Hello Minna! This is a short story for Bickslow and Lucy. I don't know why but I absolutely love this pairing. This chapter is just for funsies, I hope you like it!

Ope, and I don't own Fairy Tail! Enjoy...

I sighed as I swished the amber liquid around in my cup, causing the ice cubes to tinkle. It was just a crappy day altogether. I shook my head and raised the glass to my lips and took a sip. As soon as the cold liquid hit my tongue I pulled my head back with a grimace. Apple juice. Today sucked and the strongest thing I'm allowed to drink is freakin' apple juice.

I raised a tentative hand to feel my brow and make sure my bandage was secure under my hood. Because of this stupid head injury I wasn't allowed to go on missions, or more importantly, drink alcohol until it was healed. Stupid Mira, making things out to be worse than they were. And since that little sky dragon was off with that cranky pink-haired witch for training I didn't know how long I'd have to wait. The mighty Bickslow put out of commission by a shitty accident, it was embarrassing.

Myself and the rest of the Raijinshu had taken a mission to take out a Wyrven that had attacked and killed a bunch of miners in the mountains. Easy enough for us, but what we didn't count on was that would have been another team from Fairy Tail there as well. They were tracking a dark mage who had been terrorizing a village in the valley opposite of us. Turns out that the mage was taking control of the Wyrven with beast control magic and causing them to kill the people in the surrounding villages. It had been a breeze of a mission, the Raijinshu took out the Wyrven and the other team beat the shit out of the mage.

"Ugh." I set my glass down and closed my eyes, the room was spinning like a top.

If it wasn't for that stupid girl none of this would have happened! I clutched my glass in my hand and grit my teeth. Seriously, that girl is just a magnet for trouble. We'd finished mission and left back to collect our reward while the other team left to go get theirs, we didn't really socialize much with the rest of the guild still. Even though we'd been forgiven for the Fantasia thing and had helped out when we were attacked at the S-class Trials people didn't really enjoy being around us, less so when Laxus wasn't around, but they weren't exactly overjoyed with our company before we parted ways. Well, except that Cosplayer chick, she always seemed to be happy to see us. She had smiled and laughed with us and had started a conversation with Ever, who tried to act like she didn't care, but I knew she was ecstatic that someone was actively seeking her out rather than ignoring or being scared of her. She had discussed books with Freed, pulling that stoic dude into the conversation with ease, and I knew he enjoyed himself. She'd even laughed good-naturedly at my perverted jokes and only slapped my arm lightly when I wagged my tongue out at her. Unfortunately her team wasn't so at ease with us and soon found an excuse to leave our company.

"Jerks." Not that I cared though, they were annoying anyways. Especially those two idiots, always friggin fighting when we're trying to relax. Idiots.

We had made it to the train station with not troubles and went to find a place to sit, unfortunately the whole friggin train was full except on of the back compartments, and with good reason. The other team was in it with that pink-haired idiot looking like he was going to barf all over the place. We ended up sitting with them cause it was that or stand the whole way back to Magnolia, and Ever said she's too delicate to be jostled around like that.

"Delicate my ass."

It was a pretty nice ride back, I guess, it would have been better if that motion sick dick-head had fallen out the window he had half his body hanging out of. It'd have been quieter too. He spend his time alternating between sticking his head out the window and laying in the blonde chick's lap while she played with his hair. I don't know why, but seeing him so close to her like that pissed me the hell off. I was about to reach over and knock his whining self out, but the Titania beat me too it. Thankfully, with the barf-bag out of commission I was able to talk with the blonde. I made sure to keep my perverted front up but sometimes I let it slip when I got really interested in what she was saying. Yeah I know. Me? Interested in what that empty-headed cheerleader had to say? Shockingly enough she wasn't as empty headed as I thought. If I didn't know any better I would have probably called her smart, but no one can have a body like that and still have a functioning brain, it just wasn't how things worked.

