Lucy awoke the next morning with a sleepy grin on her face. Yawning, she patted her hand around next to her in an attempt to wake the dragon slayer that slept next to her. Her hand touching nothing but blankets she looked over to find that her bedmate had left, and by how cool the sheet felt it had been an hour at least. She sighed lightly, as she got out of bed and began her morning routine.
'He probably went home to get ready for the mission,' she thought as she prepared a bath. She stripped off her clothes and lowered herself into the warm water, savoring the heat as it touched her skin. She soaked for about a half hour thinking over the events that would take place that day. She'd meet Natsu at the train station in about an hour, then they'd go and meet the client to review what they need to be on the lookout for. The party wouldn't be until 7pm so they would have a few hours to prepare beforehand. She blushed slightly thinking about the mission. Natsu would be taking her and acting as her boyfriend. So they would have to dance together right.
Lucy's eyes widened at that thought. Does Natsu even know how to dance? She shook her head quickly, telling herself not to worry on such matters. "Of course he can..." She muttered to herself as she stood up and got out of the bath.
Drying herself she decided to wear her usual attire to meet the client, and picked out a powder blue and white formal gown to wear for the night. Packing that, she picked out a pair of light grey heels, a necklace with a small blue gemstone and a silver hair clip to complete the look. She began to zip her bag closed but stopped herself halfway, then retrieved an extra set of casual clothes for the following day as well as a sleep shirt.
Zipping her bag shut she placed it by the door and proceeded to blow dry her hair. After that she did up her hair, double checked that she packed all she needed, and quickly wrote a letter to her mother regaling the events of the day prior. She finished the letter, pressed a wax seal on it, and placed it with the other similar letters.
Deciding she was all set and spying the time she grabbed her belt with her keys and whip and proceeded to the door, grabbing her bag by a handle on the top. She opened the door quickly, narrowly missing a figure that was standing in it's path.
Startled, Lucy squeaked, "I'm so sorry!"
Her eyes widened as the figure waved off her apology, "It's fine. It's fine, I shouldn't 've been standing that close anyway." Muttered Laxus.
"What are you doing here?" Inquired Lucy, "is everything okay?"
"Yeah! Everything is fine!"Laxus grinned happily at the blonde standing in the doorway. "I was just checking up on you, to make sure you were okay after everything that had happened last night." Lucy blushed, thinking back to the night prior. Laxus eyed her with interest and rose an eyebrow at her, gesturing at the bag she gripped tightly. "Where are you off to?"
Lucy looked up at him, still unsure as to why he was being so...nice...to her. "I'm about to head out on a mission with Natsu." She handed him the mission request paper, "Natsu said that it's be perfect for me since I need the rent money and I like dresses."
Laxus chuckled, thinking back to the times that Bixlow had called her a cosplay queen. He stopped that thought suddenly as he noted that it was a dance. Handing the paper back to her he asked, "Does that flame-brain even know how to dance though?"
Lucy hung her head as she tucked the paper in her bag, "I don't know." She sighed. "But it should be fine." She smiled warmly at the lightning dragon slayer, somehow finding herself increasingly more comfortable around him as they talked. She had been unsure about how to feel when she had seen him the first time at the guild, back when she went on the mission to Galuna. After that she had grown to either fear him or hate him as he ignored the guild during the phantom lord incident and when he attacked the guild personally soon after. Maybe she felt both.
But then, after he had come back during the s class exam and after the master reluctantly let him back in the guild she wasn't sure what to think anymore. He had avenged her underhanded defeat during the grand magic games too. And then that rescue the night before... is he acting like he's starting to care? Lost in thought of the past she hadn't realized that Laxus had been talking to her until he had called her name numerous times and touched her shoulder.
"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked, his voice full of concern.
She waved him off, blushing lightly, "I'm fine, really! Just thinking."
