A/N: Fairy Tail does not belong to me in any way shape or form.
Lector covered his head, his eyes almost shut as he ran through the rain. He did not like water in any shape or form and rain was the worst. "Sting-kun! Why did you go and leave me?!" They had been out, running errands, when the blonde went and wandered off somewhere. And then the rain started. "Sting-kun!" He closed his eyes tight, running blindly back towards the guild, preparing his lecture for his friend and partner. "Ow!" He fell back, landing in a puddle.
"I'm sorry, are you okay?"
It wasn't raining anymore.
He opened his eyes, seeing a girl crouched over him with an umbrella. She was gazing down at him, her eyes taking in his form, looking for injuries. "You're not hurt, are you? Can you stand?" He rose up under her umbrella, trying to dust off his vest in an effort to look respectable. She looked just as drenched as he did, her hair hanging in dark green strips and sticking to her skin. "Thank goodness…" A carriage roared past, sending a spray of water over them. She shrieked, standing abruptly and dropping her umbrella. "Jerk!" She held her arms away from her, gazing down at herself in disgust. "Brilliant…" Lector raised the umbrella up and over his head, trying to get dry. "Just fantastic…"
"You should probably change before you catch a cold. With that outfit? You should probably add a coat." She didn't dress much different than Sting or Natsu, with loose green pants and sandals, a sleeveless brown cropped jacket and a small dark green top that showed her stomach, not unlike something Lucy would wear.
"I could say the same to you, sir. Walking out in only a vest." He bristled, frowning at her.
"I'm a cat!"
"So?" He hunched his shoulders, his frown deepening.
"Zella!" Something dived towards them, rocketing into the girl and sobbing over her already drenched form. "Zella! You're gonna go and catch a cold! Come in! Come inside! Inside!"
Lector blinked at the female Exceed crying into the girl's chest, wailing about how upset she would be if she got sick. "There there. I'm coming." Zella patted her back, holding her close. "Now you're getting all wet, Pepper." The purple furred female grew quiet, looking up at the girl before understanding passed through her red eyes. There was a screech from her and then she took flight, going around in circles while she wailed once more, this time about how she was getting wet thanks to her irresponsible partner. "Come on then," and Lector was in her arms, being carried away towards, presumably, Zella's apartment.
He sat quietly on the table as she hummed, stirring something in a large pot. "So you're part of Sabertooth, huh? That's pretty impressive."
"Of-course! Sting-kun is my partner, the Master and strongest member!" He dared her to say anything against the great Sting-kun.
"Oh? Well, that's a given, isn't it? Eucliffe-san's really made Sabertooth better. It's no surprise he's the Master. And because of that, I have no reason to think otherwise regarding him being the strongest member." Lector blinked rapidly. Finally, finally, someone else knew how awesome Sting was! She agreed with him! But this was a given, after-all. Sting-kun was the strongest member and as Master, he was now respected beyond belief in their town.
Pepper rolled her eyes. "You're too nice, Zella."
"What? Why?" Pepper huffed at the red Exceed's questions, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Your vest clashes," she remarked in way of insult to the starstruck Exceed. He glared, crossing his own arms over his chest, attempting to hide the offending garment.
"W-well, that's not my fault!" Soon after getting here, Zella had switched his blue vest with a red one—to wash it, she said. Pepper turned her face away, now ignoring her fellow Exceed. "And what's with your ears, anyway?!" The purple skinned female twitched and Zella turned then, bringing the pot to the table.
"Dinner's ready. Hyou!" Lector resumed his seated position, glaring across the table at Pepper. "Pepper. Apologize. That was rude." Pepper looked offended that Zella even suggested that she had been rude.
"But I—Sorry. Lector." Pepper looked over at him briefly, then began eating her soup. Zella smiled, patting her head.
Soft footsteps from down that hall and Lector looked over his shoulder, watching as a small figure made its way down the hallway. The outline was familiar and it was a moment before he placed it. "Lily!" Lector jumped from the table, rushing towards the older Exceed. "Lily!"
The figure scuttled forward, diving towards Zella's legs and hiding behind them. "L-lily?" Teary green eyes peered out at the newcomer, his bottom lip trembling. Zella smiled at him apologetically, crouching down and scooping up the black Exceed.
"Hyou, this is Lector. It's alright, he's nice." Pepper snorted into her soup. "I invited him for dinner. I'm sorry, I should have told you we had a guest," her voice was quiet and soft, not unlike how one talks to a baby. Or a scared child. "Its' alright." The cat was placed beside Pepper and a bowl was placed before him. He watched Lector through scared eyes as the visitor crawled back up to his seat.
"H-hi…" Pepper rolled her eyes once again, but said nothing. Lector grinned. Hyou was quiet and timid, but Lector could help him be brave. But then he paused in that thought. Look at Frosch, after-all... "My vest…" Lector looked down at himself, then back at the Exceed wearing an identical red vest. It looked better on him, against his black fur.
