A/N: Hey all! Here's chapter eleven! Not as fun as a chapter, but it is necessary! This is Sunday's post, just posting early! Feel free to review, favorite, and follow. Much love and enjoy.
~~~Chapter Eleven~~~
Night had fallen, the group set camp up a long a mountain side, an area hidden in the trees. There was a ledge that had enough leverage for Lucy to climb up and sit, staring at the stars. Her knees were folded to her chest as her neck was craned upwards. The stars always kept her calm, kept her inner storm at peace. Laxus was scouting the area, her eyes wandered to his person watching as his head slowly turning as he surveyed the area. A smile crept to her face as she watched him. After a few minutes, he turned and headed to a different area, her eyes losing sight of him. She let out a small sigh as her legs unfolded and stretched out in front of her as she leaned back onto her arms, resuming star gazing.
"Those twinkling diamonds in the sky are majestic, don't you agree?" A voice asked startling Lucy. She lifted her head up as Ciel climbed his way up and kneeled down next to her on one knee, his arms resting on top. She stared at him with pursed lips as his eyes turned towards the sky, breaking their brief eye contact.
"Indeed." She said hesitant, turning to face the stars once again. "The stars always leave me awestruck, especially when they are in full shine." The light breeze ruffled her hair, loose blonde strands tickling her face. She tucked the loose pieces behind her ear and turned to look at Ciel again, his eyes still glued to the sky, his cloak flapping behind him.
"So, tell me maiden, why are you after the Phantom Star?" Ciel asked as he sat down, one knee was propped up while the other crossed under his knee and laid on the ground. Lucy bit the inside of cheek, debating if she should tell him the real reason or not. She wasn't sure how he would respond about being a job request that they were sent to retrieve considering that it was a precious heirloom that belong to the Sirius family.
"It was a request actually to retrieve it." She whispered after she decided the fate of her inner battle. She felt hiding it from him could bite her in the ass, so avoiding karma, she decided to suck it up and be honest with him.
He raised his eye brow. "Is that so? By whom?" His eyes stared into hers with curiosity. His eyes danced, the complete opposite response than what she was expecting.
She fiddled with the hem of her sleeve. "By an archaeologist." Ciel watched her amused with dark eyes, his dark shaggy hair blowing in the breeze, covering a part of his face. "He wanted us to decrypt the message and bring it back to Fiore." To her surprise, he just shrugged with a grin.
"Interesting." He mumbled in thought. Her response made him mentally smile with relief considering now he didn't have to bribe for help when someone had already sent her to solve it, although that thought didn't set well in the pit of his stomach. It sounded a little off.
Lucy sat straight up and maneuvered herself to face him. "So, you knew mama?" Her voice quiet as her eyes saddened. She didn't remember much of her mother, since she was so young when her mother passed away. She always got sad talking about her mom, but she was also proud at the same time. She just wished she had had more time with her, and for her to meet her new friends, Natsu, and… Laxus.
Especially Laxus.
Her voice brought him back to the present. He thought for a moment before answering, knowing she wasn't going to like his response since he didn't have much to tell her. "I knew Anna, knew of Layla. What I knew of her, she was a strong woman who didn't give up. She fought with every ounce of strength she had." Ciel stated as he licked his lips. Lucy lightly jumped being startled from her thoughts that had consumed her.
"Ciel, how old are you?" Lucy asked in wonder changing the subject. She decided not to press the question about her mother, seeing he barely had anything to really tell her anyways and she didn't want to get her feelings hurt by getting her hopes up that he knew more about her.
She took in his appearance with a whole different view. He looked young and older at the same time, which she thought it could have been a result from his time hopping. His outfit was a tad strange, but was still mildly normal compared to Natsu's outfit.
"In your time, I would probably be over 400 years old, but in my time, I was sixteen when the curse was placed on me." He replied causing her to release a small gasp, a hand covering her mouth. He shrugged at her reaction. "I'm the last one left of the Sirius family. And you maiden, are the only one who can release me from this wretched curse so I can move on." There was a moment of silence after his announcement.
