And I thought training with the Dragon Slayers was going to be easy. Oh, how wrong I was.
"You need to go on the offensive sometime, Blondie!" Sting berated me as I ducked a punch headed right for my nose. He didn't even sound out of breath!
"I'm trying!" I puffed out, dodging a kick aimed my my ribs. "If you would give me an opening to actually try something you've taught me," I grumbled. I lunged to the side, trying to get around him while at the same time avoid his onslaught of attacks.
It was just the two of us today. Every other day for the last month had been purely devoted to offensive training with Sting. Rogue would join some days to give pointers on my defensive form and sometimes to make the fight the two of them against me. The days in between were a hodge-podge of defense with Rogue, agility with Orga, and magic with Rufus.
I saw the barest hint of an opening and went for it with everything I had. I pulled magic from deep inside me and sent it to my fist, curling my fingers tightly as my hand began glowing in swirling shades of purple and gold. Yet, it still wasn't enough as Sting easily caught my hand and sent my blast of Celestial magic wide. My magic burst a boulder easily into fine rubble.
It was a technique Loke had tried teaching me back in the beginning, right after I left Fairy Tail. Similar in nature to his Regulus magic, though since it was Sting and Rogue who helped to perfect the technique, it shared many qualities of Dragon Slaying elemental punches.
Sting took the opportunity to return the favor and hit me solidly in the gut with a White Dragon's Punch. It hurt like a bitch, but after getting hit by varying Dragon Slayer attacks multiple times over, the sting tends to lessen. Slightly.
"If I were a real enemy, I wouldn't give you the opportunity to go on the offensive." Sting said, offering his hand and pulling me up out of the sand. "You have to go and create the opportunity yourself."
I brushed sand from my butt and arms, "Easier said than done against someone like you."
Sting smirked, his ever inflating ego getting another pump.
"It wasn't a compliment," I mumbled, jumping up and down to keep my limbs warm for another go.
We sparred for a few more rounds, making our way up and down the beach. It was the easiest place to train that was still relatively close to the lighthouse and away from the prying eyes of the people in town. There were hardly any people this far anyway as the lighthouse we were occupying was supposed to be empty. Something about a man committing suicide by jumping from the top kept the superstitious sea folk far away most days.
I kicked the golden sand up around me in a tight circle, before sending a large spray in Sting's direction, momentarily blinding him. I lunged low, bursting from the sand cloud in a golden flash as the setting sun caught my hair. My shoulder connected squarely with Sting's stomach as I tackled him into the sand.
Before he could raise a hand to throw me off, I pinned his arms on either side of his body with my legs. I brought my hand to rest against his throat, a slight glow to my fingertips. I leaned forward, pressing my chest to his, his stormy blue eyes following my every move as I whispered in his ear, "Was that opportunity enough for you?"
I pulled back just enough to see his eyes open wide in shock, their depths swirling with emotion.
"No," his breath puffed softly against my face, his voice husky, "but this is." Sting easily pulled his arms from where I had them pinned in the sand and brought them up to cup my face. Before I could utter a word, in surprise or protest, I had no idea, because in the next second his lips were on mine.
The kiss wasn't forceful, it was solid and gentle and before I knew what I was doing I was melting into it and kissing the blonde back. He tasted like fresh snow, pure and new. He snaked one hand behind my head to tangle in my hair, the other trailing slowly over my shoulder- ribs- waist to settle on the small on my back, pulling me closer to him and deeper into the kiss at the same time.
His tongue traced the contours of my lips and I gasped at the sensation. Stars, I wanted more, but if I didn't get air soon I was going to pass out.
I pushed myself up just far enough that the gorgeous boy under me couldn't easily recapture my lips. Sting wore the softest expression, his lips slightly swollen, mirroring mine no doubt, gazing at me with such a tender look, I thought I was going to break.
With his arms still around me, he breathed, "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that; to hold you, kiss you, love you."
It was the way he said it, without the bravado, the cocky attitude, the got me. I didn't have to be a Dragon Slayer to know that he meant every word.
"You love me?" I asked, eyes wide.
"If I don't already, I'm certainly well on my way," he replied easily.
I smiled down at him, running my fingers through his tousled blonde hair. To think I had waited years for Natsu to realize I held feelings for him and yet in the two and a half months I had spend with the Dragon Slayers, Sting was reciprocating feeling for me I barely knew I harbored for him and his partner.
His partner. Rogue…
Sting noted the change in my expression and pressed a finger to my lips before I could utter a word. Sometimes, I swear the White Dragon Slayer had psychic powers.
"It's not uncommon for Dragon Slayers to share a mate."
"What…? Are you…? Does that mean…?" I stumbled over my words, my heart beating rapidly. Was Sting really saying what I think he was saying. That it wasn't just him that -
"Rogue shares my feelings," he nodded, "he's just goes about them a lot more subtly than I do."