The trouble had started when we got to the station in Magnolia, and I never knew that much crap could happen because of one person in such a short amount of time. First, the blonde tried to wake the flame idiot up, she was shaking him and calling his name when he suddenly shot out an arm and hit her square in the face with his fist. Apparently the loser also sleep fights. His punch sent Cheerleader straight into Ever, knocking her off her feet and sending them straight into me.

I rubbed my lower back where I had landed on the seat with both girls on top of me.

I had immediately made a comment about not minding them both on me, but that they should wait until everyone left cause I don't like giving a free show. Ever smacked me with her stupid fan and the Cosplayer straight kicked me in the jaw.

I touched my jaw as the memory flashed through my mind, even if she isn't that strong of a mage she packs one hell of a kick.

We then left the train and were carrying out our bags when that snarky blue cat thing decided to insult the blonde. She was rushing around jumping up in the air trying to catch the blue cat. Her jumping made all sorts of things bounce and it was mesmerizing to watch. Cheerleader caught me staring and started yelling at me but tripped over her discarded suitcase, kicking it open and trowing her clothing all over the ground. I near passed out from a nosebleed from all the lacy panties flying around. The chick turned bright red and scrambled around trying to pick up her stuff, giving me a nice view of her lace clad bottom up in the air.

She caught me again and stood up to yell at me but she had been under one of the benches and smacked her head, knocking herself unconscious. I looked around for everyone but they had already left. Grumbling I had put all her stuff back in her suitcase and hoisted her over my shoulder and left the station. We drew all sorts of stares from people in the station and flanking the streets, but I wasn't too concerned. I was big enough that everyone steered clear of us for the most part. One over zealous kid jumped in front of me and asked what the hell I was doing, and started leering at the girl. He made a grab at her but my babies just chased him away, smacking their wooden bodies on his head until he had a comical lump on his head. I laughed with my tongue lolling out, showing my guild mark and he got the idea and took off.

It was just my luck that Cosplayer decided to wake up right then and started freaking out. She got me with another one of her brutal kicks to the chest and sent me flying into fruit stand before I could react. After she calmed down I explained what happened and she sheepishly apologized and thanked me for helping her. She had a nice sized lump on her head from the bench so I said I'd walk her home just to be safe. It wasn't like I was going out of my way anyways, my house was in the direction we were going anyways. After a while she jumped up on the ledge of the canal and did a little balancing act as we walked. If I had any interest in the girl, which I don't, I would have called it cute. But I don't so I won't.

Then, just because my life sucks, that kid from earlier showed up with some other guys and called out that they wanted to fight me. Cheerleader tried to explain that everything was okay but they weren't listening to her. The all rushed me and I and my babies took them out. I made sure not to hurt any of them too bad, or else the Cosplayer would have complained. Not that I wanted to please her or anything, but she had a loud voice and I didn't want to hear her complaining. One of the guys was a mage, friggin weak though but was annoying, and he threw some sort of energy blast at me but I dodged and it hit the girl. The mage dude jumped away and used another blast to push a wagon full of barrels straight at the girl who was now flailing on the canal's edge.

I saw as she started to fall and acted without thinking, I jumped after her and used my body weight to throw her back to safety. I tried to call my babies to catch me before I fell in but I wasn't fast enough. I landed in the frigid canal and turned to look up at the Cheerleader who was yelling something at me. I didn't see the wagon full of barrels falling on me until it hit me square on the head.

So, the great Bickslow was taken out by one measly mage and a wagon full of barrels. I was just my luck that the barrels had been filled with fish waste that was going to be loaded onto a barge to be used as bait. So on top of the humiliation of being dragged out of the canal by one of Cosplayer's spirits, I also smelled like a friggin fish.

It wasn't that I was trying to impress the Cheerleader by looking cool while fighting, it was just a blow to any dude's ego to be caught in a situation like that and have to be fished out by the chick you were trying to impress. No! I mean not impress, help. Yeah, help.

"Stupid Cheerleader." I grumbled looking at my apple juice. And on top of everything I'm drinking some kid's drink. I didn't look tough or powerful, I looked beat up and stupid, and I smelled worse.

"Oi, Mira. Can't I go now? My head isn't that bad." Mira had refused to allow me to leave, saying it was too dangerous to walk around in my condition. As if.

