Chapter Eleven:
Lucy watched in horror as her husband fled out the window. She could see a thin, slightly familiar figure raced away.
"Natsu!" she started to race towards the window. She could see him chasing someone dressed in all black. She fumbled at her belt for her keys, the pointed one out the window.
"Open, Gate of the Lion! Leo!"
In a flash of yellow light Loke appeared on the roof.
"Hey, beautiful, how you been?"
"Could you please stop calling me that. I'm a married woman now. And go help Natsu!" she pointed in the direction of her husband.
"Yeesh, just trying to be polite," Loke said as he adjusted his glasses, turned and followed after the two. Lucy turned and raced out to the hall.
"Erza!" she called as she busted into the lobby. She found Erza leaned over a stack of papers Levy and Evergreen were showing her.
"Erza!" Lucy called again.
"What's wrong?" Erza asked.
"Someone was spying on us! Natsu's already gone after them!"
"Say no more," Erza nodded as she raced out the door, requipping into her Heaven Wheel's armor midstep.
"C'mon, Lu-Lu," Levy said, running to her friend's side. "Let's get you somewhere safe."
"This way," Evergreen indicated the way with a flourish of her fan.
"Shouldn't I be out there with them?" Lucy asked.
"Are you kidding?" Evergreen gapsed. "You're the one they're after! We've got to keep you as far from their grasp as possible!"
"Think about the baby, Lu-Lu. You've gotta keep her safe," Levy reminded her.
"And the only way you can do that is by keeping yourself safe," Evergreen continued.
Lucy sighed. "Okay."
"Come along, we've gotta hide you away somewhere," Evergreen fanned herself as she led the way down to the basement.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"GET BACK HERE!" Natsu screeched as he threw a ball of fire at the intruder, who was racing a few steps ahead of him into the forest behind Fairy Hills. Before the flame hit him though, the intruder disappeared into a poof of dust, causing a tree behind him to ignite.
"What the-" Natsu frowned.
A sharp pain erupted across the back of his skull and he fell face first into the dirt.
"Ouch, what the-"
"So we meet again, Fairy scum!" A hissing voice chuckled.
Natsu's eyes narrowed. "I know that voice. And that smell." He jumped to his feet and whirled around. Behind him was a thin man with black hair, black lipsticks, beady eyes, and dressed dressed in all black.
"You're that copy-cat freak from Raven Tail, ain't ya?" Natsu growled. "Black...something."
"You remember me," the man hissed. "Maybe you're not as stupid as everyone says you ar-"
"FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST!"
The Black Snake barely dogded a fire punch, and sommersaulted to safety.
"If you're trying to make me mad YOU'RE WAY BEYOND THAT!" Natsu thundered, sending out a flurry of punches. The Black Snake hissed and chuckled as he dodged each blow, smile growing wider with every time Natsu missed.
The crap? Why can't I hit this guy!
"You're slow!"
Natsu opened his mouth to reply, only to have it slammed shut with a kick that sent him on his back.
"Ergh!" He growled as he stood back up. Slowly, making sure to play up any pain he was feeling. Which wasn't much. Puny kick barely phased him. He just need this punk to think it had.
The Black Snake chuckled menacingly again and went to attack again-
-only to have have his kick blocked by Natsu's fist clamping down around his ankle.
"Eh?" the black snake asked before being jerked forward and slammed into one of the nearby trees. Natsu then raised the Black Snake over his head and slammed him onto the ground in front of him.
The Raven Tail wizard let out a noise that sounded like a strangled cat.
"FIRE DRAGON-"
Before Natsu could even lay the punch the black snake disappeared into another cloud of dust.
"Aw, c'mon! Where's you-"
"LION BRILLIANCE!"
A bright light engulfed the forest, though it's brilliance didn't phase Natsu in the least. He'd seen this spell plenty of times before, and took full advantage of the seconds bought him.
Black Snake was right behind him apparently going for another strike before the light blinded him.
"FIRE DRAGON WING ATTACK!"
The black snake flew into the air, engulfed in flame just as the light died down.
"Loke," Natsu turned to find the celestial spirit running towards him.