The Shadow Dragon Slayer was always making sure I always had a plate of food at meals, his fleeting touches, the words of comfort when I woke from nightmares in the middle of the night. Most recently Rogue had begun insisting on treating any injury I sustained during training.
"Wow," I said dazedly. I looked at Sting, but I didn't really see him at that moment.
Sting smirked, cupping my cheek, "I think I just broke you,"
That snapped me out of it. "Shut up," I muttered, pushing off of Sting's chest, the moment clearly over.
I reached down and helped him get up. He didn't let go of my hand the entire way back to the lighthouse.
I stood from the tiny table, empty plate in hand, finally feeling all of my aches and pains from the day's training. I dropped it off in the sink before returning to the conversation, though I wasn't really paying attention to what Rufus and Orga were arguing with Sting and Rogue about. It concerned the lighthouse I think. Maybe the light at the top was going to go out soon?
My mind was still back on the beach. Sting kissed me and confessed not only his affection but also the affection of the Shadow Dragon Slayer as well. Sting had always been fairly obvious and I had brushed it off as him playing with my mending broken heart. And Rogue. Silent, watchful, Rogue. I knew my feelings for him were slowing taking root, but had I really been so blinded after Natsu to not take notice of him and his feelings?
No, not totally. Subconsciously I must have had an idea or I wouldn't have allowed myself to start falling for either boy, not to mention both at the same time.
Sting had said it wasn't uncommon for Dragon Slayers to share mates. From what little I had been able to find on Dragon Slayers in books, mates were a Dragon Slayers life partner. They only ever had one their entire life and they shared everything: bodies, souls, minds, and on rare occasions, magic.
Maybe that's why Natsu never noticed my affection. I wasn't meant to be his mate from the beginning…
"That's not what I'm saying, damn it!" Sting slammed his fist on the table and I thought for a second that the thin wooden legs would give under the force.
"Then what are you saying?" Orga seethed, thick arms crossed over his bulging chest. Wow, I had missed a lot.
"They'll arrest us if they find us here," Rufus said matter-of-factually. "all of us." He flicked his gaze my way before returning it to a fuming Sting. "We've been here for far too long."
"They can't arrest us!"
"Yes, they can."
"What is going on?" I whispered to Rogue, warily eyeing the three mages in front of my, silently wondering if I should leave the table or try to break it up.
Rogue eyed me carefully before leaning my way, "Orga was in town earlier; the usual supply run. On his way back he caught the tail end of a conversation between a couple of Rune Knights. They're growing suspicious of all the magic activity around this lighthouse."
"My training," I said and he nodded, not taking his eyes off the escalating fight.
"This lighthouse is government property and it's supposed to be empty."
"Ah," I murmured putting all the pieces together. I had known it was supposed to be empty for some time, I had just never thought anything would come of us staying here for the past few months. A plan began forming in my mind.
Sting lit his hand with blinding light and reared back to strike the Memory Make mage. I'd been training with Sting every other day for over a month and I'd be damned if my reflexes hadn't improved.
Before he could even swing, my whip had coiled around Sting's forearm. I yanked hard and he staggered away from Rufus.
"Gentlemen," I said, standing straight and tall, years of etiquette training returning to me in the blink of an eye. I was raised to be a diplomatic business woman after all. "If I'm understanding the situation right, and believe me I am," I eyed Rufus, Orga, and Sting meaningfully, "then there is a simple solution."
"Which is?" Rufus asked curiously.
"An apartment. Or a house if we can't find an apartment large enough for all five of us." I stated simply.
They looked stunned, jaws agape, even Rogue. Such a simple solution to a problem they almost came to blows over.
"How did I not think of that?" Rufus murmured, rubbing his chin.
"It could work." Orga said.
"We have enough saved up from our time in Sabertooth that money wouldn't be a problem." Sting piped in.
"And, if we had to, we could take a few jobs in town." Rogue mused.
I clapped my hands happily, "It's settled then." I eyed them, "Now who's going to come apartment shopping with me tomorrow?"
All four boys paled at the thought, even Sting. Eventually Rogue and Rufus relented to accompany me, Rufus saying that 'it will make for an interesting memory.'
I left Sting and Orga very detailed instructions the next morning before leaving with Rogue and Rufus.
"While we're gone, I need the two of you to make it look like no one has been here. Pack everything. Clothes, food, everything. We will meet you guys on the beach later in the afternoon, hopefully with good news." I smiled before joining Rogue and Rufus and walking into the waking town.
"What about this one, Miss?"
"Not enough room. There are five of us."
"And this one?"
"The neighbors are practically on top of us."
"This one was just recently put on the market." The Realtor asked, his tone weary. He had no idea that when the three of them walked in that morning that the hot blond would be so shrewd, criticizing every listing he had shown them. "I hope it's to your liking." He added as an afterthought.
