Welcome everyone to Day 3!
This week is flying, at least for me. Maybe that is because I am rushing against a time clock to get the last two chapters done… so not easy LOL.
This chapter is the infamous "Ball episode." As I've said before, this doesn't exactly follow the chapter/episode but is a twist on it. You've been warned hehe.
But, on to the reading!
Chapter 3 - Dream
Heels clicking on the marble floor, Lucy's fingers tightened on the arm she was holding as they drew closer to the large door. Lack of sleep the last few nights, being busy all day. She told herself it was wearing her too thin. That was the reason for her sudden apprehension. It had nothing to do with the fact that she knew he would be there, or so she kept telling herself. She had not seen the Lightning Dragon Slayer all day, he and his team out working on another part of the city. She'd internally prayed that he would just up and head back to Magnolia, or slip off a cliff. But, with the entire guild and Makarov being there, she knew she would not be so lucky.
It both worried and bothered her to no end that she responded at all to his teasing. He was a serious threat to her already shaky mental state. He was the ultimate definitely of sexy, the epitome of every sexual fantasy she'd had and could ever have. But there was more than enough on her plate already to have to deal with him, knowing he had no serious intentions behind it. Not that it would matter, he's scum. She hated to think of any of her Nakama that way. But for her own peace of mind, she had to keep reminding herself of that little fact. He was Lucifer, that meant hell. A place she didn't relish returning to after the Dragons.
"I know I said it before, but you really do look amazing. So beautiful, a dream come true really."
Eve's voice next to her pulled her from the fiery chasms of eternal lava pits, and she offered him a small smile. To any lucky girl, he looked dashing in his navy high collared suit and seaman's cap. It fit his lean physique perfectly, displaying his long legs and swimmer's like torso the way it should. Unfortunately, she wasn't even remotely swayed to find him swoon worthy. Cute? Yes, but definitely not drop dead gorgeous. "Thank you," she replied demurely.
"Are you sure you're ok?" He questioned again.
He had asked her a couple of times on the way there, and each time she'd had an excuse at the ready. This time proved to be no different, but she knew those would eventually run out. "Absolutely," she smiled in her forced happiness. "It's just knowing everyone will be in there. Crowds sometimes make me nervous."
Eve pulled her to a stop just outside the door. "Hey," he said softly as a finger came up to hook under her chin. "If you don't want to go, we can always go do something else."
Lucy felt her lips quiver, her smile threatening to fall. Looking up at him, seeing his unveiled expression of care and concern for her, she felt the blades of guilt and remorse prick her heart. He would willingly ditch all of this, just to make her happy. She should be over the moon, it was exactly what every little girl wished for. She just wasn't a little girl anymore. Those days were long gone, stolen by too many adult choices. Maybe… maybe it'll grow over time. Give it a chance Lucy. Push that asshole out of your head and give this guy a break. "Absolutely not," she said with as much cheer as she could muster. "We'll go in and have a wonderful time with everyone."
"If you're sure," he smiled. He seemed to hesitate for a moment before pulling his hand away from her face. "But just know that whenever you'd like to leave, we can."
"Thank you, Eve."
He guided her into the ballroom, her eyes sweeping over the place in awe. It had been a good many years since she'd been in a place like this. She'd left the life of refinement behind, willingly, to live the life of a guild mage. It wasn't something she regretted, ever. But being there in that moment, wearing the dress she had on gave her a sense of nostalgia. It reminded her of times growing up. Playing dress up in her mother's clothes, going to parties just like this with her dad. Mom and Dad… I miss you so much. Sadness threatened at the edges, but she pushed it back down in the pit with everything else. She was there to have a good time. It was time to let go of the past, and become someone they would be proud of.
Letting her hand slide down his arm, Lucy wrapped her hand around Eve's and gave him a smile to indicate she was ok. They weaved their way through throngs of mages. Some she knew, or at the very least recognized. There were some she didn't recognize at all. Everyone was dressed in their finery, dresses and suits of all types and colors. From time to time, he'd pull her to a stop to greet someone he knew. With his impeccable manners, he never failed to introduce her. The pride in his voice when he addressed her as his date did make her slightly uncomfortable, but she decided to allow him the concession. She thought that perhaps if she just gave in, it would grow on her like moss in the swamps.
