Beast of a Hero

Lady Countryrose

Ch. 3

After eating at the guild. Elfman took Lucy and Happy back to the house. Where insisted for Lucy to lay down. But she stubbornly requested that they could at least watch a movie. So he allowed her to win, the small argument. At least it was something that would relax her.

Once at the house, he laid her down on the couch. Along with Happy, who was laying on her belly. Trying to stay close to her as possible. Elfman wasn't angry with the blue cat. He understood...his need to be close.

Elfman had picked Phantom of the Opera. Hoping to have the music to wash over the detached woman. Knowing that she had been lost in her own thoughts. Thoughts that he could never imagine her going through. But knowing from the expressions that he had seen, they were deep.

He made his way into the kitchen, just has the opening song came upon the speakers. Elfman would never admit it to anyone, not even his sisters. But he always loved the music. It seemed to calm, even to his beasts.

'You would think Beauty and the Beast would be calming,' he thought to himself. But sadly; before Lucy, he found that movie to be depressing. Because, 'who would fall for a beast?' Sure he wasn't stuck in a mismatch beast form, even though he could turn into one. But he wasn't stuck in the form for a someone to fall for him.

He had started making dinner. A shrimp fettuccine with garlic bread, along with asparagus on the side. Elfman normally didn't cook pasta foods, but he felt like making it that night. Something was just...driving him to make it. 'Must be my inner beasts trying to woo Lucy through food.' He nearly chuckles at that thought.

He knew from watching nature shows that each animal had its own way of attracting a mate. He wondered if his beasts were doing it...through human costumes. At least it was something to think about. He also knew from years of watching Lucy that she was a practical person. Not someone who material things to measure one's worth. She had enough of that from living the rich life, as a child.

When it got to the point of "Sing for me, my angel of music…" Elfman made his way into the living room, to see Lucy sleeping. Enjoying the soft rise and fall of her chest. It was when he noticed a blanket had been thrown at her, while he was in the kitchen.

He glanced down to where he believed to be where Happy was. Sure enough, he was laying over the blanket. With his eyes fixed on the screen. "She was getting cold," stated the blue cat in a soft tone of voice.

Elfman smiled, "She's glad to have you around, Happy." He chuckled lightly before leaving the two alone. "Someone needs to be around...to do things like that for her."

After about twenty minutes of cooking time. His sisters came walking through the door. At a quieter volume than he used to. Then again, they probably knew that he was trying to get Lucy to lay down...seeing that they had left the guild earlier.

Mira and Lisanna came into the kitchen with smiles on their lips. "So," questioned Mira with a raised eyebrow. "Am I going to be an aunt...soon?"

"No," groused Elfman in softer tones. He glared at his older sister before his voice became harsh. "Where did you come up with an idea like that?"

"Well I don't know," she stated as she placed her hands on her hips. "Maybe by the way I have seen the two of you looking at each other." Her grin turning into a full-blown smile.

Lisanna glanced towards the living room. Where his own eyes had done the same. He was surprised to see Lucy still sleeping. Even with the amount of talking they were doing.

"Mira," he growled softly. "If you want to know what I'm planning on doing." He saw her nod, he took a deep breath. "Alright, but I was planning on wooing her. Take things slow, since she is going through something...traumatic and all."

"I see your point," Mira had clipped her voice. He hated hearing it but knew that she was serious about what she was thinking, at least. "I'll give you time...and allow things fall into place." She closed her eyes, as a groan left her lips. "On...their own."

Lisanna turned to her sister with a knowing look. "It must have hurt...to allow that to come out?" As the young woman giggled at her sister, lovingly.

"Yes," growled the elder sister. "It did…" She then glanced at the food that was being made. "Oh, your special." She then gave him a thoughtful look, as a smile pulled at her lips. "Nice choice…," as her voice carried off softly.

"Huh," asked Lisanna. Poor girl, she looked lost with their older sister's knowledge.

"Shrimp fettuccine is Elfman's special dish," Mira gave a knowing look towards him. "He will only make this when its either one of our birthdays…" She then glanced towards sleeping Lucy for a moment. "...or someone he's trying to...impress."