Thinking of a response, she cleared her throat. "Me? What can I do?" She stared at him wide eyed at his statement. Being responsible for her life was a job in itself and now, she's responsible for someone else's?
"You have the mind to solve the relic, the power to deflect the cast of darkness. I will help in any way I can, but you must promise me you can solve it." He told. He was ready to move on with his life, to enter the next life. His body and soul were like spider webs, flimsy and could tear at any time. He was tired. He was tired of all the traveling, the restlessness, the loneliness, the sadness.
Her mind was racing. "You realize a promise to a celestial mage is a huge deal? If I promise, you must promise me that you will help me find Aquarius's key." She said in a quiet voice.
He gave a short nod. "Of course, maiden. I promise to you one zodiac key in return for you to break the curse. Do we have a deal?" He tilted his head as he watched tears well up in the blonde's brown eyes. She abruptly stood up, wiping her butt from any dust, then held her hand out.
"I, Lucy Heartfilia, promise you Ciel Sirius, that I will break the curse in return for Aquarius's key. I accept." She watched as he eyed her hand before silently standing up and taking her hand in his with a shake.
"Very well then, we have a deal."
They stared at each other before releasing the hand shake. Lucy shivered as the cool air licked her bare skin, hugging herself, she sat back down cross legged. A grunt and a shuffle of feet made her jump, her eyes averting to where a curious Laxus stood on the other side of Ciel. Lucy gave him a small smile as Ciel shifted on his feet, sighing, then sat back down as well on the side of Lucy. Laxus narrowed his eyes at the boy, still not trusting him.
"Blondie, did I hear correctly about some deal?" Laxus asked in a low tone as he made his way to stand in front of her, squatting down to be at same eye level. She looked away which only upset him. They had just run into the kid early in the morning, and now she's making deals with him? Sometimes her big heart frustrated him.
"We made an agreement between each other. She breaks the curse, I will in return help her acquire Aquarius's key and if any dark guilds should intervene with your mission, I will help." Ciel answered beside them. Lucy turned her head back to meet Laxus's gaze.
"Blondie." Laxus grumbled. "I told you I would help you." His tone sounded hurt, but a scowl showed on his face. Lucy sighed looking away once again. He did promise her that he would help, and he still could, but if Ciel knew where the key was located, she wasn't going to pass that opportunity up. Regardless of a pouting dragon slayer.
She gave him a weak smile as she turned back towards him. "And you still can. Ciel knowing her location will help tremendously. We can all do it together. An eye for an eye. I help him, he helps me." Her response only made his face turn into annoyance. "And he's not only helping us find the key, he also promised to help if the guild attacks. That's more than what I have to do."
"We know nothing about him, and here you are trusting him." Laxus hissed quickly in disbelief. His inner dragon wanted to roar. The feelings that were suffocating him, what were they? Jealousy? He had no idea, but it felt like his lungs were being squeezed to where he couldn't breathe. He took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure, trying to not let it bother him. He didn't hate the guy, but he also didn't like the him. But Ciel was making himself too comfortable with Lucy, and Laxus didn't know what to do about that situation. But he also knew, that Ciel had answers for her that no one else could answer for her.
"I'm still here so you're aware. I have no interest in causing issues or problems. I've have had my fair shares of," he stopped to ponder the right word. His head turned with a grin. "misfortunes. But I gave up that kind of life style. I like the peace and quiet. I, however, am ready to move on with my life."
"Still not enough for me to trust you." Laxus stated as he crossed his arms. The kid was more or less stating he wanted to die, and that feeling wasn't sitting right inside of him. Even though he wasn't going to trust the guy, death was something he would never wish on a soul. He almost felt pity for the man whose soul could never sleep. A ringing went off in his pocket, grumbling curses as Freed popped up when he answered.
"Freed." Laxus said as he looked between Lucy and Ciel. "We will finish this later." Laxus mouthed while turning to jump off the ledge, the sound of his boots thudding on the ground echoed. Lucy released the breath she was holding with a sigh before giving a restless smile.
