Ok, so far there are only two votes on the poll. -_- I am not pleased. VOTE NOW! And I'll tell you now, it's not Natsu or Gray. Also dividers aren't working at all.
Just to warn you this will almost be like an arc of my own creation, so it's based on the story and there has been a seven year time skip but we can just pretend we are past the tournament.
I'm trying to make their reactions as manga/anime like as possible, but it is hard when it is written work, so you will really need your imaginations ok? Thanks!
Chapter Warning: innuendos, language and slight sexual harassment
(THIS IS A DIVIDER)
Chapter Two: The Rumour Mill
Natsu and Lucy were only a few streets away from the guild and had now slowed their pace to normal speed, with Happy gliding overhead.
The blonde looked at her companion and asked, "Natsu why were you even in my bed?"
"Huh? Oh! I found a great mission for us so I went to your place to show you but you were asleep, and I tried to wake you up but you grabbed my arm and rolled over. So if you think about it you kind of yanked me onto the bed." He ended with closed eye, cheeky grin.
"EH?" Lucy exclaimed whilst turning red in appearance.
"I don't see why it's such a big deal; I sleep in your bed all the time. Anyway you're the one that always moves closer to me–" he stated nonchalantly.
"I can't help it! You're warm and it's instinctive!" Lucy defended. "Can we just stop talking about it please?"
"We're at the guild anyway Lucy." Stated Happy as he dropped on her head, his new seating place apparently.
The three friends approached the large wooden doors that served as the main entrance to the large building that they thought of as their real home, it wasn't just a place to grab a mission and go, it was so much more. It was where they laughed, celebrated, cried, and occasionally mourned. This was where they belonged.
And judging by the clamour that seemed to be radiating from the dwelling, either Cana was having a drinking contest with Gildarts, or Erza had brought big news from her S-class mission.
The three friends all looked at each other with excited smiles before rushing, curious to see what the hullabaloo was about.
The room went quiet and all eyes were on them. Urm… what's going on? Thought Lucy, uncomfortable with all the stares.
The whole guild –with the exception of Gajeel– was in one massive group at the bar, all crowding round Lucy's self-proclaimed 'Prince', Loke. Lucy had a good idea of what was behind the situation.
"eh….." she seemed frozen from mortification, meanwhile a certain Fire Dragon Slayer, was in blissful ignorance –he was just a little confused.
Gildarts and Cana seemed to shoot each other devilish smirks, before sauntering over to the newcomers. Gildarts turned to Natsu with a proud grin and gave him a congratulating thump on the back. "Well done Natsu, didn't think you had it I you." Elfman followed it up by calling out to him from the crowd. "Now you're a man Natsu!" Lucy flushed a deep crimson and Natsu, despite not knowing what they were going on about, beamed appreciatively at their praise.
Happy joined in, also unconscious of what was so meritable. "Aye!"
Cana went to Lucy's side and put her arm around her neck. "Wow Lucy, here was me thinking you were a prude." She chortled. Everyone started swarming to the pair .
"Now Cana, don't tease her." said Mira in a mock scold, turning to Lucy she giggled softly. "I think it's great you two are together!" She was clearly excited for the couple. It was then Natsu caught on.
He let lose an almighty guffaw, dropped to the ground and rolling around, before banging the side of his fist against the parquet floor, his eyes threating to release tears as he convulsed and grabbed his sides in painful mirth. The pink haired boy tried to get a coherent sentence out, but failed immensely.
Now it was everyone else's turn to be muddled, the large gathering of nakama just stared at him, completely bewildered.
Finally he seemed to calm down as he sat up and let out a sigh of content. "We aren't together!" He exclaimed, clearly amused.
This just served to confuse most of his guild mates more. "Wait…" Said a rather dazed Mira, handing the two some drinks of water.
"You aren't a couple?" asked Macao.
"NO!" Answered Lucy, still contemplating calling Virgo to dig a hole for her to hide in.