"There you two are. Ichiya sent me to fetch you, Eve."
Turning, a wide smile pulled at her lips as she found herself face to face with Hibiki. She'd only caught brief glimpses of him at the games. He'd definitely grown since she'd last seen him, his face more mature. It occurred to her for the briefest of moments that she should perhaps feel awkward, given their past. But she just couldn't find it in her. They'd split with the promise of remaining friends, his infidelity had not exactly come as a surprise. They were both young, foolish and he'd been a rebound from the disaster of sleeping with Natsu. "Hibiki," she grinned. "How are you?"
True to form, he gave her a signature Trimen's wink as he reached for her free hand and brought it to his lips. "Much better now that I've had the pleasure of gazing upon your radiant beauty," he grinned.
A squeal of laughter slipped past her lips when Eve promptly slapped at him. "Such a flirt!" the Snow mage grimaced as he waved his hand dismissively. "Go find your own date to schmooze."
"Eve, he's fine," She chuckled with a shake of her head. Somethings never changed. For that, she was thankful. It made her feel a little at ease in an otherwise cumbersome situation. She patted the hand that gripped hers and offered her companion a gentle smile. "Would you be so kind as to get me a drink?"
The Snow mage cast a wary glance at his coquettish guild mate before offering her an apologetic smile. "Absolutely, give me just a moment."
"He likes you," Hibiki offered the moment Eve was out of earshot.
I don't need another reminder. Shifting uncomfortably, she gave a half-hearted chuckle as she nodded. "I've figured that out," she said before sighing. A change of topic was seriously needed. She really didn't want to discuss her like, or lack thereof, for the young man with her ex. Who just so happened to be one of said young man's best friends. "So… How was everything been? Eve tells me you guys were busy training for the games."
He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, a Cheshire-quality grin rising on his lips. "If that is what you can call all of the exercises Ichiya had us doing," he shrugged. "But you guys were amazing. Congratulations on the win, it's well deserved."
"I-I didn't really do much," she smiled sadly. Except for get my ass kicked all over the place. She had only proved all of the doubters right. She should never have been a part of the team, not when she knew that she could have cost them the win. "But, the others… They definitely went all out."
Hibiki's face softened, his grin fading into a gentle smile. "Nonsense, Lucy. I can't tell you how impressed I was that you pulled that spell off on your own," he said reassuringly. "If it weren't for the cheaters in Raven Tail, you would've kicked that girl's ass."
"Yeah," she sighed. "But, I didn't. I'll get better though. I'm on a mission."
"You've always been a girl on a mission," Eve cut in as he walked back up. "Here you are, I hope you're ok with Pinot Grigio. They were out of chardonnay."
Taking the glass he offered, Lucy gave a nod despite never having it before. She took a sip and struggled to not pinch her face. It wasn't exactly… nasty. The aftertaste was pleasant, it was just the first burst of bitter than ran over the tongue that was unpleasant. She liked whites because they were generally not dry, this one was certainly different. "Thank you," she smiled.
"Ichiya was wanting to see all of us for a moment," Hibiki said with a poke to Eve's side before he offered Lucy another smile. "I'm gonna borrow your date for a few, but Lucy… Just remember that you're strong in your own right. I heard about what you and Yukino did with the Eclipse gate, opening twelve celestial gates at once, twelve gold ones at that… It takes guts and a lot of magic power to pull that off. I checked the database, the odds were sorely against you."
She was so taken aback by his compliment, that she could only nod when Eve pressed a quick kiss to her cheek before disappearing into the crowd. He was the first one to point at her strengths, and she hadn't exactly thought about it that way. She'd only been able to see all of her failures before. Allowing herself to get kidnapped again, almost killed in a diabolical scheme to destroy the world, defeated twice in the games, watching herself die. The list just seemed so endless in her mind. It had blocked out the victories she'd had. Maybe… If I train enough, I could be as strong as the rest of them are…
With that thought planted firmly in her head, she turned and continued her way into the room. Her eyes scanned every group of people she came across, searching for her own guildmates. She spotted Mira, Lisanna and Elfman talking by the champagne fountain, the three of them seemingly happy in their animated conversation. Venturing further, she finally spotted Erza talking with the girls from Mermaid Heel. The Requip mage looked sublimely happy, with a gentle smile softening her features as she conversed with Kagura. She spotted Gray practically running across the room from a quickly advancing Juvia. She could only imagine the Water mage was seeking answers for why he had chosen Natsu over her.