Rogue, Rufus, and I were currently being guided through the house. The high ceilings and large bay windows gave the home an open, airy feel. The floors were done in a dark wood while the walls were white and light cream colors accenting each other nicely. The first floor was roomy, with a large kitchen and sitting room, a bathroom down the hall next to a personal office, and tucked back, looking over the spacious backyard, was a formal dining room.
There were no furnishing in the house, but it didn't take a stretch of the imagination to envision living in such a beautiful home.
There were only four bedrooms, each with an attached private bathroom, and the three of us figured that would work for the five of us.
After having a second go through the house, I turned to the weary Realtor. He eyed me nervously as I stepped up to him and extended my hand.
"We'll take it."
"Really?" He practically sighed in relief, grasping my hand.
I narrowed my eyes at the man, "Now, lets talk about that price."
"How did she do that?"
"I want to know and at the same time, I don't," Rufus replied.
I smiled to myself, twirling an ornate brass key around my finger. I knew that if I wore the Realtor out, I would be able to negotiate a substantial price drop on the house.
"One hundred and twelve thousand Jewels." Rogue shook his head in wonder, his shaggy black hair swaying with the movement. "I didn't even know it was possible to save that much on a house."
"That's nearly thirty percent savings." Rufus calculated quickly.
The conversation tapered off, leaving us to walk in comfortable silence. The house wasn't all that far from the beach, ten minutes walk at most.
Sting jumped up from where he was skipping stones when he saw up approach, Orga following silently behind the blonde.
"Well?" He asked expectantly, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Total success," I replied, flicking the brass key to him. He caught it easily and twirled it between his fingers.
"Apartment or house?" Orga asked, taking the key from Sting and studying it before tossing it back to me.
"House. None of the apartments in town were big enough for all five of us," I replied, striding up to the mound of bags strewn across the sand.
I pulled a gold key from my belt, "Virgo," I summoned.
My spirit appeared in a flash of golden light. She bowed at the waist, he shackles clinking softly as she folded her hands on top of each other over her black maid's skirt. "Punishment, Princess?"
"I'll never get used to that," I heard Orga mutter behind me. He stood with the other three guys, watching me interact with my spirit. Sting and Rogue had been around me and my magic longer than the other two and had grown used to the quirky spirits and their unusual speech patterns and outfits.
"Not today, Virgo. I have a favor to ask of you." I said, gesturing to the luggage behind her. "Could you take that to the house and put it away for us?"
"All of it, Princess?" She asked, eyeing the pile with her emotionless blue eyes.
"If you don't mind." I said, smiling at the pink haired spirit.
"Of course," Virgo said, grabbing the first few bags, "anything for you, Princess." She said before disappearing and reappearing just as quickly. It took a couple trips but Virgo finally got all the bags.
"Thanks, Virgo," I said, giving her a tight hug. I pulled back just far enough to look her in the eyes as I slipped a key into her hands without the others seeing, "You know what to do."
She nodded solemnly before bowing and fading away.
I pivoted in the soft sand, turning to the four boys, "Shall we?"
"Hell yes!" Sting said, "I'm starving!" I smirked.
The walk back was just as pleasant as the walk to the beach, though Sting led the way, tracking out scent all the way back to the house.
The outside was white washed with three small steps up to a large wrap around porch. Two old fashioned rocking chairs sat with a table between them off to the side of the main door.
I motioned for Sting to open the large oak door. I stepped through last, marveling at the expressions crossing everyones faces. Rogue and Rufus were especially surprised to find the house furnished and decorated as it had previously been empty of everything except the color on the walls.
"Welcome back, Princess," Virgo greeted, standing patiently before the grand staircase leading upstairs. "I have unpacked all the bags and prepared dinner for everyone. Your rooms are upstairs and if you would all follow me I will show them to you."
Four pairs of pleasantly shocked eyes turned to me and I met each in turn starting with Rogue, the Rufus, Orga, and finishing with Sting.
A light blush rose on my cheeks, "Welcome home, everyone."
Rogue smiled gently, pulling my hand into his and giving a light squeeze, "We're home."
The writers block was absolutely horrible leading up to this chapter. I know it's a little later than it should be, but I'm much happier with the result! A little StiCy action in this one, some RoLu in the next one. :)
I've ended the poll and thank you to everyone who voted! A Sting- Lucy- Rogue pairing was the favorite, with more than half of the total votes.
I hope everyone enjoys where I'm taking this story! Time To Get Stronger turns one year old in a little over a week! Thats crazy to me and without each and every one of you who followed, favorited, and reviewed this story wouldn't be where it is today! THANK YOU.
There is a new poll up on my profile page!
Until next time!
~Jordeng2