"Forgive him. He's very protective and weary of new people…well people in general." She said apologetically. She knew how he was socially awkward and now throw in a total stranger, one he had a weird jealousy for, she knew the lightning slayer was on edge.
Ciel returned her smile and did a wave of his hand. "No need to apologize. He has every right. He has a sacred treasure he needs to protect, and he feels threatened. He is, after all, a dragon slayer."
Laxus sat down on a boulder that was near the fire they had made, his attention back down at the lacrima. He shot Gajeel a glance, Gajeel nodded in understanding as he stood up.
"What did you find?" Laxus demanded as Gajeel appeared next to him, the iron dragon slayer raised a pierced brow in curiosity and confusion as to what was going on. He certainly wasn't going to complain however.
"So, about the Sirius family, from what we've gather, they shouldn't be a threat. They were in good graces with the Heartfilia's generations ago. The family was placed under a curse called Eternal Hell, but there was no explanation as to why the family was cast such an atrocious curse. The curse prevents them from dying or aging. The only thing that can break the curse is a family heirloom, that of the Phantom Star. The Phantom Star is considered the light of the stars. The only way to activate the Phantom Star is to break the rune casted on it." He relayed. "But." He paused.
"Freed." Laxus said as he noticed the man tense, almost like in fear.
"Your threat would be that dark guild. I had Hibiki check into some of his archives, and what he found is kind of fearful. The word for the guild would be callous. They were compared to the Spriggan 12." There was dead silence as Laxus and Gajeel shared a glance before looking back at Freed.
"Are you positive?" Laxus asked not amused. A lot of his family nearly died that day when Zeref and his army declared war on Fairy Tail. His hands turned into fists, closing his eyes, his jaw clenching as his temples pulsated.
"I'm positive master. Would you like back up on the way?" Freed asked with a hopeful tone. Laxus shook his head declining the help which only lead to a very baffled Freed.
"No, from the information we got, their weakness is celestial and light magic, which we have two as of right now on the team." Laxus said, not realizing that he was now going to have to explain about Ciel, which he was really not wanting to. Freed stared at Laxus incredulously before speaking.
"Is Jellal with you?" Freed asked curious.
"No." Gajeel answered instead. "We have an ally on our side. No worries." Laxus raised an eye brow at Gajeel's intrusion to the conversation but then simply just shrugged it off.
"An ally?"
"He's a Sirius, that's why I had you get background information about him." Laxus crossed his arms and crossed his ankle over his knee and lightly shook his foot. Why did Gajeel have to go open his big ass mouth? Laxus was starting to regret calling Gajeel over to be part of the findings.
"Impossible." Freed mumbled as his fingers touched his chin thinking. "He's a Sirius?"
Laxus nodded. "That's what he said. He said he was cursed. Blondie made a damn deal with him without consulting anyone." Gajeel raised an eye brow at Laxus in amusement as Freed just blinked.
"I'm sure Bunny had her reasons to making a deal. I'm not all sunshine and rainbows about the guy, but if her instinct is telling her to trust the guy, then I will trust her judgement. What was the deal?" Gajeel inquired.
"I will see what else I can find out about this kid. What's his name?" Freed asked.
"If you'd like to inquire on me, so be it. The name is Ciel Sirius. I'm sixteen and from X300's. My family was placed under the Eternal Hell curse, but I'm the only one who survived and have been wandering ever since. I was in alliance with Zeref and Acnologia during X777, I was there when Layla Heartfilia opened the eclipse gate. I can cast light magic, and can use celestial spells, but cannot summon keys due to not being a full celestial wizard. Anything else?" Ciel snorted clearly not impressed that the men of the group were stooping low. Lucy crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at Laxus.
"Laxus, that was uncalled for." Lucy said upset, her eyes piercing his.
"Miss Lucy, if I may. I've already done some research, and everything came back with no threats. Although it stated that there was no remaining Sirius's living. I'm mainly reporting back about the guild Laxus asked me to look into." Freed implied.
Ciel lifted an eye brow as he crossed his arms. "Diabolos Abigor?" All eyes turned towards him. "Why couldn't you ask me that? I'll have the most information about them over anyone else." He was unamused. He fully understood that they didn't trust him, but it still baffled him as to why they didn't ask him when he first hand knew more than anyone.
