Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. If I did, Zeref would still be alive.
Chapter 2: Welcome to Fairy Tail.
Lucy walked the Hargeon's streets, pulling Mystogan by the hand. Both were completely unaware of the looks they were receiving. Lucy arrived at the hotel where she had left her things before leaving for the party on the supposed Salamander's ship. She thanked the heavens for having forgotten the open door and left the key inside the room because she did not have enough money to pay for a new key.
"You can sit there." She pointed to the sofa by the window that had a heavy white curtain. "Two days without a bath, I don't know how you got to sleep next to me." She gave a weak laugh as she fumbled for clean clothes.
Mystogan followed her every move with the eyes. He wanted to tell her that even without a shower for two days she still had a delicious scent of almonds and honey, but he decided it would be strange to vocalize that thought. "It was not so bad." He said nonchalantly, deciding it would be a better answer.
Lucy grabbed the clothes she had chosen and walked over to him, in a swift movement she removed the cloth covering his mouth before he could stop her. "Take it off every time we're alone. I don't like when I can't see your face." Then she went into the bathroom, not realizing how much she had stunned him.
"Take your time." He managed to say as the bathroom door closed behind her. Mystogan wondered if she meant to be alone with him in the future. "I'm so screwed!"
More than half an hour later Lucy left the bathroom, leaving a cloud of steam behind her. Mystogan was sprawled comfortably on the sofa not caring about the wait, he was accustomed to wait, having to wait for every appearance of an Anima every minute of every day. He looked up when he heard the door open and saw Lucy wearing a blue and white outfit, he kept the eyes on her legs for longer than he should and decided that that skirt was too short for his mental health. 'She is so beautiful.'
Lucy walked over to him with a smile, she sat next to him and picked up the phone. He overheard her when she asked for room service. "You don't have to ask for anything, Lucy." He said with a little embarrassment.
"You saved me from certain death, took care of my wounded feet, fed me and brought me here with your super incredible magic." She smiled sweetly at him. "Paying you a lunch is just the beginning of your compensation, and I imagine you don't go to restaurants because of the mask."
He smiled unconsciously. "You're right, I avoid eating in public." He confirmed what she had said.
"So, do you have a list of compensations for me?" He asked after a few minutes of silence that had fallen on them.
"I think you can say that." She laughed lightly. She would not tell him she meant to compensate him for the rest of her life because she was really grateful that he saved her. 'He'll think I'm a crazy stalker.'
There was a knock at the door and Lucy got up to get the lunch, thanking the delivery man who was disappointed when he received no tip and Lucy did not care. 'If he knew what the hell I suffered, he'd give me a tip.'
They ate quietly while Mystogan told Lucy about some Fairy Tail mages. When they finished eating, she straightened her suitcases and stood before him. "Let's get on the train?" She asked.
He laughed lightly. "I don't use trains, Lucy." He said as he covered the face with the mask again. Without warning, he wrapped a arm around her waist and slapped an staff on the floor. Lucy thought to tell him that she had not yet paid for the room, but decided it was too late. She just had to remember never to show up at that hotel again when she were in Hargeon.
When Lucy opened the eyes she gasped at the sight of the huge wooden door and a flag bearing the Fairy Tail symbol. "Are we really here?!" She asked rhetorically and left his embrace by taking a few steps toward the closed doors. She smiled at the thought that the dream of a life was right before her eyes and all thanks to him.
Before she could open the doors, Mystogan's hand gripped her fist. "What's the matter, Myst?" She asked genuinely intrigued.
He released her arm and rubbed the neck nervously. "Nothing important, it's just that I never entered the guild with everyone awake, before."
Lucy looked at him with a confused expression. "What do you mean by that?"
"It's just that I sort of use a spell that makes everyone fall asleep whenever I need a new mission." He gave a nervous laugh.
Lucy looked at him in disbelief. "Boy, you really have confidence issues." She grabbed his hand and dragged him inside before he could protest again.
They took two steps inside the hall and she was completely stunned by the sight before them. She thought if there was a definition for the word chaos, then that would be it. Everyone was fighting and throwing things at each other, the tables were turned and there were broken glasses and bottles everywhere.
Suddenly, a dark-haired boy who seemed to be a few years older as she, approached her. "Hey, can I borrow your underwear?"
Lucy realized belatedly that the boy was completely naked. "Kyaaaaa." She screamed loud enough to stop the chaos in the guild. She ran away from the pervert and hid behind Mystogan, knowing that this was the safest place.
As she stepped out from behind Mystogan to look into the room that was too quiet to be normal compared to the noise she'd heard before. She saw that everyone was looking at them and she heard the whispers, "Is it Mystogan?" "Why don't we fall asleep?" "Did he bring the blonde girl?"
Lucy hid again, completely embarrassed that she had become the center of attention. She felt a wind in the back and looked back seeing that the doors of the guild had been abruptly opened, soon after she saw Natsu walking into the guild, followed by Happy. He looked straight at them. "Who is he?" He paused dramatically, staring at the masked man. "Fight me!" He ran with a fist wrapped in flames, ready to start a fight but before he could reach Mystogan, a giant hand appeared and crushed him on the wooden floor.