"Oh," the youngest purred softly. Smiling ever so brightly. Causing Elfman to worry. "Don't worry big brother," her eyes sparkling like a love-bitter idiot that he knew his whole could be. "You'll be able to charm her…"

It was then that Happy came flying into the kitchen. Hissing at them, "She's waking up!"

It was when he heard, "as I ask of you," with more than one singer. Knowing it was getting close to its end. He turned to his sister with a soft glare and low hiss. "Don't make this uneasy for her. Remember she did lose her apartment...as well as a friend."

Lisanna gave her elder sister a harsh look. "He's right, we need to put her needs before our wants of the future, big sis. He's only trying to make this easy on her."

Mira nodded, "Agreed." She glanced around, taking a deep breath. "I'll make some tea since dinner is almost ready."

It was then that Elfman turned everything off. Allowing things to cool down some, before making his way into the living room. Where he saw Lucy had just opened her eyes. She gave him a heartwarming smile, which caused something else to warm up as well. He had to keep his focus, he didn't want to scare her.

He went over towards her, seeing that she was sitting up. He sat down where he head was and pulled her gently back down. Getting her head to lay back down, onto his lap. He raked his fingers through her long blonde locks. Hearing her moan softly with hints of the pleasure of what he was doing.

'Mavis...she's going to kill me. Hopefully, it would be softly...to enjoy what's left of my life,' he thought. As he tried not to show that her moan had affected him.

"I didn't know...I was that tired," her voice sounded groggy from sleep. "I hope I wasn't boring you?" Her voice was sinful enough to hear. It was making his blood boil in a few places.

"No," his lips pulled into a smile. "I was starting on dinner. Since it needed to be done and all," his cheeks burning into a blush. He was trying ever so hard to keep his beasts at bay. Feeling a few of the stirring under the surface of his concerns. He can't afford any of them...to cause trouble.

"You know, Elfman," seeing the muscles of Lucy's lips moving to a smile. "You're the first that I've ever known...to cook."

"Is that a bad thing," he asked. He was only curious about her thoughts about it. It would give him an insight into what she thinks about.

"I find it, uplifting," she giggled. He just had a surprised look on his face for her to want to giggle. "I don't mean it as a bad thing," her voice carried her need for him to understand. She sat up and turned towards him. He was missing her warmth on his lap. "It just means you can do something that I...could never find myself doing well."

"I guess...we all have to eat," stated Elfman, knowing he was teasing her. "Might as well have it taste good." He was hoping he wasn't digging himself a hole after opening up to her.

"Persily," she exclaimed at him. Her lips pulled even more than he had ever seen before. "I've grown up around cooks, maids, and butlers. Every one of them has their own spin on things...as mundane as cooking." She gave a soft glare. "I could never find a way to cook as well as some of them," her voice carried off in a memory.

Elfman didn't know why had done it. But he raised his hand and gently grazed her cheek with his knuckle. Enjoying the sight of her closing her eyes. Seeing her lips open just a little, allowing a puff of air to leave her luscious lips.

"You liiiiike….," purred a blue blur. Before a sound of a thump had woken them up from their own trans.

Lucy closed her lips, opening her eyes to look around the room. Seeing the slight anger in her eyes. Making his blood burn even more. 'People fear that look…?'

"What was that," she asked, not seeing what made the sound. "Do you know…?" She shook her head for a moment before she smiled. "Then again...I don't think I want to know." Then she had gotten up to make her way into the kitchen, without any need for help.

Elfman huffed before getting up from his seat to look over the back of the couch. It was where he saw Lisanna with Happy in her arms, trying to cover his mouth. He couldn't help but chuckle at such a sight. "You know you're lucky, Happy," stated Elfman with a slight glare. "I think Lucy was about to skin you…"

Lisanna had let Happy go, as she was getting on her feet. She whispered, "Yeah, Happy. Then again, I think Elf might be the one to do it too…" She pointed towards Elfman. By the look of the blue cat, he could only imagine that he was not too thrilled with him.