Thinking of the pink-haired Slayer, she scanned the room and frowned when he seemed nowhere in sight. She thought it odd, given the spread of food that was everywhere in the room. Never in her life had she seen so much to eat in one place, it put the all you can eat buffets that Natsu so thoroughly enjoyed to shame. For him to not be anywhere around, it stood out like a sore thumb. A growl came from her stomach, and she grimaced at the realization she had not really eaten since that morning. With her nerves over tonight and the other trouble in her life, her appetite had taken a serious nose dive. She made her way over to the nearest food table and scanned the selection offered. In her haste, she'd chosen a dessert table but it would just have to do. She reached for a small plate that had what looked to be an apple turnover, and the first bite proved her correct. A small hum of contentment slipped from her lips with the second bite, it was probably the best thing she'd ever tasted.
"Hello Lucy!"
She turned at the sound of her name, her eyes widening when she found herself face to face with royalty. Great. I've probably got crumbs everywhere and now someone decides to talk to me. Quickly setting down the plate, she swallowed the morsel and dabbed at her lips with a napkin. "Princess Hisui," she managed with a smile.
The green-haired woman smiled, her hand gesturing to the plate she'd just sat down. "I'm glad to see you're enjoying the food."
Thanks for pointing out that I look like a pig. She gave a nervous chuckle and shrugged. "Probably a little too much to be honest." Or not at all because it's the first thing I've had all night…
"I meant to ask earlier," Hisui smiled demurely. "You're a part of the illustrious Heartfilia Family?"
Lucy's eyes widened that the Princess would have even heard of her family name, much less ask about it. She could only wonder what may have been said, knowing how the family business ended up. "I guess my father made quite a name for himself," she hesitantly responded.
A wide, heartwarming smile spread over the Princess' face as she clasped her hands together in front of her. "Not only that, but he was actually a personal friend of mine."
She felt her jaw go slack in shock, unsure whether to believe she'd heard right. Her father? Friends with the Royal Family? It seemed inconceivable, surely she would have heard about it before. But then there was so much I missed after I left home… "I… I had no idea," she whispered dejectedly. It had been her own doing.
"Indeed," Hisui sighed before reaching for her hand. "Which makes me feel all the worse for causing you so much trouble."
Lucy smiled, her fingers giving the Princess' hand a squeeze. It was an apology that was really unnecessary, but she appreciated it all the same. "It's ok," she chuckled softly. "That's the life of a guild wizard after all. If we don't find trouble, it always finds us."
A wistful look came over Hisui's face, a look of admiration flashing in her emerald eyes. "By the way, I'm surprised that pink-haired boy from your guild isn't joining us tonight."
That pink-haired boy… The statement gave birth to a tick in her brow that she struggled to conceal. It only served to bring Laxus' words from the night before back to the forefront of her mind. Just the thought of him had her struggling for air. In attempts to conceal her sudden panic, she turned under the pretense of scanning the room for her closest and dearest friend. But it wasn't him that her eyes searched for. "N-now that you mention it," she grimaced as she spotted the tall blond standing across the room with his team. As usual, he had a throng of drooling women surrounding him. And as always, he was paying no attention whatsoever to any of them as he stood there with arms folded and a bored expression plastered on his face. "I haven't either…"
"A pity," Hisui smiled as she turned back. "I was hoping to thank him personally. But please, continue enjoying yourself."
Lucy forced a smile and bowed her head in appreciation, not daring to breath until the Princess had moved on. Black shoes came into her line of sight, and she stood to see a waiter passing by with a tray laden with filled glasses. She really did not give a single fuck in that moment as to what was in them. She simply reached out, plucked one off of the tray, and brought it to her lips. Her eyes strayed again to the spot she'd seen the Dragon Slayer just moments before. All of the moisture vacated her mouth as her honey browns met the turbulent seas of his stormy blues. A knowing grin pulled at one corner of his lips and he gave her a quick wink. Even from across the room she could feel his warmth against her. Fuck. You. Lucifer! She forced herself to turn and downed the entire glass in one go. She needed something else to occupy her time until Eve returned.