Lucy was completely paralyzed with all the events and stared at the scary giant with wide eyes, she sighed with relief when the giant turned into a very small man with funny shoes and a pointed hat.
"Welcome to Fairy Tail." Mystogan said over the shoulder and even with the muffled voice of the cloth covering his mouth, Lucy knew he was smiling.
She walked over to Natsu and helped him to his feet. She was surprised by Happy flying toward her, landing hard on her chest. "Hey Happy, I'm glad you survived." She said with a smile.
"After all the confusion I didn't know where you were Lucy, but I knew you'd be safe with your friend Mermaid." Happy said innocently.
Mystogan tried to hold back the laughter after that statement from the blue cat, but he found it impossible. He laughed out loud, making everyone look at him.
"Did I ever tell you that I feel satisfied when my misfortunes make you happy?" Lucy grumbled sarcastically and looked at him with a deadly look.
"Sorry, Lucy." He shuddered under her gaze. Walking over to her, he took her hand and guided her to the old man in funny clothes. "Master Makarov, she is Lucy. She wants to join Fairy Tail since she was a child."
The master was delighted to look at the beautiful blonde before him. "Anyone who is able to bring Mystogan here without him using a sleeping spell is welcome. What is your magic, child?"
"I'm a celestial mage." She said with a smile and pointed to the keys in the belt.
Makarov took a stamp from Mirajane's hands and stood before Lucy. "Where and what color?"
"Right hand." She smiled and looked at Mystogan. "Blue."
Makarov looked at the girl and looked at a few strands of hair from Mystogan that were coming out of the bandana he wore over the head. Smiling knowingly, he placed the stamp on her right hand, leaving a blue mark, the same blue tone that adorned Mystogan's hair. 'The things can get interesting around here.' Makarov thought.
Mystogan pulled Lucy gently toward the back of the guild, where there were some entire tables after the previous fight. He ignored how everyone's eyes were following them and sat on the bench, pulling her to sit next to him.
Natsu walked toward them and sat down next to Lucy. "Hey, Luigui, what happened at the port? I was going to get you, but Happy said you had a friend to help you."
Lucy looked coldly at Mystogan. "If you laugh, I'll kill you." She threatened and was pleased when he raised his hands in surrender.
Lucy recounted everything that happened after the apparition of Aquarius and how she was saved by Mystogan, giving so few details as possible, so as not to compromise his identity. "By the way, my name is Lucy, LU-CY."
Natsu listened intently, laughing at Lucy's misfortune, she preferred to ignore him.
"So you're the S-Class mage that makes everyone sleep whenever you comes here." Natsu stated and looked at Mystogan with curiosity. "Hey, why do you wear this mask?" He asked still staring at Mystogan steadily. "Let me see..."
Lucy saw Natsu's hand lifting up toward Mystogan's mask and slammed into his hand. "Don't be rude, Natsu." She scolded, ignoring the pout he was doing.
Natsu looked toward the bar and heard Romeo asking for help from the master to retrieve his father, after hearing the master refused to help the boy he stood abruptly and acting on impulse, he grabbed Lucy's hand and pulled her toward the door, willing to save Macao, leaving behind a very perplexed Mystogan.
Late in the afternoon, the guild doors opened to reveal Lucy and Natsu carrying Macao, with Happy flying behind them.
Lucy let Natsu take Macao home with Romeo and walked to the table where Mystogan was waiting patiently. "Sorry about that." She said truthfully. "Natsu seems a bit impulsive, but we managed to get Macau back, that's good, right ?!" She smiled and sat down beside him, completely exhausted after walking through the icy mountains and fighting mutant gorillas.
"I didn't think you were so close." Mystogan said in a cold tone.
Lucy felt her eyes widen with that insinuation. "Hey, I already said that guy is impulsive, and believe me when I say that I spent a lot more time with you than with him." She said defensively.
He noticed how ridiculous he sounded and thanked for the mask on his face at that moment. "Sorry Lu, I didn't mean to offend you."
Lucy bit the lower lip and decided to change the subject. "Can you come with me to look for an apartment? It's almost night, I have nowhere to stay and I don't know this city." She asked timidly.
He smiled, thankful for the change of topic. "Come on." He took her hand in his and walked toward the exit before a pink-haired boy sequestered her one more time.
Mystogan pushed the wooden bed across the room until it was under the window. "You were very lucky to find a place for 70,000 jewels, Lucy."
She smiled and wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of hand. "I'm Lucky Lucy." She stated and rearranged the books on the shelf.
"Is it some sort of inner joke?" He asked with a laugh and sat down on the floor, leaning back on the bed, glad to have finished the tidying up.
Lucy put the last book on the shelf and sat next to him on the floor. "Actually, my mother called me that when I was a kid, but I never knew why." She looked at him and inclined the head as if examining him. "You look so much better dressed like that."
