The song faded and he reached out for her, lifting his hands from the keys and pivoting to straddle the bench. His hands found her face and they leaned towards each other, foreheads touching and sitting in the ringing silence of the last cord.
Despite her tears, Lucy was smiling. "That was…" she couldn't find the words, so she settled for "Thank you."
He smiled sadly, the power of the song still overwhelming him, only the closeness of her enough to draw him out from that potent memory. He moved and buried his face in her shoulder, accepting her into his arms as she hugged him. He ran a hand along her back and felt her shiver, only then realizing that all of this contact was startlingly new for the both of them. It had just felt so normal, so expected of him to show the affection he had felt for a long time now. 'Not too fast,' he reminded himself, settling his hand high on her back. 'Not too much.'
They sat like that for a while, before Lucy said quietly, "You're amazing. Thank you for playing for me, really."
He pulled back a little so he could look at her, the sadness leaving his eyes as he was reminded of the true part of his memory. Not the grief or pain, just Lucy.
"I'll play for you any time, I liked it now that I'm not piss scared."
Lucy laughed and separated for him so she could hold a hand to her face, sliding to the end of the bench but her leg still against his as they both straddled the seat. "Well I'm glad. Play me something else? While I look around a little more."
Loke nodded with a truly genuine smile now, one ear cocking to the side as he considered what to play for her now. She giggled at the movement but still rose to look out at the sky of the celestial world.
He decided it would be something happier, now that they had recovered from the first song, but he liked the theme of playing from his heart.
"I'll just play whatever comes to mind," he told her, watching as she pranced from window to window.
He began to play and the tune was still slow, but watching her kept every sad thought from his mind. He just played, his thoughts flickering to every Lucy smile he had earned, and every laugh he had brought about. Could he really be making her as happy as she made him? The hope that maybe he did powered the song he played.
Lucy smiled, gently swaying to his music, closing her eyes and dancing where she stood.
Loke memorized the scene, so he would never forget it.
Eventually the pair came together again, both secretly wanting to find something to do where they could sit together. They ended up on the couch, different music playing from a lacrima floating nearby and just enjoying each other's company. Loke told grand stories about finding Fairy Tail, his first mission as a guild wizard, his first encounter with Bixlow. Lucy laughed and listened, occasionally commenting. Then he would ask her for stories and she would flounder for anything she thought worth sharing. It flowed naturally, eventually devolving into their new favorite pastime.
"Okay how old are you?"
"Ugh skip," he moaned, wondering how his head had wound up in her lap while she combed through his hair with her slender fingers.
"Oh come on!" she protested and he made another grumbling sound of disinterest.
"It hardly matters you know, I'm a magical being. Age doesn't count here."
"I'm just curious!" she whined and pouted, prompting him to sigh heavily.
"Oh I don't know… human years pass too quickly here. Four days is a year, and I've lived here for centuries so…"
"Centuries?!" she exclaimed but it wasn't that she was surprised exactly. She knew that as long as the stars had shone in the human world the spirits had existed, probably for thousands of years prior as well. It's just considering the twenty something looking man in front of her was actually older than probably her entire realm was… odd. Just with quick math he was AT LEAST 270,000 years old by human standards, and 300 by his own.
He grumbled sourly, not liking the turn the game of questions had taken.
"I don't mind," she said suddenly, attempting to sooth his suddenly rotten mood. He looked up at her curiously and was not quite convinced. Age was a very human thing to be worried about, he was sure it would concern her. "Honestly, I know you aren't human so it isn't the same thing. It's not like the guy I like is suddenly an old fart, you are still you."
He stiffened and looked at her with wide eyes, but by the soft smile and the roll of her eyes it was obvious she said it on purpose. The grin came slowly, then completely over took him until he was giggling happily to himself while Lucy just shook her head. If everything that transpired the past two days wasn't as good as saying point blank she had an interest in him she wasn't sure what he wanted from her. Regardless, she knew it would fix his foul attitude almost instantly.
