-Tiny rewrite 05.03.2018-
Chapter 9.
Natsu woke a few minutes later, much to Lucy's relief. She'd never seen anything like that; the way he'd just buckled and collapsed without warning had made her heart leap into her throat.
What spell was that? she wondered, making a mental note to ask Crux to research it for her later.
"What happened?" Natsu's voice groggily demanded. "I don't remember falling asleep!"
"That's what you get for picking a fight with someone you don't know," Lucy told him, her tone stern. He sat up suddenly, his forehead connecting hard with her chin. "Ow! Watch out, baka!"
"Sorry, Luce!" he apologised, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. "You okay?"
She felt her breathing hitch as she realised just how close their faces were. He was examining her face with a strange look and leaning in to close the gap between them. Her stomach fluttered.
Is he going to kiss me again? Shit, Lucy. Don't think that! Especially not here at the guild! I'll be teased mercilessly for weeks! she panicked and quickly punched his arm lightly before standing up. "We're missing out on the party."
"There's a party?!" he leaped up beside her, nearly knocking her over again.
"Natsu..." Lucy heard herself whisper as he caught her waist to stop her falling. Her hand caught his vest.
Dammit! Why is he having this effect on me?
They both blushed at the same time before jumping apart.
"You're weird," he muttered.
"I'm weird?" Lucy responded indignantly, but her mind refused to help her come up with a decent retort.
"Yep," Natsu grinned wolfishly at her before jogging off and calling over his shoulder, "You coming?"
I need to get a hold of myself! Lucy sighed, following him at a much more leisurely pace.
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Laxus was onto his second stein of beer when he heard a squeal. He turned at the sound, forcing himself to look bored, just in time to see Amalie leap away from Bickslow. She Changed his mask to stone, yelling, "Oh my god, Bicks! That's so unsanitary!"
Bickslow comically face planted the floor at the sudden weight change of his attire while Freed and Evergreen roared with laughter.
Probably licked her face, Laxus thought as he smirked into his beer, watching the smaller girl rubbing her cheek furiously. She caught him watching her and gave him a predatory smile. He could still smell the heady scent of adrenaline burning through her veins from their sparring session.
The females in this guild are all bat shit crazy, he decided. He smirked back at her. Amalie was like a small, irritatingly hot younger sister. Okay, maybe not a sister because he was attracted to her and that association made him feel all sorts of creepy. He'd been the one responsible for bringing her to Fairy Tail three years ago after the Raijinshuu had taken a security job in Caros at the Palace after a spate of attacks on the King and Queen.
Queen Kallee had asked Laxus to take her youngest daughter with him after they had caught the mages responsible for the attacks. Her reasoning had been 'life experience' before she was under the weight of a crown and the scrutiny of a kingdom. But it was really because Sera was trying to get rid of her and we didn't know until last year.
He watched as the princess skipped over to him, snatching up a beer Mira placed on the bar for her and draining it in one long swig.
"Cana would be so proud," Laxus muttered disapprovingly as Amalie slid the empty back to Mira. He wouldn't admit he was slightly impressed by the little display, and a little turned on by less than innocent thoughts about what else her throat might be able to do. He quickly shook his head to rid himself of those thoughts before anyone noticed.
She clutched at her chest dramatically, and exclaimed, "Oh, Mister Drayer, your words and judgement wound me so. It's a party. Stop being so... Rigid."
He grunted in response, frowning as she reached for his beer but letting her take it without arguement. "How was the Team Natsu job? You actually get paid?"
"Nope," she replied cheerfully, sipping his beer before continuing. "There was that situation I told you about when we were sparring."
Gray wandered over to lean on the bar near them, shirtless like usual, to order a scotch.
"I gave the scout a memory that I was dead and wiped his recent memory," she continued, her tone flippant.
"No-one that we fought seemed to recognise her," Gray added.
"Put some fucking clothes on, ice stripper," Laxus growled at him, starting to spark in irritation. He turned to Amalie. "You're a lucky fool, kitten. You must have a fucking death wish."
If anyone saw her, they could use it as leverage against the guild, the big slayer thought with annoyance. He gestured in Gray's general direction. "Does this guy know everything now?!"
"I know enough," the Ice Make mage replied in a flat tone before Amalie could.
Laxus turned to him. "Keep an eye on her, ice cube. She might be S-Class but she has night terrors from all the fucked up torture her sister inflicted. If anything happens to her, I'll kill you."
Gray's eyebrow twitched in irritation at Laxus' threat. "S-Class? I thought she'd move in with Erza now she's back."
"Um... Guys, you know I'm still standing right here, right?" Amalie tried to interrupt but was ignored by the two males glaring at each other.
"Fairy Hills and my place are the first places Sera'd look," he replied. "I'll pay her way till she's done enough jobs that actually pay to get her own place."
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Laxus' words hit Amalie like a slap to the face as her thoughts turned furious. How dare he?! I don't need his charity or protection! And announcing my secrets for anyone to hear! I earned my S Class status, dammit!