Happy had let out an uneasy giggle, "Hey, Daddddddy…" Causing Elfman to worry. He knew that Happy was picking on him about the whole Dad thing from that morning. But to have the little furball to use it, it was just asking for it.

"What do you want," he might as well ask. Since the little guy was going to be apart of his life.

"Could you make...some strawberry cream tarts? Lucy loves those." Happy gave him a sad looking smile. "It might also feel better…"

Elfman sighed, his lips pulling back into a smile. "Lucky for you...I was thinking about making dessert." But he had no idea of what to make. Since he did want to make something for her. "Later...tonight."

"Come to the kitchen everybody," called out Mira. As she was grabbing cups, dishes, and silverware. "We don't want this going cold."

After dinner, Lucy found herself back in the living room with Mira and Lisanna. They were hearing Happy in the kitchen with Elfman. Where she found out that the blue hairball was cleaning dishes. The right way.

Lisanna smiled, "It looks like you're doing well. What got you to move around if you don't mind me asking."

Lucy smiled, trying not to laugh. She was glad that she was able to talk, at least. "I think it has something to do with going for a swim…"

The young mage gasped, "You didn't actually swim…?" She saw the worriedness that Lisanna had for her.

She shook her head, "No. Elfman had me floating in the lake...and he was next to me." Her voice is kind and gentle. Something she hadn't heard in a long time. 'Maybe I should have worked with other people sooner…'

Lucy was afraid after seeing Mira giving a knowing look. She hated that look. It told her that nothing could come from that look, alone. "I heard that you gained three Dragon Slayer siblings today."

'Oh, thank Mavis… It's only something less life-changing ways of hers.' Lucy smiled, feeling her cheeks warm up. "Yeah...I did." A part of her was still surprised that they wanted to have a kinship with her. She knew that Wendy had viewed her as a sister, but never imagined Laxus and Gajeel. That was a surprise that only fates could have seen.

Lisanna gave a thoughtful look. "Why did they...kinned you? Is that even a word?"

"No," giggled Lucy, trying to fight to breathe. But only ended up coughing. "They kin me for my protection. Stating that by law, they'll protect me...even more other slayers that I might in to."

"Oh," the short white-haired woman gasped. "Kind of like having your very own personal guard or something…?"

The blonde Celestial Mage giggled, "I've never really thought of it like that!" As her laughter grew a little before it calmed down. "I guess, having a bunch of Dragon Slayers on my side like that, I can see your point about having them as my personal guard." She sighed, "If I was a princess or something...but I never once thought of myself like that…"

"Not even when most of your spirits call you that," questioned Mira with a knowing look. "I've also heard that you're on respectable terms with the Spirit King if I'm not mistaken?"

"I am...but only because I treat my spirits like how anyone would like to be treated." She glanced towards her hands. "Nothing more...nothing less.."

Lisanna sighed, "I didn't mean for disrespect Lucy." Her smile showed that she was uneasy about upsetting the blonde. "I know there is a lot of about your magic that no one else knows." She glanced towards the kitchen for a moment. Before whispering enough to where the other girls could hear her. "But what's worth, I think you have one devoted knight...in the kitchen."

Lucy whipped her head up to see Lisanna's happy go lucky smile. As well as the dreamy look from Mira. She was starting to feel uneasy about the whole thing. But if she was, to be honest with herself. Truly honest. She would be agreeing with the youngest Strauss sibling.

'I don't know that much about Elfman, to really think about something like that. Even them hinting something like that...when I'm more worried about my safety. Against someone who I had thought was my friend...really isn't the time to think anything else.'

"Whatever the two of you are thinking," Lucy asked, glaring at the two. "It's really not the time… Not when other things are more important. Like...for me to breathe."

Mira chuckled softly, "You do have a point." Her smile grew, as she glanced towards the kitchen for a moment. "But...remember to not to push happiness away Lucy. For it only comes...at least once in our lives."

Lucy understood Mira's meaning, it wasn't the term happiness that she was thinking. She was mainly implying about love. Yes, Lucy understood the notion of love. Because it truly did come once in a lifetime. She knew that much with her own parents, who had truly loved one another.