Deciding the opposite side of the room would be the safest, she headed off and weaved her way through groups of people. She scanned every face for someone from her team, anyone else from the guild really. Fear of him following her pushed her forward as though the fires of hell were indeed nipping at her heels. Her physical reaction to just his name was ridiculous, seeing him had only cemented that she needed to keep as far away from him as possible. A sigh of frustration slipped from her lips when it seemed as though she would never find anyone in all of these people. Until she pushed through one group and saw Gajeel standing off to the side, alone.
She quickly made her way over, thanking the stars above for the much needed break. As she drew closer, she noticed his pierced brows pinched. His crimson eyes were deadlocked on something, and she followed his line of sight only to gasp when she found what it was. Well, that's certainly unexpected. Across the room, standing with the Princess was Cobra from the Oracion Seis. She immediately took note of the lack of cuffs and prison garb, all of it traded out for a fur lined white coat and black suit. Despite his past, she didn't exactly harbor any ill towards the Slayer. It hadn't exactly been him leading the charge either time, but she figured he'd rot in prison for the remainder of his days on Earthland.
"Rumor has it the goddamn Princess is letting him out because he helped with the dragons," Gajeel said gruffly as if to answer her unspoken thoughts. "And guess where he's going per that asshole, Lahar?"
Slowly, Lucy pulled her attention from the spectacle of the Poison Dragon Slayer to gape at the raven-haired Slayer beside her. "Fairy Tail?" She questioned hesitantly. Surely they wouldn't think to place him with them. Not after what he'd been a part of.
"The one and only," Gajeel grumbled.
Her head tilted as she studied the Iron Dragon Slayer. While his tone was as surely, maybe even more so, than usual, there was something else. At first, she couldn't put her finger on it. The bright crimson irises of his eyes deepened to a darker shade of blood red. His tongue swiped over his lips, a flash of metal glinting in the light as he did so. No… She bit her lips to keep from laughing as her eyes traveled further south. She hummed as she leaned forward just a bit, her head nodding when her thoughts were confirmed. "I'm thinking you aren't exactly THAT pissed about it."
His eyes cut in her direction, his upper lip curling as he pulled his long coat closed. "Fuck you, Bunny."
"Can't," She smirked. "I forgot my strapon at home and your shit ain't getting anywhere near my ass." It was no secret to her that he was gay. She'd known that for years, having found out when he'd so ceremoniously rejected Levy's request for a date. He'd claimed homosexuality then, and as if she'd needed proof, she'd run into him several nights after when he'd stumbled out of the only gay club in town. With a very… Pretty guy on his arms. She could still recall, in vivid detail, watching the Iron Dragon Slayer press the small guy up against the side of the build as they kissed. It was his secret that she'd carried that had forged an unlikely friendship between her and the pierced man next to her.
"Ya know," he said as he turned to grin salaciously at her. "If I was into women, yer ass would be the first one on my list."
A peal of laughter escaped her lips, probably the first genuine thing that had happened all evening. It felt good, and she found herself reaching over to lay a hand on his arm. "I love you too, Gaj," she chuckled. "But, where's the Levster?"
He flashed her one of his rare, but handsome smiles before his face fell back to its normal state of perpetually pissed off. "Eh," he shrugged. "She's being a rebel. Decided to skip this for writing, I think Jet pissed her off again."
"That poor girl," she sighed. Those two were as hot and cold as Ren and Jenny. It was constantly on and off again, and usually for stupid reasons. They were so well suited for each other, yet could never seem to get on the same page. It was almost as bad as she and Natsu. "Well, I will leave you to your eye fuckfest," she grinned before turning for the door. "The powder room is calling my name."
"Don't fall in or get kidnapped," he called out to her as she walked away.
Laxus vaguely listened to the inane chatter going on around him as he watched his team of dorks argue over Natsu's possible whereabouts. He really could give zero shits as to where the guy was. The only benefit to him being there would be the never ending entertainment of watching the buffoon make an absolute ass of himself. It would be so much more livelier than listening to the women that hung on him talk about manicures and what line would be most fashionable this season. He'd always hated these stuffy, hoity-toity gatherings for this very reason. His fan group of psychopathic females would show up, beg him for his time, Freed would run them off and he just might get lucky enough to find someone worth taking home. Usually not though, the women that came to these things were rarely easy scores. Unless they happened to be unhappily married to absent husbands, he'd had more than a few of them.