Mira looked at me and smiled. "Okay Bickslow, I'll have someone walk you home."

"What the hell! I'm not some invalid, I can walk home by myself." I said trying to not sound like a whiny kid, I don't know if I succeeded or not.

Mira's smile froze, and she turned her body toward me. Her demon peeking out from behind her blue eyes. "Bickslow, you'll wait until I find someone to take you home, won't you?"

I gulped at her. "Y-yeah."

Her smile widened and the demon disappeared, leaving the normal bubbly Mira. "Thanks Bickslow!" She said with a little laugh.

I grimaced in reply. That chick seriously has problems.

"Hey Mira, I'll take him home." I heard a musical voice say.

No. Please no. No no no no no-agh. "Sure Lucy! Thanks!" Shit.

I turn to see Lu-Cosplayers big brown eyes staring into mine. Well, staring at my helmet that covered them. For yet another time I was glad for my visor, because I wasn't sure if I could look into those liquid chocolate orbs with my own. I gulped again, but this was a different gulp. "Uh… Yo! Cosplayer!" I said trying to brush off her intense stare and hoping my cheeks weren't as red as they felt. "I don't need ya to get home."

"Bickslow." I heard Mira's voice say. It was a low and dangerous tone and I knew she would be staring at me.

"But! I guess some company wouldn't be too bad, ya know? Heh!" I said quickly as I gingerly climbed off the bar stool and walked to the guild's doors.

"Lucy make sure he gets home safely! If he gives you any trouble you tell me straight away, okay?"

I heard the Cheerleader laugh behind me. "Will do Mira. See you tomorrow. Good night everyone!"

Everyone bade her good night and I heard a couple of the guys grumble about her leaving with me. I couldn't keep a grin from spreading across my face.

"That's right. Eat your hearts out."

"Did you say something?" Lucy asked me, skipping to match my stride.

I turned to look down at her, the moonlight caught her golden hair and I stumbled a bit. "Uh…no." I am smooth.

"Okay." She said and lifted her head up to gaze at the stars as we walked.

I tried to tear my eyes away from the smooth expanse of her throat, but the creamy skin seemed to call out to me. I wanted nothing more than to leave marks with my tongue and teeth all over her flawless skin. With tremendous effort I tore my gaze from her tempting form to watch the path.

"So, where do you live?" She asked in her musical voice.

"I, uh, that way." I said with a flap on my hand toward Olive street. I am smooth like butter. Or gravel. The voice in my head taunted.

"Oh, that's not too far from my place." She said with a bright smile. "I live right there." She pointed to a pink building about a hundred yards away as we turned off Strawberry onto Olive and walked up the small hill lined with houses.

What the hell is wrong with me? I am Bickslow. I'm cocky and smooth. I am a killer with the ladies and have never stuttered in my life when talking with a female. Why the hell was this chick making me so nervous? I stole a glance at the girl walking beside me, well more like skip-bouce-half trip-walking, and I fought away a smile.

She really was weird.

We came to a stop in front of my house. It wasn't much but it was mine. Thanks to all the S-class missions with Laxus I had made enough to pay it off fully and even put on an addition. I looked at my two story house with a faint smile. It had a small covered porch and windows flanking the door. It was a pale green on the outside and the shutters were a darker green. I saw Cosplayer gaping at my house with unconcealed admiration and I could help the feeling of pride that grew in my chest.

She likes it! I mean…not that that matters, cause it doesn't. I turned and walked up the stone path towards my door. I had made the path myself one week after a one particularly brutal mission. It was smooth mismatched stones of different hues of grey, held together by silver mortar that glowed under the light of the moon. I heard Cosplayer follow up the pathways and I shot a glance back at her and smiled. She was staring down at the stone work tilting her head this way and that as she followed the swirling patterns of the stones.

"Oi, Cosplayer. I'm here now, you can leave." I said, snapping her out of her reverie.

"Oh! Uh, right. Night Bickslow. Hope you feel better." She said as she turned around and stuffed her hands in her pockets, walking away.