There was pregnant silence, as no one dared to speak. Besides after a moment, Lucy sighed turning her attention to Ciel, flopping down on a boulder.
"Since I have common decency, please do elaborate about this guild." Her attention then shifted to the lightning slayer who then had the look of guilt plastered on his face. He took a deep breath and slowly releasing it as he closed his eyes and slowly reopening them.
"Hmph." Laxus grunted. "What do you know?" he grumbled as he perched next to Lucy, the lacrima still in his hand that project Freed.
"Well, get comfortable. It's a long explanation." Ciel commented. "I'll start from the beginning.
A couple days had passed, the group entering upon broken down ruins and caves. Lucy was head of the group, Lily sitting on her shoulder as he helped her navigate. Levy trailed a few paces behind her on her left side with Ciel on her right. Laxus and Gajeel hung the rear of the group.
The past few days had been rough for Laxus ever since the other night. He regretted jumping to conclusions and going behind Lucy's back without warning her, but hell, they run into this kid in the fucking middle of nowhere. He knew her name, about her past, her mother. He admitted though that he didn't feel anything bad coming from the kid, but he was still weary. Lucy gave him the silent treatment for the rest of that night after Ciel explained about the dark guild.
"Diabolos Abigor isn't a guild to be taken lightly. I came nose to nose with the master, Silas. Do not underestimate him. If I wasn't under this curse, I probably wouldn't be standing here in front of you guys right now. If you thought Alvarez was bad, then you're about to experience a whole new pain level. These people play with more of the mental state, torture tactics. And then believe in human sacrifice." Ciel closed his eyes as the group stood there watching him.
"Sacrifice for what?" Laxus heard himself ask. He caught Ciel's attention as he opened his eyes and shifted so that his eyes locked with Laxus's.
"For the hell of it."
Laxus was still tense after that conversation. Who is their right mind liked to kill people for the hell of it? The whole situation wanted him to turn around and leave and not look back. He could careless about the award money. He almost didn't care about how it would look on Fairy Tail if they abandoned mission.
But then he met her eyes.
The determination held tight in those brown orbs that knocked him off his feet. She wasn't going to back down and he knew it. So, he mustered what he could of a breath, sighing, and decided that he was going to stick by her side. He did promise to protect her and that's what he was going to do. That was one promise he would never back out of.
"Is there a reasoning behind theses sacrifices?" Levy asked as she clutched onto the iron slayers arm. Just the skin tingling information that they were receiving had them all on edge. "I know you said for the hell of it, but you think there is more to it? Do they go after certain types of magic?"
They all watched as Ciel stayed silent for a moment. His eyes slid towards Lucy, then connected with Laxus who was staring at him with narrowed eyes.
"Light and celestial magic users. It's because they are weak against those magic users. So, they try to destroy any magic users that run off light and celestial, which to them is considered pure magic. But that doesn't mean they just go after those type of mages. They really take anyone who has magic abilities. Just some magics are worth more than others." Lucy gasped as Laxus tightened his grip around her waist.
"Oi." Gajeel waved his pole shaped arm in front of Laxus's face. Laxus turned his head towards the iron slayer giving him a scowl. "Man, you stopped in the middle of walking and had this serious blank look on yer' face."
Laxus rubbed a hand down his face, his eyes landing on the group who hadn't noticed that they had stopped. He could hear them conversing back and forth.
"It's nothing. I was just thinking of something." Laxus replied as they started walking again. Gajeel nodded in return, stating he understood the stress that the blonde was going through. Gajeel wouldn't consider himself and the lightning slayer best friends or buddies, but he had a high respect for the lightning slayer.
"Well, whatever it is, I would get yer' head out of your ass. Can't be having you space out now. It looks like Shimp and Bunny found the place." Gajeel pointed out as the trio in front of them stopped at a cave opening to the left, whispering and looking at the paper.