But then he'd seen her across the room. He had watched Lucy talking to the Princess, about what he could not have cared less. His eyes had trailed over every single beautiful inch of her. He decided he liked her hair up. For the second night in a row, he'd been treated to the creamy span of her neck. His lips itched to latch onto the perfection that was the gentle slope where it connected to her delicate shoulders. He had to wonder if her dress was something she'd chosen with him in mind, but he couldn't help but admire the way her fur-edged neckline plunged down her chest to end low enough to give a peak at the soft tops of her breasts. It made him wonder what she'd look like with nothing but his coat on. The dress pinched her already small waist in even more, accentuating the flare of her hips. Fuck, I wanna bend her over the damn table…
When her eyes had found his, he couldn't help the grin that rose at the spark of fire he saw ignite. Instantly, her skin flushed and he knew. His words from the night before had her on the run, and he was just the beast to give chase. There were a lot of skirts he'd chased over the years. But even before having her, he knew she was going to be worth the catch. He watched her disappear into the crowd once more, his eyes roaming around the room to spot her date cavorting with his own guild mates. It only further proved his point that Eve was still very much a boy. A man, with a jewel like her on his arm, would never leave her unattended for long. A man knew there were wolves like him just waiting in the wings to snatch the prized sheep. Stupid idiot.
Biding his time, Laxus pulled away from the women and made his way to the bar. He didn't exactly have a plan, he just knew he wanted to get under her skin. She was so close to caving that he could taste it. He'd have his prize, her notch in his bedpost, and then he could move on to other conquests. After ordering a double whiskey, straight, he turned to lean against the bar as he waited. His height giving him a distinct advantage in the room, being able to see things a little more clearly. He saw her face light up with a laugh as she talked with Gajeel, and his lips pursed. Mavis, she's really fucking beautiful. The thought set an uncomfortable warmth in his chest, and his hand came up to rub against his shirt as he turned back to the bar. He didn't like it, didn't want it because frankly it scared the crap out of him. He used every last bit of whiskey in the glass to wash it back down to the pits of hell it had crawled out of.
He set the glass back down and started to tap on the rim when he saw her slipping out the door. The bartender held the bottle up and he gave a quick shake of his head before he was off. Despite the number of people in his way, he made it across the ballroom with ease and slipped into the hallway in time to see her slipping into a door. He glanced around the hall before he quietly made his way down, a smirk pulling at his lips when he realized it was the restroom. The thought came to mind that he could so easily slip in, but he resisted the temptation. Someone else could be in there, it would only cause more of an uproar than he intended. Instead, he backed up to an alcove he'd passed on the way there to wait for her to come back.
As he waited, he realized just how risky this was. Anyone could come by at any time, catch him waiting there like the stalker he was apparently being. But, that's part of the fun… A good ten minutes passed and he considered heading back to the ballroom when he heard the sound of a door opening. A grin spread when the smell that was uniquely her reached him. He let her get just past him before he reached out to pull her back into the alcove with him. The sound of air filling her lungs could only mean one thing. She was going to scream, and he knew exactly how he'd silence her.
Pushing her up against the wall, trapping her between it and the wall that was his body, his lips captured hers without any care. He felt her go stiff against him, her lips locked in a state of shock that he used to his advantage. His tongue swept over the slightly parted seam of her lips, groaning at the taste. It was better than he'd imagined, so much better. Where he imagined her to taste like heaven, indeed she did, but with all of the sin hell had to offer weaved in. The hands that had come up to push at his chest hesitated, her thin delicate fingers curling against him into the fabric of his coat. He wanted so badly to give in and lose himself in the sweet fruity wine flavor of her lips. But just as he felt her relax under him, he broke the kiss before giving her the chance to respond.
Her eyes fluttered open, an incoherent squeak came from her lips as she stared up at him in shock. The flush to her cheeks and lips only made him want her more. Brushing his nose against hers, staying close enough to feel her staccatoed breath against his skin. "Tell me, Blondie," he whispered huskily. "Did his lips make your blood boil the way that did?"