"I like you too," he felt the need to say, but was silenced by his own purring as she scratched at his ears.
"I know you dummy that's why we're here."
Once he managed to shake off her persistent scratches he fired back with his own question.
"Who was your first kiss?"
She scoffed and her face colored, crossly saying, "Skip!"
"You asked me a stupid question, now I get one."
She glared at him but he was un-phased, just beaming up at her with that stupid handsome grin of his.
She closed her eyes and sighed, finally saying, "I don't know who he was, it was some stupid palace boy. I was like, thirteen I think, and he wouldn't leave me alone. Our dads were making us spend time with each other and he was an entitled little snot. He kissed me out of nowhere." Suddenly her seemingly bad memory made her grin. "I had never made my father so angry before then, he was furious to find his business partner's son on the floor holding his junk from when I had kicked him."
Loke burst out laughing and she joined him, the idea of a little feisty Lucy taking down some jerk who kissed her without asking was too funny. Still, when he finally calmed down he was angry that the memory of her first kiss was ruined.
"Who was your first wizard?" She continued with their game once they had sobered up, and his expression shaped into one of deep concentration.
"… uh. Would you happen to know who the first celestial wizard was? Because it was them."
"Really?!" she exclaimed, "You were contracted to the first celestial wizard ever?"
"I… think so. Yeah definitely, it was kind of a big deal if I remember. First contract with humans, it was the establishment of everything our society is now. My key was the first one made I believe. It was an awfully long time ago I can't really remember."
"Wow…" Lucy whispered in awe, and he resisted the urge to shrug it off. It was probably very interesting for her, but it was just a dull faded memory for him.
"Do you remember any of your wizards from a long time ago?" She asked him, cheating by asking two questions but he understood that it was an important thing for her to know.
"Yes," he reassured her, knowing she was thinking again of how old he was. This was exactly why he hadn't wanted to discuss it. "I remember the good ones. There were many cruel masters but the ones who treated us well always stuck out for me in my mind. There are several I feel you would have been good friends with, Orion the most probably." He rolled his eyes at the memory of that particular master. He would have even ventured to say he was his first human friend, and first experience with grief. He didn't care to remember that part.
"He was funny and headstrong, even if he was a pretty pathetic wizard. Great guy, but summoning me was the absolute extent of his magic it took everything he had. Almost killed the poor dude the first time he ever did."
Lucy smiled at his description, relieved to know he remembered those that mattered… She shook the thoughts from her head. This wasn't the time to think about that. It didn't matter, not now anyways.
"I get two," he declared and she conceded, nodding at him to continue.
"Do you have that red dress with you, and can you put it on."
She smacked him harshly on his chest and he couldn't help but laugh, even if it did sting a little.
The rest of their time at his home was amazing, just talking and laughing and making up games to play. At one point she had flicked one of his ears when he said something rude and suggestive, and he found the sensation so terribly uncomfortable he demanded revenge. Lucy had skittered around fearfully on the marble, laughing in delight as she desperately tried to outrun him. He had the home field advantage however and cornered her in his bathroom.
She was still laughing and pleading for forgiveness as she slammed the door shut and locked it, but he simply said, "No getting away from this one Luce!"
For a moment there was silence, and then suddenly he materialized right at her side, causing her to scream as he hoisted her into the air and slung her over his shoulder.
"A soak should be ample retribution!" he decided, carrying the struggling woman with him as he stepped into the massive shower. She wasn't able to wriggle free in time to avoid the initial blast of freezing cold water and she shrieked while he just laughed, managing to hold her there until her entire back was soaked before she leapt from the shower, still laughing and playful as she threw the door open to escape. He tore after her right on her heels as she ran now dripping wet through his house, trying to catch her as she devilishly tried to get back at him indirectly.
She dove onto his bed, rolling through the blankets, soaking everything.
"Hey!" he called after her, getting to the bed himself just as she got up and ran again, heading for the door, laughing hysterically.
That's when she slipped. With all the water on the slick marble floor it was bound to happen eventually, but falling at that speed on something so hard, his heart stopped.
