erza said.
Lucy turned around, shrieked, and turned back around, "I meant for you to turn around!"
"Why?"
"It's embarrassing!" Lucy retorted.
"How so?"
"You're naked! That's how!"
"I'm sure you see similar enough features in the mirror. I've seen you naked, as well."
Lucy blushed, furiously, wishing she could block that out of her mind.
"Well, if it'll help you, I'll turn around."
Lucy sighed, "It's... fine. Don't worry."
She turned around to see Erza, her arms crossed below her chest, looking at her, curiously. Lucy, blushing furiously, sat down beside Erza and picked up one of the bras. There were a few moments of working with it, and when Lucy finally managed to clasp it onto the slightly-gasping Erza, she sat back and looked at it. Lucy tilted her head, while Erza looked down at it.
"Hrm, I think it's too sm-"
RIIIIIP.
A moment after the bra fell off of Erza, the door slammed open, revealing Natsu and Happy.
"HEY, GUYS, I FOUND SOMETHING INTEREST-"
Natsu paused, looking at the two, "Uhhhh..."
Erza immediately assumed the Flame Empress Armor and, roaring like a lioness on the hunt, blasted forward. Natsu held up his hands to shield his face, only for Erza to deliver a crushing gutpunch that sent Natsu spiralling away.
"You always knock!" Erza shouted, flying towards Natsu.
"Erza, wait!" Lucy shouted.
The next five minutes ultimately left Natsu a wreck on Lucy's couch, groaning in pain, brused and busted up. Erza dusted off her hands, then ex-quipped the Heart Creuz armor. Lucy sighed, bandaging up Natsu's arms. Happy sat on the couch, beside Natsu.
"I told you to knock, Natsu."
"You said knocking wouldn't matter!"
"Maybe. I forget."
"Well, what is it that was so important you couldn't even bother knocking?" Lucy asked, her eyes narrowed at Natsu.
"Oh! Right!" Natsu said, fishing in his pockets, before pulling out a paper.
Lucy snatched it, "Just a stupid job? Really, Natsu...?"
"Read it."
Lucy glanced at Natsu's serious expression, then back at the paper, which read: Our town has been plagued by what we believe is a dragon. We kindly request a Dragon Slayer, and any other forms of help you can manage. The reward is negotiable, and can be determined afterwards. Please kill this beast and free us of its terror.
She looked up from the paper, at Natsu, "...Well then."
"Someone wants a dragon dead," Natsu growled, his voice feral.
Erza looked over, sharply, "You think it could Igneel?"
"I dunno. But if it is, I can promise you that whoever placed this ad will be very sorry."