"So you are in a relationship void of commitment but not in… other things…?"Juvia asked as she approached, unsure of what the girl had got herself into… or what got into her.
"Huh?" was the reply she received from many of the guild.
Laxus stepped in and explained. "What he means is 'Are you fuck buddies?'. Right Juvia?" The Water mage seemed slightly bashful as she looked away and simply nodded.
At this point both Lucy and Natsu Spit out their water in surprise and started to chock on it. Even Natsu seemed get flustered at the suggestion and quickly stated that he simply liked her bed.
"Real men don't sneak into a woman's bed at night. " Yelled Elfman.
"Shut up!" Natsu shouted back. "It's not my fault she grabbed me and pulled me into bed with her!"
"Aye! She did." Happy concurred.
"KYA!" Lucy screamed, all eyes were now on to her again and jaws were dropped.
Gray and Loke turned to each other and shared a look of disbelief.
Erza just blinked in surprise at Lucy. "I had no idea you were so forceful."
Bixlow approached Lucy laughing, and threw his arm round her waist on the side Cana was not on. "Well we already know she's a cosplay loving, whip wielding woman with a nice tits. So I'm not that surprised ." He laughed whilst sliding his hand down from waist to cup one of the cheeks of her bottom. Lucy gasped.
Loke ran at an inhuman speed to his master and delivered a punch so strong Bixlow was flew back and landed outside of the Guild. The look on the Celestial Spirit's face was rage embodied. Loke stalked over to the Seith mage growling at him. "Don't touch her you bastard!"
Erza, Gray and Natsu all followed suit. Deeply angered anyone that he harassed their precious friend. Sure Bixlow was nakama too, but he wasn't acting it and he needed to be taught some manners.
They in turn were followed by Cana, Elfman, Juvia, Jet, Droy, Bisca, Alzack, Reedus and a few others.
Currently they were just glaring at Bixlow in the street, it was evident many of them wanted to do a lot more than just have a staring contest. The rest of the Thunder God Tribe just stayed at their table, sending Bixlow disapproving looks –He may be their partner, but they agreed he was in the wrong.
Bixlow just laughed and stuck his tongue out at the offended party, from his seat on the ground. That was enough to anger them into approaching him, ready to beat the living crap out of him –they were all incredibly infuriated.
"Come on then!" challenged Bixlow. "Show me what you're made of, you straight laced arses!" he smirked.
Erza traded a hard glance with Loke, then with Natsu and Gray, it read: I want the first hit. They all wanted it, but they weren't going to deny their Titania. They each nodded in turn, and she unsheathed her sword.
This is really taking it too far, I need to stop them. Thought Lucy, as she watched her dear friend's sword flash with the morning sun.
A crowd of bystanders had begun to gather, curious of why Fairy Tail were quarrelling with one of their own. If this turns into an all-out battle, at least Bixlow is going to get hurt, not to mention my friends and bystanders and… oh no. The property damage.
She launched herself out of the door and past her comrades, only to place herself in front of Bixlow, her arms and legs stretched, blocking Erza's path.
She could hear Bixlow's amused chuckle behind her. "What's this? The damsel in distress is protecting me? That's ironic." He struck a nerve, she always felt useless, the weakling of the guild, but she ignored it.
The Celestial Spirit mage addressed her friends. "This is unnecessary guys, this whole situation is out of hand. I pulled Natsu on the bed because I was asleep and he left the window open so it was cold, and he is very warm. It was instinctive, I had no idea I was doing it. I had tried to tell you that Loke but you just wouldn't listen and instead went running to tell the guild–"
"I didn't run to tell them! They would stop questioning me!" interrupted Loke.
"He looked down so everyone wanted to know what happened–" added Gray.
"I DON'T CARE!" Lucy cut him off. "Bixlow was crude and an idiot, but you are all completely overreacting. Please let's just go back inside." She said calmer.