And he had never performed a resummon so quickly.
He flashed to her side just in time to catch her before her head smashed into the solid floor, she didn't even have the chance to scream yet before he was there holding her tightly against him.
His front was as wet as her back but he didn't think she would mind being any more wet than she already was, only concerned for her safety.
He was breathing heavily, having summoned himself to her side twice in the span of a few minutes and she was urgently stammering out something he didn't quite hear. He shook his head to try and clear the dizziness but refused to release her yet.
"You idiot!" he finally heard her say, "You pushed yourself too hard! That has to use up so much magic, Loke can you even hear me?!"
"Yes yes," he reassured her, the spirit world already healing him enough to convince him to lower her gently onto the floor. She pulled him down with her, forcing him to sit. "I wasn't going to let you crack your skull open to avoid a headache," he muttered like it should be plain as day, but leave it to Lucy to prioritize his well-being.
"Still! I mean… thank you, but… UGH," she flung her arms around him, feeling stupid for falling at all.
They were quiet for a little before Loke chuckled, saying, "No more running."
She just nodded into his shoulder. He let her sit without being disturbed for a little before saying, "Lucy?"
Her response took a few seconds to long, and when she lifted her head he could tell she was starting to feel the wear of being in the celestial world.
"LUCY!" he shouted at her, furious all at once and she frowned, having expected such a reaction. "What the hell how long has this been uncomfortable for you?! Why didn't you say anything?!"
"I want to get used to it!" she defended herself, pulling away from him and creating distance. "I want to be able to come here more and hang out with you, I can handle it! I'm just not used to it you do it for me!"
"I do it all the time Lucy my body has a toler-"
"Well I want a tolerance too! I can deal with being kind of uncomfortable."
She was a little short of breath and he knew it wasn't just because she had been running. It was harder for human bodies to breathe in his world, the spirit world clothing was supposed to take the brunt of it but it wasn't the best quality and she had been there for hours and hours now.
"I'm not leaving," she said crossly, "I like it here I want to be able to come here more."
He sighed heavily, massaging his temple in frustration. "I want that too Lucy of course I do but-"
"You can't protect me from every little thing, being sort of tired and out of breathe is no big deal."
He grimaced. "I damn well can protect you from everything just watch me."
"That wasn't a challenge Loke," she shot back at him, "I don't need you to baby me! You keep me safe and I am more grateful than I could ever say, hell you saved me from a concussion a few seconds ago, but if I say I'm okay then you just have to believe me."
They glared at each other for a while, neither party willing to back down. He knew how damn stubborn she could be, and staying there was definitely something she was going to be stubborn about. Her arms were crossed and her eyes defiant, her confidence and unwillingness to back down usually things he loved about her. Being on the other side of them however was beyond frustrating.
He couldn't help the irritated growl that rumbled from his chest, and was too distracted to notice the way Lucy tensed and her face flushed at first. But as he turned his head to look at her again he noticed the dilation of her eyes and the heat of her cheeks.
"Do you swear you're okay?" he pressed, misinterpreting the reaction.
"Mhm," she answered quickly, looking away and putting a hand to her chest.
He raised an eyebrow, her behavior confusing him. He could sense the sudden increase of her heart rate, but couldn't chalk it up to exposure to the celestial world. It would have been beating quickly already, not all of a sudden.
He tried to think back on his actions, wondering if he had miss-stepped somewhere. Then suddenly a thought occurred to him. The only thing he had done differently…
He growled, on purpose now, low and rolling and powerful, wondering if it had been responsible. What he got in return was completely unexpected.
She gasped, her face now a dark red and he could practically feel the heat from her skin. The way her eyes trained on him and her breath hitched only left one explanation.
He gaped at her, totally thrown off.
She was aroused.
"Wait!" he called, lunging forward to grab her before she bolted. "Is that- is that something you like?"
"Shut up!" she demanded, trying desperately to get up and run but his grip was iron, nothing compared to the playfulness of earlier and on top of her humiliation she was also irritated when she realized he had let her get away before.