"This is it." Ciel said quietly. "I feel the Phantom Star." Lucy nodded and turned to looked at Laxus who stood a few feet behind them with his arms crossed and a brow lifted. She gave him a weak smile, still upset with him. It hurt her that he treated the situation lowly, but she also understood he was only trying to protect his group.
"Alright. Let's do this!" Lucy said fist pumping the air before grabbing her hair and tying it into some type of concoction on the top of her head.
iiiii
"So Laxus and Gaj can take turns on watch and scouting. Then Levy, Lily, Ciel, and I can try and solve the rune writing. I brought some books that I thought would help along with Levy bringing some and then I also have Grandpa Crux that could help as well." Lucy said as she dropped her bags against the wall. The cave was half in tack, part of the ceiling was missing as it was collapsed.
Ciel shifted through the rubble, his eyes darting from here and there, licking his lips as he searched. He felt the intensity from the Phantom Star, but he couldn't pin point its location in the cave. After several minutes, he came across a pile, a sparkle caught his eye as he squatted down. He threw some debris behind him when his hand scraped against what he was seeking.
"Lucy." His voice cracked as he stared at the relic. He looked up realizing she hadn't heard him. "Lucy." He called again, gaining her attention along with the others. She hurried towards him and kneeled down next to him. "This is it." He claimed as he went to gently pick up the fragile relic. Here it was, the very thing that could lead him to his freedom, to set him free. He could choose to move on or live his life like a normal human. To age. To fall in love. To have a family. He could barely remember his family back from the year X300.
But.
His whole future weighed in the hands of one Lucy Heartfilia and honestly, he couldn't have chosen any other person to pull this off. Her drive and determination, her love and passion for humans and spirits, for creatures and dragon slayers. And as a celestial mage, she never breaks her promises and she had made the promise to help him, help him break the curse and he was going to do whatever he could to make sure she succeeded, even though he would have to deal with a possessive dragon slayer. That said dragon slayer crotched beside Lucy and Ciel, his hand resting on her lower back as she and Ciel conversed over the relic.
"I don't think I should touch it." Ciel commented as he jerked his hand back. "Not positive what'll happen if I happen to touch it."
Lucy nodded as she carefully swiped off dust, then carefully picking up the relic. "Okay, so that's taken care of. Now to start working on the wall." She turned towards Levy and her group as they made their way back over. They made a small make shift table from a flat rock and sat their stuff on it.
"I'll take first round on scouting." Laxus grumbled as he headed towards the cave opening. Lucy reached out and grabbed his hand making him stop. She felt terrible for giving him the cold shoulder past few days, but he jumped to conclusions without discussing with her and hurt her feelings. She felt him tense up, but she ignored it as she pulled herself to him and hugged him from behind.
"Be careful, please?" She whispered into his back, her hands clasped below his naval. He placed his hand on top of her clasped hands and gave her a quick squeeze.
"Are you worried?" He asked raising a brow as he turned his head over his shoulder to glance at her. She let go of her hold so he could turn towards her.
"Well, yeah." She said a light blush tinging her cheeks. "Why wouldn't I be?" She smiled at him, a smile he missed. He returned the smile with a grin and leaned down pecking her on her cheek.
"I'll be fine. No need to worry your pretty little head." He winked at her as he turned away and started walking with a wave of his hand. Lucy sighed, but then giggled as he disappeared from eye view.
"That's all lovely and all, but we have a lot of work to do." Ciel stated impatiently. He was ready to get the relic done and over with. To break the curse. And maybe get all that done without any interruptions.
"That's my cue to go shack up at the entrance. Later." Gajeel grunted walking away leaving the girls, Lily, and Ciel to start.
At Fairy Tail Guild hall….
"Damn it!" Cana screeched as she threw her cards on the table as a few landed on the floor, crossing her arms and cursing more under her breath. She bit the inside her cheek as she stared at the outcome of her cards. A few looked over at the card reader, but soon went back about their business. Two figures walked up to her table, taking a seat across from her.
Cana's eyes shifted up as the forms of Bickslow and Freed sat before her. She sighed, rubbing her eyes and then clutching her head from the side as she stared at the table top.
"I don't understand." She muttered. "I don't understand what this means."