"Mira," Lucy gasped, as she was trying to breathe. She knew that she had been talking a whole lot more than she had wanted to. But she wanted to act her normal self. Not the weak that everyone needs to protect all the time.

"Why do you do that," Lucy asked. It never occurred to her until that moment to even ask.

The she-demon shrugged. "Why not," she asked, showing off her bubbly self. "Everyone deserves to be happy, Lucy…" The blonde understood her underlying meaning. Loud and clear. "If everyone had found their slice of heaven, the world could be a better place…"

"And what do you get out of it," Lucy asked, knowing there was a catch. There was always a catch.

Her eyes became hearts, as her hands rested on her own heart. "To see little ones, pitter, and patter across the guild…" She took a deep sight. "Especially if I could see...blonde hair and blue eyes or even white hair and brown eyes…"

"Mira," called out a deep baritone voice from the kitchen. "You better stop it right there! It's not very manly to corner someone on your...beliefs on the matter…!"

"Elfman," Mira cried out, raised her hands to her cheeks. "Whatever do you mean?!" Sure she sounded incent and all, but the way she was acting. It was beyond what she was hoping for.

"Don't make me go and find Laxus…" His threat had a desired effect on the woman. She started to stutter a bit. "You wouldn't want him to come all manly on you, once realize that I would give him permission…"

Lucy glanced at Lisanna for a moment. She saw the younger Strauss blushing like no tomorrow for her sister. "Am I missing something," asked Lucy.

"Yes," giggled the short haired woman. Her eyes glowing in mischief, as she was enjoying her sister's discomfort. "Oh, I say that yes you are missing something." The girl giggled some more, as Mira shook her head and waving her hands about. "Mira has been heart throbbing for Laxus for many years… The only reason he wouldn't date her. Is that Elfman would kill him if he tried."

"Okay," stated Lucy with a small grin. "So… I take it that Elfman might...allow it to happen. Because she is...doing her matchmaking again?"

Lisanna's giggles turning into laughs. "He told her if she tried to butt into his life again. He was going to give Laxus a stern talking to. Before he pushed the Lightning Slayer into big sister's sights… Knowing that we may never see them for days…"

Lucy smirked. Seeing Mira being uncomfortable about having her life...being laundered for her. But she was also sad for the older woman. She wanted to know, why she hadn't tried to find her own 'bit of happiness'? So she asked.

"Well," Mira answered with sadness in her eyes. "After...taking care of a demon from where we had once lived… I was afraid that no one...would want to be around me. But when joining Fairy Tail...it was a hard adjustment to make for me."

She took a deep breath, as she glanced towards her siblings for a moment. "Originally, I was going to leave them, while I traveled. I would have left them, knowing that they would be happy…"

"Oh, Mira," gasped Lucy.

She waved her hand. "But they came and brought me back. Because they wanted to learn Takeover magic...so that they have something in common with me." She laughed softly. "It was the happiest moment of my life, at least from what I've remembered."

A couple of tears left her eyes. "It was when I knew that I was met to stay. But shortly after that...I had found an odd friendship with Laxus." She laughed a little. "Did you know that he had protected my brother from being harassed... by others at the guild. Back when...he was…"

"A geek," supplied the man in the other room. "The little nerdy boy, who was overthinking things…" He chuckled, as well as his two sisters. "You know, it doesn't bother me...knowing that I was once was one."

Lucy smiled softly. "If I hadn't seen the pictures when I had first started. I would think that you'll be lying." She giggled, thinking about each picture that she had seen. "It is really hard to picture you that way...with all that muscles and all."

After a few moments, Elfman came into the living room with plates in his hands. "I, sometimes I have issues, remembering such things." He gave his own smile towards the blonde, before handing off a plate to her. "Enjoy, it's something that Happy had requested that I make."

He sat down close to her, once she had shifted to where he was able to. Lucy had taken a bite from the tart. Her eyes closed as she hummed. "Strawberry cream tarts, yum!" She smiled as her cheeks redden. "This is much better...then where I usually get them."