"It was raining, so Zella's washing mine. Sorry." Hyou ducked his head, eating silently. Lector looked over at Zella and she shrugged lightly. "So what are you, Zella?"
"Hm?" Lector scooted a bit to face her better.
"What are you? What kind of Slayer?" The woman blinked at him, confusion etched across her features. "Water? Lightning? Poison?"
"Slay…er? Oh, oh no. I'm a mage, but my speciality's with cards, not elements. I'm not too exciting." Hyou shook his head, rising to walk over, resting a paw at her hand.
"You're amazing." She scooped him close, nuzzling cheeks with him and cooing about how cute he was. "You can predict anything, Zella!"
Lector blew out a breath. So much for the thought that all Dragon slayers had an Exceed. It seemed like a common theme, until now. And she didn't even know what he was talking about. What hole did she live in, anyway? Not recognizing the term 'Dragon Slayer'? Had she not watched the Grand Magic Games?
"Even if you're not a proper mage." Hyou shot Pepper an annoyed look and Lector was startled by the look he saw in Hyou's eyes. Now he was almost an exact copy of Lily!
"She's a proper mage, Pepper. You're not a proper lady though." Pepper looked offended once more, glowering at her fellow Exceed.
"At-least I don't cry at the drop of a hat, Hyou! Hyou, what a silly name for a little fraidy cat like you! You're no Panther! You're more like a mouse!" Hyou ducked closer to Zella and Lector raised a paw, trying to interject and diffuse the situation.
"I don't think—"
"That's enough, Pepper. We're family. Family doesn't hurt each other." She held Hyou close once more the Exceed trying not to cry. Pepper glared hard at her 'family'. "We get mad at each other, but at the end of the day, we're all we have."
Pepper wasn't done though.
"And whose fault is that?" Zella offered her a sad smile.
"Mine." Lector saw that Pepper was just as surprised at her answer as he was. "I'm sorry, Pepper. It's my fault we're all alone now. It's my fault I'm no longer a guild mage. And it's my fault that you both have to work so hard. I'm sorry." Hyou pressed close against her, his paw holding tight to her hand.
"It's not your fault, Zella…"
Lector felt as if he had ruined everything. He put Pepper in a bad mood, so Pepper had been mean to Hyou and Hyou had shot back at her. And then Zella stepped in, only to be attacked by Pepper. And then the room dropped about ten degrees and became extremely uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry, Lector. This must be awkward for you. I'll walk you back to Sabertooth." Hyou took an audible breath in and Lector immediately felt uneasy again.
"I-it's alright, I can go back on my—"
"Out of the question. It's still raining. Why would I go to all that trouble only to have you get sopping wet and catch a cold? Come on, let's see if your vest is done."
Pepper had opted to stay back at the apartment, still annoyed with Hyou and not wanting to get wet again. Hyou braved the streets at night with them, sitting stiffly on Zella's shoulder and holding the umbrella tightly. He—as Lector learned soon enough—was absolutely terrified of thunder. He was scooted as close as possible to Zella's neck, almost to the point that the umbrella was caught in her hair, but she didn't say a word, reaching up every so often and patting his paw. Lector was being carried in her arms, despite his insistence on walking. She argued it would defeat the purpose of her even washing his vest.
"Up ahead." It was hard to miss the Sabertooth Guild Hall, but he voiced its location nonetheless, his voice echoing flatly in the rain.
"Still impressive…" He looked up at her and she wore a small smile on her lips. "But a little different." He gazed at her for a moment longer.
She said she used to be a Guild Mage. Had she been Sabertooth? But her specialty was card magic, something the previous Master had thought weak. She couldn't have been Sabertooth. Then again… there was a different Master before, perhaps she had…? But she would have been only a child then. Some other Guild then.
"I want you to meet Sting-kun." Hyou snapped his head down to look at the red furred Exceed, his eyes wide. The umbrella jolted to the side, then he righted it, recovering Zella's head.
"I'd love to." Hyou looked at her in something Lector could only classify as panic.
Or maybe that was because of the thunder rumbling overhead. He wasn't sure.
"You will?" She nodded once and Lector smiled. "Sting-kun's really nice! He'll like you! And you can meet Fro, Hyou!" The black panther Exceed looked terrified at the prospect.
"I'm back!" One door to the hall was eased open and Lector jumped through, proclaiming his home coming.
"L-lector!" And a blonde was bolting towards him, tears in his eyes. Zella stepped in after the red cat, moving off to the side as she closed the umbrella and held Hyou in her arms. Lector had sprouted wings and flew towards him, the two meeting in the middle with much tears and happy words. Or scolding, in Lector's case, for being ditched in town.
"—and it's only cause Zella here washed my vest that I'm back!" The cat finished defiantly. Apparently, he was going with the story that he only came back because his vest—which had been drenched in mud and rain because of Sting—was now clean. Blue eyes zeroed in on her form and she stiffened, her hold tightening a bit on Hyou. The cat didn't complain, trying to press himself closer to her form and away from the many eyes now focused on them.