His own face was slightly red as well, but as he got over the initial shock he was elated.
"Don't be embarrassed!" he pleaded, "Wait it's okay! I'm not making fun of you!"
"Yes you are," she protested, slumping into his hold now that she knew there was no hope of escape. She let her face drop into her hands, doing anything it took to avoid looking at him.
Her reaction had been involuntary, obviously exposure to something so wild was limited in romantic encounters. There had been weak human equivalents she had experienced with previous partners during… intimate activities. She had always loved it then, something about the animalistic rawness to it… but that was nothing compared to the real thing. It was shocking, and it drove her crazy.
She was mortified, but Loke couldn't be more excited. He completely forgot their argument, nearly bouncing in place as he urgently tried to console her.
"I'm not making fun of you I was just surprised I swear! I didn't expect that, don't be embarrassed for liking something. I mean, come on just earlier today I nearly jumped you in a clothing store, you are not the worse for wear here."
She peaked up at him, her face still a blazing scarlet. The comparison did make her feel slightly better, but regardless she knew she needed a little space.
When she tried to pull away this time Loke let her, riding the high of getting that kind of powerful reaction from her. After his pathetic show of weakness at the dress shop he was ecstatic to even the playing field a little.
They both got to their feet and Lucy paced briskly away to find a towel, minding her step as she did. Loke was still smiling like a buffoon when she got back. She started drying the floor and tried to take the embarrassment good naturedly.
'You teased him earlier and he took it like a good sport, you have to cut him a little slack. Even if that was the most humiliating thing that could have possibly happened.'
Loke left to go change, grinning and racking his brain for anything else that might fall in a similar strain. With this revelation some other things started to make sense. The way she looked at him any time he was protective or powerful, or being possessive.
She liked that animalistic side of him, the wild powerful Leo the Lion. There was so much about him just being himself that had led to their closeness and today's events but when it came to intimacy that was what did it.
He was so excited, and a little worked up now. Seeing that need in her eyes, holy crap he needed to chill out. They were not at that stage yet, not even close, but suddenly having the feeling like he knew what would drive her nuts his electric attraction to her was all he could think of. He cared for her deeply and desperately, loving all the little things that made her so utterly perfect, but another much smaller but still powerful part of any building relationship is attraction. And holy shit was that there.
He was thinking of the dress now, and of a million other scenes in his head. Each and every time he had been struck by how sexy- fuck CALM DOWN. She is still in your house you moron she's a room away and if you don't stop this you are really gonna regret it.
He shook his head and cleared his mind, taking an extra few minutes before returning to the main room. When he got there he could see she was still embarrassed but had calmed down in the other regard. He was a little disappointed, and immediately berated himself for feeling that way.
"Anyways," he said with finality, letting her know in a single word he would leave her alone about it for now, "care for a walk?"
The pair walked through his estate, which was actually a tiny planet floating through celestial space, holding hands like they had been doing it for years. They walked so far and talked so long that eventually Lucy could barely keep her eyes open. It was only then that Lucy gave in to Loke's insistence that she return home.
"You can come back soon," he promised, "but you're tired and need to sleep."
She leaned into him and allowed him to take the two of them through his gate, appearing back into the luckily deserted guild hall. It had to be something like three in the morning now, and he guided her outside and began the journey to her apartment.
She seemed to perk up a little from the cool night air, the heat from earlier dissipating almost completely now and it looked as if another storm was on its way, but regardless Loke used the excuse of her exhaustion to sweep her off her feet. She didn't protest nearly as much as he expected her too, and she soon settled into his hold, curling into his chest. They traveled the rest of the way in that fashion.
Lucy opened the door to her apartment, on her feet now, and locked the door behind her companion as he entered. She yawned heavily, but cut off her spirit as he started to say goodbye.
"We need to do one thing first," she said, excitement apparent in her voice. It was only when she crossed to her table and lifted the small wooden box that he remembered she planned to make a contract.