Elfman chuckled softly, "Like I said. Happy wanted me to make them," his lips pulled into a smile. "But I'm happy that you're enjoying them…"

After the desert, Lucy had gotten to her feet. Which caused Elfman to hop up as well. Lucy raised her arms, laughing. "It's alright...I'm fine!"

"I know that you're getting better, Lucy. But you should keep on resting...you did have a lot of smoke going into your system," he stated kindly.

Lucy smiled, she never felt so...enjoyable about someone wanting to take care of her. "I was going to simply go upstairs...and maybe take a bath."

Mira hopped onto her own feet, with a smile on her lips. "Come with me. You can use my bathroom, Lucy. I can also provide you something to sleep in since you look well enough to walk."

"Thanks, Mira." Lucy's eyes found their way back to Elfman. Seeing that he was not comfortable with her walking. "I'll have Happy nearby if that will make you happy. He'll even get you if I need anything."

"Alright," he stated with a grumpy sound. He was not at all too happy about her, wanting a little independence all of a sudden. As the two looked into each other's eyes, a thump sounded through the house. A sigh left his lips as he closed his eyes. "I was kind of expecting this to happen," he growled. "It seems your old fire-breathing friend has found you."

"Will he come through," Lucy as with worry in her voice.

"No," stated Mira with happiness in her voice. "As long as no one invites him. He'll stay out of the house. Freed's runes with notify him about the disturbance and he'll bring the slayers with them. Since I did request him to do so if something happened with the runes."

Elfman grumbled, "I'm going to the porch and watch...things from there. I'll even join in on the fight when the others show up." His lips pulled into a smile. "Might as well having training from all of this…"

Lisanna sighed, "I'll go to my room." Her eyes glanced towards the floor. "I don't know if I ever want to see the boy...who I had always been friends with." She rushed up the stairs, hoping to outrun the fire that seemed to have followed her.

"Come, Lucy," called Mira, as she was making her way towards the stairs.

The blonde gave a small smile before leaving with the elder sister, with Happy at her heels. Before Elfman turned and walked out of the house. Facing the menace that started it all.

"What do you want, Natsu?" Elfman had huffed after he had asked his question. In all honesty, he may have expected the Fire Dragon Slayer to show up. But he was hoping to be wrong. At least, this one time.

"WHERE'S LUCE!" Natsu slammed his fists onto the runes that surrounded the house. He was heaving as his eyes flashed with uncontrolled anger. "I want her, Elfman! She wasn't supposed to be with you!"

The muscled man sat in one of the chairs. He was going to enjoy seeing the slayer tiring himself out. He knew that he didn't really stand a chance against him. Not when he was surprising angered and his surprising luck of winning all the time.

"She's safe," stated Elfman. He had wondered at times, how could Natsu mistreat his friends. Even when he knew that dragons value many things in life. 'He was massively young when Igneel had left him…'

"No, she's not! Not when there are others that are going to take her away from me!" The fire slayer had started to use his fire magic against the runes. Again, nothing happened. Except for the barrier had kept Natsu out. "I WANT TO SEE HER!"

"No Natsu," he was starting to see others from the guild making their way to them. He knew that he was going to have to stay Natsu's focus on him. "She doesn't want ANYTHING to do WITH YOU! You have scared her, Natsu! She doesn't want TO SEE YOU!"

"LIAR," cried out the pink-haired menus. He started to hit the barrier with even more. His anger was building as well as the heat behind his fire. "I DESTROYED HER BUILDING, SO SHE COULD LIVE WITH ME! NOT YOU!"

Wack, down went Natsu. Just as a metal bar was making its way away from him. "Stay away from Bunny, Salamander!" The fire-breather turned, once he had landed on the ground. "Not a fat chance, Metal-Head!"

That was when a massive fight had accelerated, four against one had started. Lightning, metal, rune-darkness, and beasts-souls against fire. It was enough to cause many from the nearby guild to come out and see for themselves of what's happening. While the rest of the town had known enough to stay away.