"Y-you…" She stammered breathlessly, her lashes fluttering in what could only be an attempt to comprehend. "Asshole. L-let me g-go."
A knowing grin spread over his face when her hands seemed to stay in place despite her words. She made no attempt to push him away, and he could smell the saccharine scent of her arousal. A soft chuckle slipped out before he lightly brushed his lips against hers, the sharp intake of breath she made sending chills down his spine. He knew playing with his food was a bad thing, but she just made it so much damn fun. "Not until you answer the question," he teased with a flick of his tongue against her lips.
Her eyes widened and her lips parted to respond but the only thing that came out was a soft whimper as he moved a hand to her waist. He pulled her against him, letting her feel exactly what she was doing to him. His head tilted and dipped so that he could bury his nose against her neck. The scent of her was so much more alluring straight from the source. "Just think of all the things I could do to you that he never will," he moaned softly as he trailed his lips against her flesh. Mavis, I've never wanted anyone this bad. He could feel his body aching to bury itself inside of her when her hands flattened out against his chest.
"L-Laxus… This…" Her breathy voice trailed off.
When he felt them slip down just an inch, it gave him reason to pause. He knew without a single doubt that if she touched him now, there would be no holding back. He'd take her right there, any passersby be damned. With a growl, he grabbed her hands and lifted them to pin her arms above her head. He saw fear and the hot flash of desire ignite in her eyes, and it pulled him in like a moth. His lips found hers once more, a guttural moan slipping into her mouth when she willingly allowed him entry. What was only supposed to be a tease fell to the wayside for the moment as his tongue wrapped around hers. He knew without a doubt that he could seriously lose every shred of sanity in her mouth.
She mewled against his lips as her body strained against him, her fingers curling around the hand that held her wrists captive. The way she responded, it was too damn easy and by far the sexiest thing he'd ever experienced. And she's still fully fucking clothed. His free hand slipped up her side to cup her breast through the fabric, the feel of a pebbled nipple against his palm making his arousal jump in his pants. His fingers curled around the edge of the fabric, only to pause when the sound of heels clicking against the marble floor brought him back to the here and now. He suddenly became all too aware of their very public location, the sound of voices echoing down the corridor cementing that reality.
He reluctantly broke the kiss and turned her against the corner to shield her in the shadows as the sounds drew closer. The breath he didn't realize he'd been holding rushed out when they passed without so much as a pause. Pulling back a little, he found her looking up at him with glazed eyes. "I'm going to take your answer as a no," he smirked as he reached up to trail his thumb over her kiss swollen bottom lip. "And I'd even venture to say he'd just leave you unsatisfied. So, when you're ready… You know where to find me." He saw a flash of recognition in her eyes as he pulled away, and he turned to leave but paused just long enough to look back. He needed to set the hook. "And did you count?" he grinned. "I got to at least twenty…"
He left me standing there… Just walked off and left after…
Lucy stared at her reflection in the mirror, trying to wrap her head around what the hell had just happened. Her knees were still little more than jello, her lips still flushed and plump. They tingled from the feel of his lips on hers, the taste of him still swimming in her mouth. She'd never, in her entire life, been kissed like that. She'd kissed and been kissed, but it had never robbed her of breath or the ability to think. My toes curled. My motherfucking toes curled! That… That doesn't happen except in the movies! His lips, his touch… It lingered everywhere he'd been, reminding her of just how easily she caved. Like a house of cards, she'd given into the sinful act without a single ounce of fight. I'm… What the hell am I doing?
His parting words came back to haunt her, giving rise to uncontrollable anger. She was so stupid. She'd just let him have his way like a common trollop, and what had she gotten from it? Nothing but his asinine comments. Did I count… psh! He didn't seem to be counting either! She gave her hair one last check, knowing there was nothing to be done for the pink that stained her face and chest. She turned and hurried from the bathroom. She needed to just get out of there. The solace of her room, the hiding place under the covers on her bed called her name. There she could try to sort out just what the hell was wrong with her and fix it. Giving in to him was not an option.