"Lucy told me to come help you out," Loke explained.
"Ah, that's my girl," Natsu smiled as the Black snake came tumbling back towards the ground.
"FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST!"
Just as the Black snake got into range Natsu hit him with the attack, sending him spiralling towards a tree. The blast and the poor soul unfortunate to have met the brunt of it took an entire chunk out of the trunk. The tree creeked, and began to lean dangerously to one side. The Black Snake kept flying until he hit another tree, this one finally stopping him in his tracks.
"So whose this creep?" Loke asked as he drew nearer, pointing to the Black Snake who was now trying to stand to his feet. Natsu glared. Nope! No way he was letting this creep get away. Natsu didn't answer, but instead jumped straight into the air.
"Hey-" Loke called, but it was no use.
"FIRE DRAGON ROAR!"
The ground ignited into a brilliant flame that bored a crater into it, forcing the Black Snake into the bottom of it.
"Dude, will you chill?" Loke asked.
Another choking cat noise came from the crater as the Black Snake pulled himself out of the hole. He all but had to crawl his way to level ground. Natsu smiled wickedly. That oughtta show 'em! The Black Snake slowly lifted his head. He still had an evil grin on his face.
"Don't take it personal," he said in a slimy voice. "You softhearted fairies wouldn't know the first thing about raising a child of that breed. Master Ivan will be sure to give it the proper, stern, treatment that it needs to flourish."
Natsu all but hissed. Images of Flare Corona covered in bruises and trembling in fear. The very idea that Ivan would even entertain such ideas for his child…
"GrrrRRRAAAUUUUUGGHHHHHH!"
The ground shook as Natsu raced, or rather pounced, toward the Dark Guild member.
This piece of-
"FIRE DRAGON CLAW!" He kicked the Black Snake in the chest, burning a hole the size of his foot into his foe's shirt as he stumbled back into the crater. No, flying! For the first time since the battle started, the scum actually let out a cry of pain.
Good! That's what he gets-
Natsu followed him into the hole this time, teeth gritted, his entire body shaking.
"Wha-wha-what are you?" the Black Snake chuckled. A nervous, terrified chuckle. Clearly the poor fellow found nothing funny about his predicament, but couldn't find any other possible response.
"Natsu, what are you doing, you idiot?" Loke asked as he raced to the edge of the crater and peered in.
"FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST!" Natsu slammed the attack on the top of the Black Snake's skull, sending his face flying into the dirt, where it promptly got stuck. The force of the impact was so hard that it had buried the Black Snakes entire head in the dirt.
"FIRE-"
"Dude, I think he's had enough!" Loke called.
"YOU KIDDING ME!?" Natsu turned on the spirit. "HE"S ONE OF THE PUNKS GOING AFTER MY BABY!"
"I get that, but-"
"NO BUTS!" Natsu raged, turning back to the Black Snake. "IF HE THINKS HE CAN MESS WITH MY DAUGHTER, HE'S GOT ANOTHER-"
Clang!
Rather than his fist colliding with the squishy body of the Raven Tail punk, it ran into something hard, sending shockwaves of pain through his arm.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!" he whined as he stepped back, shaking his hand to rid it of the throbbing that was attacking it.
"That's enough!" the firm voice of Erza called. Natsu looked up to find said warrior standing between him and his prey, decked in her Adamantine Armor.
"What the crap Erza!? That really hurt!"
Erza lowered her shield, eyes narrow. "Maybe, but at least it snapped you out of your Dragon Force."
Natsu blinked. "Dragon Force? I wasn't using-"
"Yeah you were!" Loke called as he slid into the crater. "You activated it right after he said Fairy Tail wouldn't be capable of raising the baby.
Natsu blinked. He had? Eh, good riddance!
"Now how is slaughtering a man using your Dragon Force going to accomplish anything?" Erza asked.
"I'm honestly surprised you didn't already kill him," Loke stated.
"So what?" Natsu shrugged. "He had it coming! And it would make me feel better. One less creep I gotta-"
Smack!