He just laughed and gestured for her to continue, loving her eagerness to greet a new spirit that was so potent she didn't want to wait till morning. He sat down on her couch, and watched as she took a strong stance and held the silver key in front of her.
"Spirit of the celestial realm, here my call. I beckon you to my side at once, pass through the gate!" She called out powerfully, turning the key in the air and sending a strong pulse of magic through the room before calling, "Open, Gate of the Crow, Corvus!"
Loke leaned forward eagerly as her magic condensed into a single spot before her, a brilliant deep purple magic circle appearing on the floor before there was a sudden flash and he was greeted with the sight of his old friend.
In Lucy's apartment now stood a massive black crow, standing at about half Lucy's height and peering up at her with unnatural powder blue eyes instead of a crow's usual beady black. Its feathers were a deep and shiny oily black, his powerful wings utterly impressive even when folded up. He was mostly normal looking save the slightly glowing light blue eyes, and most noticeably, the bright white professional looking vest set on his torso. He even had a little red hankie tucked into a pocket on the breast.
"I would ask who summons but there is not a spirit breathing who does not know the call of Madame Heartfilia." The words fell from his sharp beak but his voice was surprisingly deep and gravelly, not at all the croaking screech she had expected. The bird bowed, pulling one great wing before him and saying, "Never did I expect to have such an opportunity to serve the greatest celestial wizard to arrive in centuries. I am honored, truly."
Lucy was totally surprised by such sudden and genuine praise, her eyes shining with a mixture of disbelief and pride.
"I am so happy to meet you Corvus, and the honor is mine. Please, if you would have me as your wizard, I would love to sign a contract with you. I have heard great things about you, and to get to know you would be a pleasure."
It was now the crow's turn to be surprised, the expression surprisingly clear on his feathered face.
"What's wrong?" Lucy asked, suddenly nervous.
"No, nothing. But you speak differently than I am accustomed to. I have never heard a wizard imply that signing a contract was an option before."
Loke smirked, still remaining unseen behind Corvus, watching as Lucy looked upset.
"Of course it's an option, I would never force a spirit to work with me. If you would prefer a different mage I would take every measure to ensure you found a proper wizard."
The shock settled deeper on the bird's face. He took a moment to reply before reverently bowing his head.
"You really are as kind as the rumors have painted you. To come to your call would make me a very proud spirit."
Lucy smiled at this, a happy closed eye Lucy smile. "I look forward to working with you. Your friend told me you were used to ranking, but that isn't how things work with me. You are my equal and my partner, there is no master here."
He looked like the rug had just been pulled out from under him, completely surprised by such an utter upheaval of how things were always done. But through all this shock his addled mind settled on, "You say I was recommended, may I enquire as to who by?"
"Heyo you old crow," Loke spoke up for the first time, grinning happily as his friend turned and caught sight of him sitting casually on the master's couch.
The bird sputtered, if that was even possible with a beak, and exclaimed in surprise, "Sir Leo!"
Loke rose and walked up to the bird, affectionately setting a hand on his head which the creature quickly shook off. "Ya know," he said with humor, "I have had a dozen masters, been banished, nearly died, and returned and I STILL don't like being called sir."
The crow seemed to puff up with pride. "To be recommended by someone such as yourself, I really am honored si- Leo I mean. I don't know what I did to deserve such an honor but I swear on my pride I shall not fail or falter. I shall serve our master with diligence."
"Just Lucy," the spirit mage chimed in, smiling at him kindly when he turned towards her. "I don't like to be called master. I'm your friend first and your wizard second."
Loke looked down at his friend and laughed aloud at his complete confusion. He couldn't resist throwing him off a little more, and walked around him to stand behind Lucy, wrapping his arms around her middle and setting his chin on top of her head in a sign of obvious affection.
The poor bird looked like he had witnessed the scandal of the century.
Lucy blushed at Loke's actions, but figured Corvus should just get every rule and protocol broken in his head now instead of gradually. If her and Loke really did… well if he really did start taking his opportunity to try and court her than the crow was going to be in for quite a ride.
