Only Slightly Protective

LaLu Week 2016, Day One: Aquarius.

Summary: She really didn't want him dating her.

This wasn't want she meant. She thought this is what she wanted. She had wanted Lucy to get a boyfriend. Really, she wanted Natsu and Lucy to get together. She thought they were the inevitable couple, but she was wrong.

Lucy and Natsu loved each other, sure, but not like she wanted them to. They loved each other like siblings would. That was it. Nothing more.

Instead, Lucy found a different guy to date. One that was all man and Aquarius couldn't stand it. Though Lucy is a adult now, she's still so young. She's still a child and should have a childish, yet endearing boy like Natsu. Most certainly not the hulking, blonde oaf.

Aquarius was livid. She couldn't let this happen.

It was a miracle Lucy took a bath before her date. This enabled Aquarius to force her gate open and appear in the still full bathtub.

"Lucy," Aquarius called in a stern tone to the towel-clad mage.

Besides from a slight jump, Lucy hardly acknowledged Aquarius' presence and instead focused on gathering every article of clothing from her wardrobe. She would pick up a piece of clothing before tossing it away with a shake of her head.

Aquarius cleared her throat loudly. Still nothing.

"Lucy!" Aquarius shouted losing her temper.

Lucy turned towards her spirit, but still seemed distracted.

"Yeah?" she asked absentmindedly.

"Lucy, I forbid you from going on this date," Aquarius stated simply with a casual look.

Lucy froze before turning her full attention to Aquarius once out of her stupor. "What do you mean you forbid me from going on this date?" Lucy asked, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "You're the one that pushed me to find a boyfriend. Guess what, I found one. And I am going on a date with him!"

It was Aquarius' turn to freeze. Lucy had never given her the look she was currently giving her. She looked beyond furious, but underneath that, Aquarius could see her covering up her hurt.

Guilt ate away at Aquarius as she watched Lucy's eyes getting misty. She didn't want to make Lucy cry. She just didn't want her to go on a date with Laxus.

"Lucy," Aquarius said more gently. "I don't think this man is right for you. I don't want him to hurt you. I have to protect you," she ended softly.

Lucy realized what this was about. After her mother died, Aquarius did her best to fill in the void that grew in Lucy's heart and became a new mother figure to the lost child. She very rarely acted like she cared about the child, but she cared more than anyone else realized.

Lucy ran to the tub and wrapped her arms around her spirit in a tight embrace. "It's okay, Aquarius. Everything will be fine. Besides, I really like Laxus. Please, can I go out with him?" Lucy asked still holding onto her spirit.

Aquarius had only taken a moment before she returned the hug. "If you really want, but I'll warn you now, if he hurts you, I'm drowning him," she said pulling back to look Lucy in the eyes with the most serious expression Lucy has seen on her.

Lucy chuckled at that with a slightly watery smile. "Sure thing!" She gave Aquarius the biggest Natsu-like grin. That boy definitely rubbed off on her.

"Me too, Princess. If he hurts you he will be punished," spoke a new voice behind the duo.

Aquarius glared at Virgo. "I have first dibs though, now leave." Virgo gave her a bitter smile, saluted the water-bearer and disappeared back to the spirit world.

No one realized, but those two spirits are always fighting over Lucy. At least until the playboy lion steps in. Then, Aquarius usually rolls her eyes and leaves.

Suddenly there was a loud knock at the front door. Only one person would knock. Both girls froze before Aquarius pushed Lucy toward her pile of clothes outside of the bathroom.

"Hurry," Aquarius ushered.

Lucy ran to her front door and swung it open before Aquarius could warn her.

Laxus stood outside of the door, his face neutral as he looked Lucy up and down. "I'm not complaining, but I don't know if you want to go out wearing that," Laxus said with a smirk.

Lucy looked down and squealed, realizing she was still only in her towel.

"I'll be right back," she said quickly, rushing back to her room slamming her bedroom door shut. Aquarius face-palmed at her Lucy before finally returning back to the spirit world.

Maybe he wouldn't be so bad as she thought. She smiled starting to like the prospect of them together now.

"Not too bad, little girl. Not bad at all."