She made it as far as the exit and stopped in her tracks, her shoulders slumping and a heavy sigh slipping from her lips. She'd come with Eve. He was probably in the ballroom looking for her. All while she'd been in the hallway kissing another man. She cringed at the knowledge that had he not pulled back, she'd have let him do what he wanted in her mindless state. That wasn't her, it wasn't what she did. Laxus was ten kinds of wrong, and he'd just proven that fact. Hell, he'd practically shouted it from the damn roof top. It wasn't Eve's fault and she couldn't very well leave him there without at least a goodbye.
Cautiously, she made her way back into the ballroom to search. She feared running into the asshole. She couldn't take his torment anymore, not when his voice still echoed in her ears. I hate him. I hate him so much. She lifted a hand to press to her burning cheeks while she continued to ignore the fact that her thighs slicked against one another as she moved. She was pretty sure that her white panties were now effectively see through. Why does he affect me like this? She didn't know whether to cry or scream in her frustration. A hand wrapped around her arm and she turned, her free hand raising at the ready to strike.
"Lucy! There you a-"
Her eyes widened when she found Eve staring at her, confusion knitting his brow and concern swimming in his jade eyes. "I… I'm so sorry," She frowned in remorse as she lowered her curled fist. "I thought… I thought you might be someone else."
"What… What happened?" he gasped as he hesitantly moved in closer. "You're flushed. Are you ok?"
Lucy started to say she was fine but if she lied, then she'd be stuck there. Images of Laxus flashed in her mind, the feel of his lips and body against hers. "No…" She whispered. "No, I'm not. I need to..."
Eve lifted a finger to her chin, his thumb brushing affectionately over her cheek. "Say no more," he replied softly. "We can leave right now."
Her eyes lowered, her body shivering from his touch. But not for the reasons it should. The only emotion it seemed to invoke was longing for the sinful. For more of the Dragon Slayer's forbidden touch. It was as though she'd eaten from the tree of knowledge, and she could relate to the woman in the Garden of Eden. I need to get rid of this… forget. Forget about him. She could only nod before he slipped his hand in hers and lead her towards the door. It occurred to her for just a moment that they departed without a single word to anyone else. She followed mindlessly, letting him lead her out of the palace and down the steps to the carriage.
"Just think of all the things I could do to you that he never will."
She clamped her eyes shut at his words repeating themselves inside of her head. The carriage pulled forward and she felt Eve's fingers squeeze hers. She didn't want to think, not of that. If she did, then he'd be right. And he couldn't be. "Eve," she said softly as she dared to glance at the man beside her. "I'm so sorry…"
"Whatever for?"
Before she could think about what she was doing, she leaned up and pressed her lips to his. Tears welled in her eyes when it was just as before. There was no rush like there'd been with Laxus, no spark that set every cell in her body on fire.
"Does his lips make your blood boil?"
The question gave birth to desperation. He couldn't be right, he just couldn't. Lucy brought a hand up to Eve's cheek as she slanted her lips over his. The feeling of Laxus' tongue sweeping into her mouth slammed into the front of her brain, spurring her further. Going against the tiny voice screaming in the back of her mind to stop, she flicked her tongue against the seam of the Snow mage's lips. He granted her entry, his tongue eagerly greeting hers with a throaty moan as his arms wrapped around her. He tasted like cherries and vodka, but all she could think of was the whiskey and rain flavor that made her taste buds sing.
Eve's lips didn't make her blood boil, or even warm it to room temperature, but she refused to admit defeat. She slid her hand up into the messy locks of his hair, forcing herself to sigh against his lips when he pulled her closer against his body. There was no trembling in anticipation, no whimpers or mewls of delight. Her body had so naturally responded in the hallway to Laxus, everything he did had left her panting for more. Yet here in the privacy of the carriage, with the Snow mage, it was all forced. An act of desperation in her need to rid herself of the torment that was plaguing her mind, her senses.
"I've yet to kiss a girl who didn't walk away dripping, and I'd bet my life that you were as dry as sandpaper when you walked in."
She wanted so hopelessly to rid her head of his voice, of his teasing words, that she pushed herself forward. Breaking the kiss, she pulled back to shift on the seat. Moving to kneel, she lifted a leg to straddle his lap but his hand came up to stop her. She looked down at the fingers on her dress and blinked before looking up at him questioningly.