"Uh huh." Laxus narrowed his eyes in disbelief, "you have a train to catch right?" Lucy nodded, unsure what brought that on. Laxus grabbed her bag and flipped it over his shoulder, gently enough that it wouldn't slap his back and damage anything inside. "Let's go then," he walked off down the street. Stopping a bit ahead he waved for the dumb-struck girl to follow, "I'll walk you to the train, Blondie. Just to be safe." He said the last quietly.
Jogging up to him she thanked him for the offer and proceeded to attempt to regain possession of her bag.
"Nah ah." He turned, moving the bag out of her reach again, "I insist miss." He said laughing quietly. Huffing, Lucy stopped her attempts and walked heavily next to the taller blonde, frustrated.
The walk to the train station went surprisingly quick, as the pair lost themselves in conversation along the way. A shout of anger and the station's doors busting open to reveal a confused and concerned Natsu running at them snapped them out of their chatter.
"Laxus! What are you doing with Lucy?!" He asked, still unsure as to whether or not he should be worried for her.
"Natsu! It's alright." Lucy shouted as she quickly positioned herself so she was standing in front of Laxus in an attempt to block the path of the charging dragon slayer.
Screeching to a halt, Natsu grabbed Lucy by the shoulders, "What is he doing here?" He asked in as quiet of a manner as his stress would allow. While he looked up to the lightning dragon slayer he was quick to assume that Lucy may be in danger without him around, and whether or not Laxus was the cause.
"He was walking down the street when I was, so I asked him to help me to the station since my bag was heavy." She lied. Lucy was concerned that if Natsu found out that she had been attacked while he was sleeping peacefully he would be furious. And if Natsu found out that Laxus had saved her, not to mention kissed her as well... Well, Lucy didn't want to think of his reaction at this time. She decided she'd tell him some other time, when he wasn't as volatile.
"Yeah. And there's no way I can turn down a girl in need." Laxus said as he caught on to her fib. He put a friendly hand on her shoulder, reassuring her that he would say nothing on the matter. 'Best to avoid that dumb conflict if I can.' He thought, before smiling awkwardly at Natsu.
Releasing his grip on Lucy, Natsu looked Laxus in the eye a few moments before smiling at both blondes. "Oh!" He said cheerfully, "Thanks a bunch Laxus!" Before he could say anything more a worried blue form flew over shouting.
"The train's about to leave you guys! Hurry up!" Happy started waving frantically at the group trying to get them to rush.
"Oh no!" Lucy wailed as she heard the train whistle, "Hurry Natsu!" She shouted as she grabbed his wrist and dragged him to the loading platform.
Slightly startled at the commotion, Laxus stood holding Lucy's bag in one hand and his other hovering over where the blonde had previously been standing. Quickly realizing she ran off he chased after to at least give her the bag before the train set off.
Rushing onto the train, Natsu found an empty bench and seated himself near the isle, mentally prepping himself for the train ride. Lucy sat next to him, and Happy cuddled onto her lap. Following the group, Laxus stomped on board and quickly put the bag on a spare seat for Lucy. She thanked him for his help and he wished her luck, turned and headed for the door.
Another whistle and the conductor announced they would be heading out. The doors slapped close in front of him. The train jerked into movement and the fire dragon slayer immediately went green and leaned on Lucy. Laxus, but mere steps from safety began sweating bullets. Glancing over his shoulder at Lucy he saw her smile awkwardly at him and patted the seat next to her for him to sit.
Taking the invite, he seated himself hard and looked out the window, muttering to the blonde staring at him, "I guess I'll be tagging a long then." He accidentally bit his lip hard as the train jerked a turn.
Lucy put a hand on his leg as he leaned his face on the cool glass of the window. "Thank you." Lucy whispered. She didn't want to admit that she was comforted by knowing that she'll have both dragon slayers by her side. He griped her hand softly, closing his eyes as he attempted to absorb the cold from the glass and fight off waves of nausea.
(To be continued...)
Characters are not owned by me; All named characters are property of Hiro Mashima from his series, Fairy Tail.
This is meant to be a fan fiction, written by a fan (Shey), for entertainment purposes only.