Once he recovered a little, well as much as he could with Loke constantly throwing out 'beautiful's and 'darling's, he immediately signed a contract that only had one hole per month on every third Thursday.
With a shaky bow and a farewell, he vanished, leaving behind a few giant black feathers that Lucy carefully cleaned up.
Loke kept on chuckling to himself for a little while more, but stopped at Lucy's narrowed gaze.
"Oh what?" he teased, his good mood bolstering his confidence, "Should I not have been so forward?"
Lucy's eyes narrowed more as heat settled on her cheeks. "No but-"
Loke strode up to her quickly, pulling her close to him in an intimate embrace with his hands settled low on her back. Teasing was a little different than moving too quickly wasn't it?
"Loke!" she reprimanded him, earning another deep rolling chuckle that she could feel in his chest. She tried to scold him more, but when he looked down at her behind those shades with that confident attractive smirk her words caught in her throat and her heart tried to hammer its way out of her chest. That only made his smirk deepen, his own heart keeping pace with hers as that want registered again in her eyes. She may be timid but he knew now with complete certainty that he had an effect on her, just like she did for him.
He knew he should stop, their faces surprisingly so close. Had they been leaning in? Crap he was doing this wrong, this wasn't the right time he was letting his attraction get the best of him, but wasn't she feeling it too?
He wanted so badly to kiss her, to close that gap but he understood the situation too completely to lapse in such a way. If they made that contact, if they got that close, neither of them would be capable of keeping it from escalating. And that wasn't how he wanted that kiss to be.
He bit his lip hard, using the pain to focus his mind and pulled back, hoping desperately that his hesitation didn't come across as disinterest. He saw her eyes flash to his lips and back again, then it was like something clicked in her head and she pulled back too.
At first she was afraid. He had pulled away, when they were so close to kissing… but when she looked back up to his eyes she saw that… god it could only be described as hunger. She understood, and when her mind was a little clearer, she was grateful. That isn't how she wanted it to be either.
Loke cleared his throat, taking a healthy step back and looking away nervously. 'Nice one, yet another show of complete weakness for her. She has way too much power…'
Not that it was bad per say.
"You're tired," Loke stated matter of factly, still not meeting her eyes. "I should probably get going I've kept you up late enough as it is."
He was still facing away, examining some miniscule detail of a feather Lucy hadn't seen when he felt a gentle pressure on his cheek that shocked every nerve in his body.
Her lips were so much softer than he had imagined, so electric.
She smiled timidly at the way his eyes widened and his face burned a deep scarlet before he was able to look at her. "I uh … uh," he stuttered, his brain shutting down almost completely.
Chalk another up for Lucy.
She tittered quietly before reaching out for him and gently holding onto his hand.
"Thanks for today," she whispered, like she was too nervous to raise her voice and possibly shatter the moment. "I… I had a really nice time. I'd like to do it again sometime…" her voice petered out and even through his own flustered haze he could see the nervous yet hopeful shine in her eyes. "Will- will I see you again tomorrow? At the guild maybe?"
'More time' his thoughts raced, 'more time even more time I can see her as much as I like now. She wants to keep seeing me she had a good time she didn't leave. She wants to see me again tomorrow, again even though we've been together so much she really wants that.'
Lucy tilted her head cutely, sort of accepting that her lion had pretty much frozen up now. She sighed fondly, giving him another timid but genuine Lucy smile before saying, "I'll see you then kitten," and pulling back her hand to push him firmly on the chest.
He was so flustered and chocked up from the simple kiss on the cheek he only managed to say, "Kitten?" before his lack of concentration finally compromised his presence in the human world and he vanished in a flash of light.
((Okay, I promise I'll progress things along plot wise next chapter, and I'm sorry if it comes off as rambling at all, but I think the little steps in their closeness is important to show. Also does anyone else love Corvus? I've been drawing him in my sketchbook for ages now I love him so much.))