"Fuck you, Laxus!" she screamed and launched at him, punching him square in the face before he could react. His chair teetered before he fell backwards from it. She landed straddling him, going to throw more punches but Laxus caught her much smaller hands in his.
The guild cheered in the background - it wasn't often that someone got the drop on Laxus.
"What the hell, kitten?!" he yelped, looked up at her livid face in shocked surprise, before smirking. "If you wanna be on top that bad, you should at least take me on a date first."
A cool hand latched itself across her mouth -cutting off her furious scream- and another around her waist. She was hauled up off the lightning dragon slayer; but not before she'd managed to land a solid kick in his ribs.
Freed rushed to help his leader up and fussed over the blood that was dribbling from Laxus' nose.
"Amalie," Gray's calm voice barely sunk through through her angry haze. "As much as I want to see you kick the shit outta this asshole, you need to chill. This is meant to be a party."
Fuck the party! Laxus just aired my dirty laundry to the entire freaking guild! She struggled against him, but it was half hearted. His presence was quickly calming the wild beast within her. Like it did back in Stella. How is he doing that?!
"Can I let you go now without you murdering sparkles?" the ice mage's voice was soft in her ear, his warm breath tickling her neck and his cool chest firm against her back.
Amalie nodded once and Gray released her. She retrieved another beer from the bar and stomped over to where Erza sat. The redhead grinned up at her.
"Nice work there. Technique was a bit sloppy, but it was entirely entertaining," Erza critiqued, laughing softly as her friend threw herself onto the couch beside her.
"You've fought Laxus twice now! Fight me!" Natsu whined from where he sat beside Lucy on the couch opposite.
Seriously? Is he that dumb? Amalie looked at Erza and raised her eyebrow questioningly. Erza rolled her eyes and shook her head slightly. Guess so...
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"Makarov wants us to do a job with the Raijinshuu," Erza informed Amalie an hour later as she dug into the strawberry cake Mira had brought over with yet another beer for her friend.
Lucy still sat across from them but Natsu and Gray had gone off fighting each other.
Again. Will those children ever grow up?
"What kind of job could the Raijinshuu need Team Natsu for?" the blonde wondered aloud.
Erza cleared her throat, and looked across at her friend guilty. "Not all of Team Natsu. I'm sorry, Lucy. He just wanted me and Amalie."
Natsu will cause way too much trouble, she added silently. As much as she loved the pink haired boy, his irresponsible handling of jobs was just too much of a risk for S-Class missions.
"Oh," her face fell before brightening up into her signature smile. "That's ok. I didn't know you were S-Class, Amalie!"
"It's not something I advertise," she muttered. She reached for her new beer and elbowed Erza. "Can we bring Gray?"
Oh, Gray, hmm? A smile crept up the Re-quip mage's face as she regarded the copper haired girl beside her. Amalie's already pink tinged cheeks went a darker red.
"It's not like that, Erza! He just... We'll talk about it later! Too many freaking dragons here! Besides, I'm sure Lucy wouldn't mind going on a mission with just Natsu."
"That's your last drink, Amalie," she commanded. The girl's slightly slurred response hasn't gone unnoticed. Nor had the eyebrow wiggle she'd given the blonde celestial mage. "It doesn't reflect well on the guild to turn up to a mission hungover. And Lucy, what is going on between you and Natsu? Do I need to punish him?"
She pulled a sword out of thin air as Lucy blushed bright red.
"I don't know what she's talking about!" Lucy denied, her voice suspiciously high pitched.
"Sure you do. Something happened at the inn last night," Amalie teased.
What has he done this time? Erza wondered. Walked in on her in the shower? Hopped into her bed without consent? Gone through her underwear drawer again?
"Shut up!" Lucy squealed, her blush betraying her. "Nothing happened!"
"Lucy, I can't help you if you won't tell me what he has done. Has he tainted your honour?" Erza demanded, leaning in close to the celestial mage.
"No," she squeaked back, before admitting in a whisper, "But... We kissed."
Finally. Damn, why did I bet against that?
The red head leaned back in her seat, smiling. "It's about time. Looks like I owe Mira 10,000 jewels."
"You were betting on me?!" Lucy demanded in outrage but was ignored as Erza turned to Amalie.
"Wendy is back tomorrow. I'll ask her to heal your side before we leave," Erza told her. "She's a sky dragon slayer. Don't be rude to her."
"Holy shit. Has Makarov collected the whole dragon set or something?" the Change mage muttered in response.
Erza chuckled. "She's more mild than those testosterone filled males."
One of the aforementioned males collapsed into the couch next to Lucy, his pink hair wild and a few scratches and bruises marking his face. Gray sat on the other side of Amalie.
Erza glared at the Ice mage, a black aura appearing around her. "Gray! Where are your clothes?!"
How the hell does he always do that and not notice? she wondered and not for the first time. She'd seen him naked more times than she could count over the years.
"Right. Go home, get some sleep. Be here by 10 tomorrow," she ordered the now dressed Gray when he returned. She turned to face Natsu and Lucy. "Natsu, if I find out you've done anything to harm Lucy, I will punish you."
He looked at her and gulped, his terror at her promised retribution palpable.
Good.
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