A Day to Relax
Rating: K+
Lucy took in a huge gasp of air as her head broke the surface of the pristine water around her.
A powerful whoop met her ears as she sprang up, icy water spinning away from her long, blonde hair when she swung her head around. A boy with wild pink hair grinned back at her, balancing atop of slippery boulder that hung above a deep pool of spring water. His blonde girlfriend smiled before dipping back under the water, though he could still see her thanks to strikingly clear water. With another loud shout, the pinkette hurled himself into the water, the force of his plummet sending water a few feet into the air. A red haired woman ducked behind a magazine she was reading, in attempt to miss the water splashing at her. She glared at the spot where he landed, brown eyes blazing as he popped up from the pool. Catching her glare, Natsu smiled sheepishly before diving back under to avoid Erza's wrath. With a roll of her eyes, the woman went back to her reading, a large hat shading her eyes from the sun.
"Gray-sama, cover yourself!"
A blunette let out a squeal as a naked man leaped into the water beside her. She covered her blushing face as he bobbed up, sleeking his dark hair back and frowning at the girl. "I'm not naked," he grunted, looking down. As he realized he was wrong, he grimaced, muttering, "How did that happen," before getting out and searching for his swim shorts. His girlfriend, Juvia, shook her head at him before looking around for a certain blunette. "Wendy?"
The girl was seated next to Erza, a bit too timid to join the others in the water. "Over here," she called, pulling her hair into a ponytail. Her cat, Carla, curled comfortably next to her on the blanket the group had set up. Reassured, Juvia smiled and turned back when Lucy popped back up from the water. The girl's hair glistened like the water sitting placidly around them. She was about to head for the shore when she was suddenly heaved into the air and out of the water. the teenager let out a squeal, limbs flailing and kicking up water that splashed the others. Natsu cackled as he lifted his girlfriend in the air; Lucy shouting for him to put her down this instant. He obliged, but only to throw her away from him and back into the spring. She came back up, spluttering angrily, hurling sharp remarks at her boyfriend. The pinkette only laughed at her, shameless. He shut up when he noticed Erza glaring at him from afar.
"I don't know how you tolerate him," a girl with short, silver hair giggled as lucy climbed out of the water. The blonde just shook her head helplessly, then laughed weakly. "I don't know, either, Lisanna. I guess he just takes advantage of my love for him." She glanced at the boy cuttingly, who stuck his tongue out at her in response. Lisanna just shook her head, amused, then asked her sister, Mirajane, if she wanted to join her in the water. The older woman shook her head, not wanting to get her hair wet. She had done it nicely that morning and didn't want to ruin it. Her brother, Elfman, looked at her oddly before joining Lisanna in the natural pool.
"Levy, did you bring any books? I forgot mine.."
A small, blue-haired woman looked up from the paper she was sketching on, smoothing back her bangs before looking into her bag she had brought. "Uh, yeah," she told her blonde friend that had asked her. "How does Gone with the Wind sound?" She pulled out the large, hard-backed book, already knowing Lucy would accept. "A classic," her friend replied, taking the book from Levy. "Nice drawing, by the way." The blunette smiled gratefully before returning to her work. Lucy settled down next to her, cracking the book open and began reading immediately.
A man with dark, long hair frowned at the two girls with disdain. "Y'all are boring," he criticized, receiving a look of annoyance from Levy, his girlfriend. "We're not boring at all," she scoffed, straightening her back. "I'm quite entertaining. You'd know that better than the rest of us." The man blushed, though impressed by the girl's wittiness. She smiled at him, victorious, while Lucy and the others snickered.
"Don't call our Levy-chan boring!" Two men roared in unison, pointed stares aimed at Gajeel. Said man just rolled his eyes and sighed, turning his face away to ignore them. Jet and Droy frowned at this but took to the water anyway, not wanting to let Gajeel ruin their day of relaxation. The entire guild was taking a day off, refusing to take any jobs until tomorrow. After such a long and tasking year, they felt that they deserved this and perhaps more. Even so, taking off only a day would set them back and cause irritation among job-givers.
"Just think of all the paperwork waiting for me when we return...," an old man grumbled from beneath the shade of a willow tree. "I don't think this is such a good a idea.."