"What do you mean, Cana?" Freed asked curious as he sat his clasped hands on top of the table. He took a side glance at Bickslow as he leaned back with his feet on the table and hands clasped behind his head, making himself comfortable.
She leaned back with a long, exaggerated sigh. "My cards. I've done three separate readings now about Lucy's group and the outcome has been the same and I can't figure out. The three cards are so, so… ugh. I don't even know. But the outcome isn't good regardless."
"This is Lucy and Laxus we're talking about. If anyone can kick ass, it's those two. Lucy has a wicked mind and Laxus has insane power. Boss will be fine." Bickslow said.
"I agree. I wouldn't sell them so short. And we can't forget that Levy and Gajeel are with them too." Freed pointed out. It didn't sit right with him that everyone had kept forgetting there were more people to the group than just Lucy and Laxus, not that they surpassed his master, but they were still guild mates, family.
"So, what are the cards reading Cana?" Bickslow asked. Cana pursed her lips as she leaned down and picked up the scattered cards on the ground. She shuffled them, closing her eyes as she took a deep breath, before setting up the cards in their piles. She drew the main card, then the separate three that decided fate.
"The star, which means hope." She said. She flipped the second card over. "The hanged man, which means sacrifice." She swallowed hard as she flipped over the last card. "Death. Meaning, not particularly death, but the ending of something."
"So, hope, sacrifice, and ending?" Freed mumbled in thought. "Those are an odd outcome, but none to not take seriously. If I may ask, who do you channel your energy thought about when you're doing this reading?"
"Lucy." She said quietly. "She's the one I'm closest to, so she's the easiest to read." A drink appeared in front of her as Mira stood beside the table with a tired look.
"I'm guessing it's still the same outcome?" She asked quietly before slumping in the seat next to Cana. Cana nodded. She had done the previously two readings while sitting at the bar, Mira peering over the counter as she watched the results.
"Look you guys, I get those are crappy readings and all, but you can't let that crap get to you. This is Lucy and Laxus, once again that we are talking about." Bickslow let his feet slap the ground as he sat up right in his chair. The sad talk was starting to piss him off.
"I know, we just worry though. Everyone has been through a lot." Mira responded back, her fingers tapping lightly on the table top.
"Still. How would they feel if they know everyone is sitting here, worrying and freaking out? We need to have their backs and stand with them." Evergreen added in as she walked up joining the group. "Boss would be pissed if he heard the conversation you guys are having. Have some faith."
"She's right." Freed agreed. "Master would be disappointed if he knew we had doubts."
Cana snapped her head up. "I never said I had doubts. I'm allowed to worry that my best friend is in a damn different country and could possibly be in danger. I am allowed to worry and freak out. But do I believe in her? In them? Hell yes I do! There is no doubt in me. So, if any of you have doubts, then what the hell are you doing here?" She was angry and she was scared that she couldn't contain her outburst any longer.
"Oh, Cana." Mira gasped as a tear escaped the brunette's eye.
"See, that's the spirit." Bickslow chuckled as Freed's lacrima lit up and showed an image of Laxus. "Speaking of which, hey boss!"
"We made it to Silician and they brain team already started on the runes." Laxus said ignoring Bickslow.
"I'm going to guess the brain team is Lucy and Levy?" Mira giggled heartily.
"And the cat and that kid." Laxus added. "I promised an update for when we got here. Later."
"Wait, Laxus!" Cana yelled launching herself half way on the table. The lacrima stayed connected as Laxus waited. "Tell Lucy to be careful. I did a card reading and the results, aren't the greatest. So please, tell her for me?"
There was silence before they heard a release of breath. "Y'all need to stop all this worrying. We can handle ourselves and I've already said I would protect Blondie. We have a handle on things and if things were to turn south, we'll contact. But I will tell Blondie everyone said hi and to be careful. Fair?"
"Thank you." Cana whispered clutching her arm. She was beyond worried for her blonde friend. Lucy was the first person she ever truly opened up to, to let inside her burdens. Lucy stole her heart, and Cana forever felt indebted to her. She was her best friend after all, and nothing would ever change that.