The guild as a whole; except for Lucy, Lisanna, and Mira, the rest had managed to subdue Natsu. It had taken everyone to tire him out before he was given cuffs to cut his magic. Allowing him to calm down.

Marokrov grumbled, after seeing the damage. Not in property, but on human bodies. "I want everyone back the guild! I will send word to Porlyusica and have Wendy to help her. After everyone had healed up...we will have a...quiet party."

Elfman sighed, "Do we have to be there?"

"No," the master of the guild, shook his head. "I think, the four of you need time away from the guild. Take a few days...I'll handle everything else." He reached for Elfman's wrist and tapped him. "Help Lucy recover...I know she's in a big need of good friends."

Elfman could only do was nod, as he watched everyone making their way back to the guild. Even though it was late at night. But everyone needed to heal up. He really didn't much healing. Just a bit of rest, which would allow his beasts to help heal him.

He made his way back into the house. Closing the door behind him, he saw Mira before him. She didn't look too happy.

"What's going on?"

"Natsu showed up, then the rest of the guild to help calm him down. Everyone is heading there to get healed."

Mira closed her eyes. "Do we need to go, as well?"

"No," Elfman smiled as he made his way towards his sister. "Master wants us to stay away...to relax." He glanced out towards the window. Showing everyone that were still making their way towards town. "He said that he'll take care of everything else…"

"So...a vacation?"

"It looks like he," he glanced around. Hoping that he would be able to see someone. "Where's Lucy?"

"Laying down...in your room." Mira gave a smile. "She wasn't worried about what was going on. She remembered Freed's runes well enough to know that she was safe. She fell asleep as the fighting was getting louder…" She giggled, shaking her head. "You should take a shower, before heading to bed, yourself."

"I will," he stated as he lightly laughed. He made his way up to his bedroom. Where he found Lucy laying in his bed. Wearing one of his sister's interesting, skin showing, sleepwear. It made him gulp. "I sometimes wonder, who is trying to kill me…"

He noticed that Happy was laying by the window sill. After Elfman had grabbed a few things. He headed towards the bathroom. Knowing that he needed to clean himself.

As he stepped under the showerhead. He called for his beasts, he wanted answers as to why..he was feeling the way he was towards...Lucy.

'Beasts...I need answers. Why do you feel strongly for the blonde?' He knew years ago to never say someone's name. It wasn't how they work. They were more into smell and color than anything else.

'She's ours!'

He had found that it wasn't just one but all of them had stated at once. It drove him into his subconscious to where he could see them. Face to face. It was when he has seen all their form, standing before him. It pleased him to see that none of them were in a fighting mood, just aware.

'Tell me more, I need to understand.' Elfman was grasping at anything and everything. So that he would be able to know where they stand. If any of them were on the same page.

'She is ours to protect,' he heard from many. It pleased him to hear it all the same. 'Ours to keep, mate, and be happy…' It was when he realized what they wanted. It was the first time that they had voiced that they wanted a relationship with...anyone. Sure they were protective when it came to family. And they saw his sister as such...after a long lengthy fight with them.

'So...she's more than family?'

'Yes...much more.'

He pulled away from his inner beasts. He had found his answers. He knew why he was starting to become...overprotective of the Celestial Mage. He really couldn't be much happier to know that they wanted her as well.

Once he was done with his shower. He dried off and changed into some shorts before heading to his bed. He had picked Lucy into his arms, before laying onto his bed. He moved Lucy, allowing her to cuddle near his shoulder. Where he heard a long sigh leaving her lips in content. Knowing she was enjoying skin on skin contact.

He took a deep breath in content. Enjoying every moment with her. "How does one woo a creature like you," he whispered to the dark room.

Happy spoke up from where he was laying. "You're on the right road in doing so, Elfman. By being who you are. She'll never want anything more than that," stated the blue cat.

Elfman chuckled softly, making sure that he wasn't moving Lucy. He was enjoying his time with her. Now that Natsu was...somewhat out of the way. He could do other things with her. As he was falling asleep, he was picturing things of what he would like to do…