I sighed and turned to unlock my door, but for some reason I was seeing two door handles and was having a hard time getting the key into the lock. Suddenly someone took the key from my hand and unlocked the door for me. I looked down to see Cheerleader looking up at me. I was going to say something sarcastic but the look in her eyes stopped me. She stared into my visor for what seem like an eternity before she moved slowly, taking a step towards me so that we were inches apart. She reached her hands up, pausing slightly when they came to rest on my visor, but she continued when I made no move to stop her. I was breathing deep even breaths as she removed my visor.

Why did she do that?

Why didn't I stop her?

I flinched slightly when my eyes met hers for the first time. She held the visor in one hand and again reached up to push my hood down, exposing my head to the night. I couldn't seem to move, it was like I was trapped in her eyes that looked black in the fading light. I was the one with magic eyes but her gaze left me powerless. It was like she was staring into my soul. I could see the souls of everyone. Man, woman, child, I could see them all I could see their intent but not who they were. As the delicate girl in front of me stared into my eyes without fear I felt as if she could see right into me, she saw all my fears and hurts, all of my desires and wishes, and she seemed to accept then. She raised a slim finger up to trace the mark between my eyes, her head turned to the side as she studied it. I saw her lips turn up in a tiny smile.

Why was she smiling?

Didn't I repulse her?

Why was she looking at me as if I meant something?

She traced down my mark to the tip on my nose, causing a shiver to ripple through my body before her finger came to rest on my lips. I saw her tongue come out to lick her own lips and I held my breath. She looked as if she was having an internal debate with herself, her brow wrinkled in concentration. With painstaking slowness her hand slipped around my neck pulling me down to her as she raised herself up on her toes to reach me. With our lips a hairsbreadth apart she flicked her eyes from my lips to look into my eyes once more. Whatever she saw there seemed to give her the courage to close the space between us as she captured my lips with her.

She was so soft. She kissed me shyly as she held my neck. After a few moments she pulled away to look at me questioningly. I couldn't really believe what had happened, but I knew one thing. That kiss was too damn short. Before she could pull away my hands slipped around her waist and pulled her against me gently and bent my head to kiss her again.

Never in my life had I kissed with such delicacy. She was so small and innocent, I couldn't help but kiss her softly. After a while I broke the kiss and I heard her draw in a sharp breath. I opened my eyes to see her frowning at me. I froze.

Should I have not done that?

She stared at me and her frown deepened before she grabbed me by the fabric on my chest and pulled me against her roughly. "I am not going to break." She said with her eyes burning with emotion that sent another shiver through my body. It took me a second to process what she had said, but once it clicked I grinned down at her.

"Good." I said as I crashed my lips down on hers. She let out a small squeak and stiffened before humming and melting into the kiss. After a minute we pulled away, both breathing hard, and I thought maybe I had gone a little to far but that thought was banished when I saw the smile on her upturned face. She opened her eyes to grin at me. "That's better." She…purred? I chuckled at the girl wrapped in my arms. After a moment she let a little sigh and stepped back out of my grasp and I frowned at the loss of contact.

"I should get home, and you should bathe." She said with a smile at me.

Bathe? OH SHIT. I still smelled a little like dirty canal water and fish guts. She laughed at the look on my face and reached up to plant another kiss on me.

"It's not that bad." She said as if she read my mind. "Thank you for helping me today. If you hadn't made such a fool of yourself I never would have had the courage to finally do this." She whispered in my ear.

I grimaced and smiled at the same time, not that happy that she said I made a fool of myself but the fact that it made her kiss me overshadowed it.

"Wait," I said with my brow furrowed in confusion, "what do you mean 'finally?'"

She smiled her beautiful smile at me. "That's for another day." She turned and walked down the swirling path and turned to wave at me. "Good night, Bickslow." She said in a low voice. Hot damn.

"Good night," I said with my large grin, "Lucy." She laughed and I watched until she disappeared into the night. I was a little worried about her but I knew she would be okay, her house was only a short walk away. I walked into my house and shut the door and allowed myself a loud laugh.

I guess today didn't suck too bad.