"Now, anything else? Otherwise I'm hanging up." Laxus gumbled on the other end impatiently.
"Nope, bye boss. Catch ya' later." Bickslow was the one to answer. The comm disconnected as everyone stared at it. "See, told you."
Night time had come again, the iron slayer snoring as he leaned against the wall of the cave with Levy napping against his shoulder. Laxus leaned against the entrance of the cave, his arms crossed as a light rain started pelting the ground. They had managed to close off the roof of the cave that had been collapsed with some branches and tree bark they had found around the area. Ciel and Lucy were still bent down over books, Lucy with her gale glasses as she sped read through the thick, old book she held in her hands.
Laxus watched as her head would bob, her eyes slightly staying closed longer every time she would blink. After watching her for a solid five minutes he walked over to her and grabbed the book out of her hands, making her jump. She took the gale glasses off and rubbed her eyes while stifling a yawn.
"Take a break blondie. You've been going at it for twelve hours." Laxus said as he placed the book on the rock table that had been made. "Come on." He said quietly as he held his hand out for her to grab.
"Why can't I just rest here?" She asked as her back touched the wall behind her. Her eyes closing. "I'm too tired to move." Her eyes stayed closed as Laxus sighed, shaking his coat off and wrapped it around her before settling down next to her, wrapping an arm around her.
"Fine." He mumbled way after the fact. "Just get some sleep." He kissed the top of her head.
Ciel watched as the couple whispered back and forth. He saw the passion in his eyes as he stared at her, the love he had. Ciel mentally smiled, as he thought back to before his family got that curse. He had someone who he would stare at that like. He sat down the book he was holding, deciding to take a break himself. He wasn't too sure what he was exactly looking for since he had no experience in the rune department, but he could at least try and pitch in to find something that looked like it would help.
"She likes you. I don't know why when we barely know you, but she trusts you." Laxus said cutting the silence outside of fire crackling and snores from the sleeping forms.
"I'm not perfect. I've made mistakes. Being alive for four hundred years can really take a toll on a person's mind. After Layla, I couldn't do it anymore. I set out on the mission to find this. I need closure. And Lucy is a Heartfilia. I heard word of her searching for it. I will not harm her nor will any harm touch her as long as I'm here. I don't remember too much of our family ties, but I know our families were close so it's my sworn duty to protect a lady of the Heartfilia line." Ciel responded back, tossing a small pebble across the floor.
"When the curse is broken, what will happen? You promised her Aquarius's key, but if the curse is broken, doesn't that release your soul from the curse, and then what? You move on?" Laxus asked awkwardly. Laxus wasn't exactly thrilled on his response, but it was more than he expected. Although, Laxus being who he is, there was no way he was going to let someone else protect Lucy right hand like that over him. Lucy is his mate, his life, his family, and one of his best friends. But with that thought, he wanted to swallow his ego because the more man power he had to keep Lucy protected, the safer she would be. He would never be able to forgive himself if something were to happen to her. He was however concerned about the guy keeping his promise to Lucy. Lucy took promises to heart and always made sure she kept up her end of the deal.
"I have a choice. I can either let my soul pass, or I can live out my life. It just depends on what I want, but I have five days after the rune is resolved to figure out what I want. It takes five days for the curse to completely be lifted." Ciel admitted. His drew his knees up, resting his arms on top of them.
Laxus played with a strand of Lucy's hair, her dead weight pressed against him as she softly snored. She had bags under her eyes from lack of sleep. He knew she hadn't been sleeping well since they left that Inn, and he knew he didn't help the matter. The guilt weighed on him, and he wished he could take back how he reacted the other night. He should have just trusted her. He just wasn't thinking. He was in the mind set to protect. He admitted Ciel was a nice kid, better than Natsu or Gray. Less annoying as well, if anything he reminded him a lot of Freed with the formal talking. It didn't help how fond Lucy grew of the kid. What really ate at him, was the words of moving on. Laxus being who he was, opened his mouth bluntly asking him the question he wanted to know the answer to.
"So, what are you going to choose? Are you deciding life or death?"