Mystogan looked at the black sweatpants and the white T-shirt that was too tight for his taste. "I can't dress like this ever, I have a secret to keep." He elbowed her in the ribs.
"Yes, yes... the difficulties of having the perfect face of an evil man." She said with a twinge of mockery.
He smiled broadly at that statement. "Oh, I have a perfect face, huh." He lifted a blue eyebrow and brought to her face.
Lucy bit the lower lip, realizing what she had said and feeling embarrassed by their closeness. "It's a good face." She said trying to sound indifferent.
"Your not bad either." He said with a playful smile.
She opened the mouth and put a hand on the chest, pretending to be offended. "I'm a beautiful girl, Mr. Fernandes." She picked a pillow on the bed and slapped his face with it. "Now I'm going to damage your pretty face." She threw the body at him in a childlike attack, laughing while he tried to escape her attacks.
Mystogan won the war of pillows and lay on the wooden floor with a panting breath, hair more disheveled than usual and a silly smile on his face.
"Thank you for helping me with everything." Lucy thanked him as she tried to catch the breath.
"Thank you for offering me your sofa." He stood up and sat beside her on the bed, his back to the window, so no one could see his face.
"Now I need to do a mission, I spent all my savings on the furniture and the first rent." She moaned.
"I'll go with you if-" Mystogan looked out the window before finishing the sentence.
"What happened?" Lucy asked worriedly as she watched his face become apprehensive.
"An Anima is forming. I need to go." He looked at her with a disappointed look. He did not want to leave her so soon.
The next morning Lucy walked to the guild alone, she sat on one of the bar bench, drank a strawberry milkshake for breakfast and begged to the heavens not to faint from hunger. She had to save money and unfortunately food was included. She walked over to the mission's board, determined to find a mission she could do by herself, knowing she could not afford to wait for Mystogan to return.
"Hey, Lucy, looking for a job?" A firm voice said behind her.
"Hey." She stared at the boy in the habit of undressing and she remembered that Natsu had said his name in the after day. "Gray, right ?! I need money. Do you want to go on a mission with me?"
He scratched the neck nervously. "I'm going on a mission with Loke, but we're going on a mission tomorrow when I get back." He blinked at her. "Wait for me."
She laughed at his miserable attempt to flirt with her. "Well, better than going alone. I'll wait for you, then."
"Oy, Ice prick." Natsu screamed, walking toward them.
"I don't have time for you, fire head." Gray replied without patience. "See you tomorrow, Lucy." He shouted over the shoulder before leaving the guild.
Lucy sat down on the bar bench again, willing to order something edible that was very cheap. Mira approached her with a sinister grin on face and spoke before she could ask for much needed food. "So Lucy... Mystogan, Natsu and now Gray, huh." Her smile widened impossibly.
Lucy frowned knowing exactly what she was implying something she did not want to know. "What does that mean?" She asked suspiciously and almost irritably.
"Leave her alone, Mira." A blue-haired girl sat next to her and Lucy was more than happy to be rescued before falling into that conversation. "I'm Levy." The little girl with a sweet smile reached out the hand Lucy took with a smile as well.
Lucy returned to the apartment, after a pleasant afternoon with Levy. She discovered that they both had a passion for books and other things in common and Lucy was happy to have a girlfriend, with the same interests, for the first time in her life.
She took off the boots, leaving it in the doorway, ready to lie down in bed for a good nap when she ran into two intruders. Natsu and Happy were spread comfortably on her sofa, eating her precious and meager food. "What the hell are you doing here? How did you get in? How did you find me? Why are you eating my food?"
"Hi Luigui-"
"Is Lucy!"
"-I followed your scent and we entered through the window. You have a good place." He gave her a beaming smile.
Lucy wanted to yell at them and curse them both, but after the silly and innocent smile he gave her, she found herself laughing at how crazy that situation was.
Natsu stared at her. "You're weird."
After the unusual interaction, Natsu tricked her into doing a mission with him and Happy and at some point he made her promise to be his partner.
"Hey, where's Mystogan?" Natsu asked as they walked out the door.
"He'll be back in a few days." She said sadly.
"She liiiiike him." Happy said teasingly.
"Shut up, cat." Lucy screamed, trying to ignore the heat on her cheeks. She refused to think too much about what Happy had said.
Two weeks had passed without a shadow of Mystogan and although Lucy had lived inumerous adventures with Natsu and other members of the guild, she missed him more than she wanted to admit. She stared at the setting sun through the bedroom window and sighed, a knock at the door knocked her out of the meditative state. 'No one knock. This crazy team never asks for permission, they come in when they want.' She thought as she walked to the door.
"I'm back." Mystogan said as soon as Lucy opened the door, remembering the request she made at the hotel in Hargeon, he pulled the cloth from the mouth and smiled at her.
"Welcome home." She took his hand and pulled him into the apartment, closing the door. She wrapped the arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight hug. "I missed you so much." She whispered in his ear as she hugged him even harder.
Mystogan was surprised by the show of affection, but he recovered easily, holding her, stroking the golden hair. "I missed you too."
Edited 04-06-19