"Lucy," he whispered breathlessly. His eyes searched hers, making her uncomfortable. "Are… are you sure about this?"
Her lips parted to respond but stopped herself short. Was she sure? The immediate answer was no. The old part of her was shouting out, telling her it was wrong. This was all wrong. He was a good person who didn't deserve this. But Laxus' voice still filled her head, his touch still warmed her skin. She needed it to stop, needed to be rid of his overwhelming presence. And only someone good like Eve can do that… It felt as though part of her shut down completely as she resigned herself to this choice. Her fingers came to rest on his hand, lifting it up to press against her heaving chest. "Yes Eve," she whispered as her eyes dropped for fear that he'd see the truth there. "I… I n-need you… This…"
"I'd even venture to say he'd just leave you unsatisfied..."
Laxus had been right. As much as she hated to admit it, and it was the least of her worries at the moment, he had called it before it had ever happened. She'd allowed her anger and fear lead her into what had to be the biggest mistake of her life. For a solid hour now she'd been laying there agonizing over every single second of the last few days, in the dark room, listening to the even sound of Eve's breathing. She'd allowed him to touch her, to rut in between her thighs when she felt absolutely nothing. To compound that, she'd allowed her mind to drift off if only just to get through the entire ordeal. That had almost been as disastrous as sleeping with him was.
"Oh god, Lucy," Eve moaned as he buried his face into the side of her neck. His lips trailed over her skin, his hand slipping beneath her hip to pull her up into his thrusts. "You feel so good."
Closing her eyes, she pictured the God-like Dragon Slayer above her, envisioning it was him saying those words as he thrust into her over and over again. Her fingers curled into the sheets as her imagination began to sweep her away, recalling in vivid detail the way his lips felt against her skin. "La-"
Her hand came up to clamp over her mouth as it had done then, hot tears spilling over onto her cheeks. She had reached a new all time low. She'd done the unthinkable and used a good, kind-hearted friend. All for the purpose of erasing Laxus from her mind, and it backfired. Big time. What the hell have I done? Eve finishing well before her had to be punishment for her deeds.
Carefully lifting the arm that was draped over her, she slipped from the bed and began hurriedly dressing. She needed to get back to the HoneyBone and shower. It wouldn't erase what she had done, but she felt her sin clinging to her skin. It was staining her soul, corrupting every single value her mother had taught her. She needed to wash it away, crawl in bed and pray for morning to bring that this had all been a sick dream. She knew that wouldn't be the case, but she could hope for it none the less. Grabbing her shoes, she looked back at the bed.
"I think I'm falling for you, Lucy."
Lucy flinched at the words that had so easily slipped from Eve's lips before he'd drifted off to sleep. He was falling because she'd led him on, and all she felt for him was friendship. Friends don't do what I've done… She considered just slipping from the room, but her conscience wouldn't allow her to do that to him. Walking over to the small writing desk, she grabbed the small pad of paper and pencil from the drawer. The inns were all the same. She stared at the paper, weighing what she should write. Putting the truth would be too cruel, but lying would be even worse.
Eve,
My team would positively flip if they woke tomorrow and I wasn't there. I am surprised Erza hasn't broken down the door already. Or worse. I had a wonderful time. Thank you for being my escort for the night and for being a friend when I needed one.
Lucy
She folded the paper just so, inscribing his name on the front just so that he knew it was for him. Quietly making her way back over to the bed, her chest tightened as she gazed down at his sleeping face. He truly is still just a boy… The thought blurred her vision once again and she reached up to wipe at her face. He was a boy that she'd just used. Quickly setting the note down on the pillow next to him, she slipped from the room and made her escape with a heavy heart and even more burdened mind.
Laxus, you cad! And Lucy… Eve… Oh, the tangled web we weave. But… Plot points hehe. There you have chapter 3 and to think this story is really just getting started. It's in its infancy really LOL.
But, stay tuned for tomorrow's chapter/prompt - Sparks
As always, thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart for all the follows, favs and reviews. I was iffy on this story at first, just because of what is to come but you guys have reminded me that we are all a little twisted ;) You've given me the courage to post!
Big hugs and much love!
Princess Nana