And older man at the bar stirred, his brain picking up on the words and processing them. Few noticed that he wasn't passed out drunk as usual—or that he had awakened from such a state moments before.
"You took care of Lector?" Sting questioned her, taking in her appearance and trying to recall if he ever met the teal haired girl before. She offered a smile, nodding.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Eucli—"
"Lizell van Wel." The smile faded and she flinched. Hyou held tight to her hand, pressed close against her chest. "So you've finally come home." Sting and Lector both turned, blinking owlishly at the man now turned on the bar stool, elbows propped back against the counter. Cold eyes took in the young woman's form, narrowing on her and the cat. "Been awhile."
There was a moment's pause and Zella raised her head, smiling at Lector. He saw something off with it, but it was a smile none the less. "I really should get back. It's getting worse now." She bowed her head to the Master of Sabertooth.
"A-ah, Zella, wait a—"
The door slammed shut and Zella stood before it, blinking at the sturdy oak. Hyou held at his ears, eyes closed tightly in panic. Lector looked back at the man at the bar, his arm raised with a dark glow around it. Those around him inched away, wary of the longtime member of Sabertooth.
Though everyone was more friendly and forming bonds with one another, having a freedom they never had before, some were still loners and preferred it that way, being civil but otherwise sticking to their own ways. He was one such man.
"Not so fast there." Sting frowned, looking back at the woman who had obviously made an impact on Lector—he wanted Sting to meet her after-all. Then he looked to the man, confused and trying to decipher his intentions. When at the Guild, he was either taking a job, drinking, or flat out drunk. This was something new.
"Burg, what are you doing?" The man grinned, currently ignoring his Master in favor of speaking to Zella.
"Can't a man even say hello to his beloved niece now a days? What's it been? Eight years?"
"Eight and a half." He rose from the stool, moving towards her. Lector saw her stiffen, her back still turned to them all, still facing the door, hoping it would open and release her. "I'd like to go home now." Sting stepped forward and there was three feet between the conflicting powers. Burg looked about ready to step past him, but his Master's narrowed gaze warned him otherwise.
"Burg."
"Master." Lector looked between the two before pulling lightly on Sting's pant leg. Burg let out a snort, the darkness disappearing from his arm. Zella pulled the door open, standing only for a moment in the open air.
"Good-bye, Lector," before pulling it shut behind her.
Burg turned, striding back to the bar and downing his glass in one gulp. "Explain yourself, Burg."
"No need." Lector tugged once more on Sting's pants, knowing that she was getting farther away now and who knew when he would see her again?
"Alright, Lector." The cat sprouted wings, racing towards the door and tugging it open, zooming out to track down Zella. "Burg, this isn't the end."
"Of-course not." Sting frowned, but turned away and followed after his partner, chasing down the teal haired girl.
"Zella!" Lector floated beneath her umbrella, shaking himself. She frowned lightly.
"And after all the trouble I went to, Lector…" she watched as Sting jogged closer. "Eucliffe-san."
"I'm sorry about him, Zel." He ran a hand through his hair, his lips pulled to one side in annoyance. "The one time he acts up, too… Jeez…" She stepped close, holding the umbrella over their heads. He beamed at her and Lector seated himself on Sting's shoulder while Hyou was still held tight in her arms. "Wait, an Exceed…? Are you a—"
"No, she's not." Lector cut him off, shaking his head sadly. "Too bad too. Sabertooth needs to match Fairy Tail's three. She has a rude one back home." Sting blinked at his partner.
"Two Exceeds…?" Hyou snuggled closer to her, wanting to go home and get away from this Guild. "Ah, that's right," he beamed once again, "thanks for taking care of Lector! I was worried about him!" Lector frowned at his partner.
"Then why weren't you out looking for me?!"
"Huh? Well, you know your way back to the Guild, don't you?" Lector pouted, crossing his arms and averting his eyes from the blonde's. "Thank you, Zel!" She smiling softly, nodding.
"I don't mind. Lector's very nice. If you ever want to stop by again and visit, feel free." Lector shrugged lightly. "And I promise, Pepper will be nicer."
"Well, if you insist. Could Sting-kun, Rogue, and Fro come too?" Zella reached out a hand, patting the cat's head.
"The more the merrier, Lector." She stepped back, taking the umbrella with her. "Take care, Lector, Eucliffe-san." She waved before jogging through the rain back towards her apartment.
Lector covered his head with his hands, taking flight in an effort to return to the warmth of Sabertooth faster.
Ah, first chapter~!
I love the Exceeds so much, I'm writing a story featuring them! Hooray!
Well, stay tuned for the next chapter! It might be awhile though, I have some tests over the next few weeks and then finals are coming up soon.
Until the next time, ciao~!