Most of the guild turned around and headed back inside, except for her team mates, which included Loke. They waited until Bixlow had got up from the ground and passed Lucy, casually throwing a hand up to wave behind to the blonde. "Thanks cosplay girl." And sauntered off back to the Thunder God Tribe, receiving dark looks on the way.
Lucy exchanged glances with her teammates and walked back into the guild, with her comrades close behind.
When they were all seated at their usual table, the young blonde asked Natsu what this perfect mission was, she needed to take her mind off the morning's events –not to mention rent.
"I think I'm going to go now. Goodbye everyone." Said Loke before fading with a golden shimmer.
Natsu perked up instantly. He reached into his well concealed trouser pocket and got out a crumpled request. " It says: 'Urgent assistance required. Unknown creature is wreaking havoc in Hargeon Town. We do not have a local guild or many mages because we are a town that relies on fishing and shipping items, but fishing nets are being destroyed while fishing, they are slashed to shreds, and ships have been sunk by something pulling them under.' "
"Isn't Hargeon town where we met? " Lucy asked the Dragon Slayer.
"Yep!" He beamed.
"Didn't you destroy most of it in the fight with Bora?" She questioned him.
"I don't think they will want you back anytime soon, ash-brain." Remarked Gray.
"It's been over 7 years though, they'll be cool I'm sure." He shrugged it off.
"We can cross that bridge when we come to it." Stated Erza. "What is the reward?"
"572,000 Jewels and a free weekend in Balsam Village!" Natsu replied excitedly.
"That's the only reason you picked it isn't it?" Erza asked, disapproving his rash judgement.
"Did you see the buffet they have there?" He retorted.
"It does look really good Erza." Happy tried to convince her, using his cuteness as a weapon, he knew now she had a weakness for cute things. Her eyes sparkled for a brief moment and then she jerked her head away quickly to resist his charm. "F-fine."
"I must admit it sounds great, a good amount of money and a weekend break. But we know nothing about the creature, it sounds risky." Lucky argued.
"Please Lucy?" Natsu and Happy actually whined, attempting the kawaii tactic again. She sighed.
"Fine, fine. When do we leave?" she relented.
"Tomorrow morning at ten?" Suggested Gray.
"Sounds good to me!" said Natsu.
"Aye! Me too!" exclaimed Happy.
"I shall go pack now." Announced Erza whilst rising from her seat, knowing how long it would take for her. The armoured woman strode toward the entrance, but stopped at the bar to tell Mirajane they had taken the mission so she could record it. Erza then wished both Mira and Master Makarov good night. "Wait a minute please Erza." Requested the short man pleasantly. "Could you please send Lucy into my office?"
"Of course Master." She replied before turning back to her three team mates who were now sharing a joke between themselves.
"Lucy," The blonde looked up to meet her eyes. "Master wants to see you in his office."
"Oh okay, thank you." Lucy chirped. "I'll be back soon guys." She addressed Gray and Natsu. "Bye Erza!" she hollered, on her way to the door on the left to the bar, her small heels tapping on the floor.
(THIS IS A DIVIDER)
He watched her walk with confidence across the room, he watched her walk right past him. She didn't take a long route around him or quicken her pace when passing, the blonde mage just moved naturally. She wasn't in the least scared of him. So why could no one else trust him? He had gone on dangerous missions as per the request of Makarov, his abilities were above the Rain woman's, above the Ice mage's, above the pink haired idiot, above most of them in fact –yet he was always pushed aside. Because he had tortured her. So why was she the only one that didn't resent him?
(THIS IS A DIVIDER)
Sorry this chapter went downhill, I may rewrite it one day, I was just so tired and I still have writer's block (even though it's been a year!), I really am forcing myself to write. Not in a bad way though.
It's going to get better. The story doesn't really start until now. ^_^
REMEMBER! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! THE POLL IS ON MY PROFILE!
And please review, constructive criticism is welcome with open arms!