"Oh, come on, Gramps!" A loud and drunken brunette groaned, shoving him with her elbow. "How can you worry at a time like this?! We're all relaxin' and drinkin', there's no time to worry! Here, have a drink!" She passed him a mug filled to the rim with alcohol; the guildmaster stared into it doubtfully before Cana nearly forced it down his throat. "Celebrate with us!"
After a couple more drinks, the man's cheeks were tinted pink and a goofy smile lit his features, signifying that Cana's plan had worked. "I don't know what I was so worried about," he slurred, waving around the cup languidly. "Who cares about paperwork, this is the best day of my life!"
"That's the spirit!" Cana cheered, clanking their mugs together.
From within the pool, a certain blue animal called out, "Carla! Come join me in the water!" Happy was swimming alongside Natsu, waving his paws in the air eagerly at the white she-cat. Said feline opened one brown eye and scrutinized her guildmate, looking irritated about being awoken from her dozing. "You expect me to get my fur wet intentionally?" She scoffed, tail flicking exasperatedly. "Then you're out of luck."
Happy's smile faltered at being turned down by Carla, but was distracted as he was suddenly hoisted into the air. The fire dragon slayer held his companion above his head while declaring, "Happy! Let's get Lucy to do a chicken fight between us, Gray, and Juvia!" The sulk on the blue cat's face was replaced by a sly grin as he agreed. He spread his wings and took off from Natsu's grasp, diving down to collect a bucket from Asuka. The little girl's lips parted in protest but a wink from the exceed quieted her. Happy dove back down and scooped water into the container, making a beeline for an unsuspecting blonde.
"Lucy, look out!"
Mirajane's warning came too late. Lucy, along with her book and towel, was doused in freezing cold water. Immediately she shrieked, leaping up from her spot and gaping at herself. Cackling, Happy sped away before she could realize who had done it. He dropped the bucket back to Asuka, who laughed openly along with a multitude of their guild.
Lucy looked up and her eyes met Natsu's, who's laughing cut off as soon as she glared at him. "How could you?" She cried, shaking herself off before reaching down to pick up her towel. "I can't even dry myself off thanks to you!"
Levy stared at her ruined book, feeling a twinge of anger towards the culprit of the scene. "It was Happy, really," she informed, picking up her sopping book with disdain. Lucy's eyes widened and she looked around, muttering, "I should've known... where's that stupid cat?!"
Happy was nowhere in sight. The celestial mage's cheeks grew red with anger as she began to search the area, but with no avail. Natsu stilled watched from the pool, earning looks of annoyance from both Gajeel and Levy as they tried airing out their ruined items, along with Lucy's towel.
As Lucy passed by again, Natsu called out, "So, Luce! Are you up for a chicken fight between you, Gray, Juvia, and I?" His voice sounded hesitant, not wanting to anger his girlfriend any further. Technically, it wasn't his fault that Happy decided to douse the blonde with water, but he still felt half-responsible.
Said woman turned her gaze upon her boyfriend, still appearing upset. "Not until I wrangle that dumb cat," she growled, her eyes still blazing malice. An angry lucy was a terrifying one for sure, her guildmates concluded as the mage marched on.
"Please, Luce? Wouldn't it be satisfying to take down Ice Pervert and his girlfriend?" The slayer's voice was pleading as he watched her look through the bushes.
The girl leaned back up, considering his suggestion for a moment before parting her jaws to give an answer. Before she could do so, her face was splashed with another bout of ice-cold water.
This time, Lucy lashed out a Happy before he could fly away, snatching him by the tail and yanking him backwards. The cat let out a squeal as he whirled around to face the once-again soaking blonde, who never looked more angry at him in her life. "You," she hissed, "will pay."
Happy couldn't help but shudder at her words. He braced himself for what came next, but was astounded to find that the both of them were being lifted up and suddenly thrown into the spring. A third force joined them in the water as they went under, flailing and scrambling to get back to the surface. On by one, each head broke the surface; two of them looking around bewilderingly for the attacker. Beside them, Natsu grinned deviously, looking triumphant about his victory. Lucy looked at him with wide eyes before lunging at him, declaring that he was indeed going to pay for this. The rest of Fairy Tail laughed at the trio, not at all surprised by the outcome of the time at the swimming hole.