"Ouch! Loke, what the-"
"That's for Lucy since she's not here to do it herself," Loke said, adjusting his glasses. "You know as well as anyone else that killing a member of this joint guild will only make things worse."
Natsu just growled, rubbing his sore cheek.
"Indeed. It would only give them a reason to attack us," Erza said. "And with the excuse of a fallen comrade any authority that gets involved with the war to follow would only look down on us."
Natsu grumbled some more and crossed his arms, though he knew they were right.
"Besides," Erza continued, looking at the unconcious and very well cooked dark wizard. "Now we have a captive we can interrogate."
The corners of Natsu's mouth curled up into an evillish grin.
"Alright, now I'm fired up!"
"You can't kill him in the interrogation, either," Erza warned.
"Oh, I won't," Natsu's evil grin widened as his eyes narrowed. "I'll just make him wish he were dead."
"Very well," Erza requipped back into her regular armor as Loke threw the unconcious Black Snake over his shoulder.
"I'll go ahead and carry this creep back to the guild hall. I'm sure Gramps would love to have a chat with him."
"I'll go with you," Erza offered. "Natsu, you better go back and check on Lucy."
"What!? No way! I'm not done with this punk yet!" Natsu protested.
"We can handle him if he wakes up, don't worry," Erza assured him.
"Pretty sure that's gonna be a while, though, after that beating you gave him," Loke said.
"That's not the point!" Natsu insisted. "It's my family he's messing with so it's me he's gonna have to deal with!"
"I think he's dealt with you enough for one night," Loke readjusted hsi glasses. "Anymore and he'll keel over dead."
"Besides, I'm sure Lucy's worried about you. You should at least let her know you're okay. And not by just shouting down the hall as you pass by! Let her actually see you," Erza said.
Natsu crossed his arms and grumbled. Once again, he knew they were right. If the tables had been turned and Lucy had gone off to fight some creepy stalker while he was forced to stay behind he'd be worried too. Not that he'd ever let that happen. But still…
"Okay, fine," Natsu finally gave in. "But if he wakes up you gotta let me know."
"Very well," Erza nodded, and she and Loke headed back to the guild hall as Natsu headed for Fairy Hills. Wendy, Levy, and Evergreen were standing guard at the door when he returned.
"Did you get him?" Wendy asked.
"Pfft! Is that even a question?" Natsu asked as he ruffled the younger dragon slayer's hair.
"So where is he?" Evergreen asked.
"Erza and Loke are taking him back to the guild hall. Said somethin' about letting Gramps have a word with him once he wakes up. Better not let the old geezer get to him before I do, though."
"Not sure who I'd be more afraid of if I were him…" Levy pondered as she stroked her chin.
"Hey!" Natsu looked offended.
"Sorry, just saying," Levy shrugged.
"Whatever, where's Luce?"
"Hiding in the basement. In a room behind the third bookshelf to the left after you take the first ladder the the right down to the second level, and the thrid ladder to the front to the third story," Evergreen answered.
"Wut?" Natsu arched an eyebrow.
"Come on, I'll show you," Wendy offered, leading the way.
"Men," Evergreen rolled her eyes as they walked towards the basement door.
"I heard that," Natsu called.
"Ooh, I'm shaking in my custom leather pumps!"
"I don't know what those are, but you should be," Natsu replied, half jokingly as he followed Wendy down the steps and two sets of ladder to a book shelf with a bust ov Mavis sitting on it.
"This is a fallout shelter we have hidden here in case the dorms come under attack," Wendy explained as she pulled on the bust and the bookshelf swung out to reveal a secret room with an obviously frightened Lucy sitting in the middle of the floor.
"Natsu!" she cried as she hopped to her feet and sprang towards him, all but jumping into his awaiting arms.
"Are you okay?" he asked, cradling her back and shoulders.
Lucy nodded, pulling away from him slightly so she could see his face. "I'm fine. What about you?" she asked as she cupped his cheek in her hand. "You're not hurt are you?"
"Nah, you kidding?" Natsu answered. "That creep didn't stand a chance!"
Lucy smiled, though there was still a glint of worry in her eyes. "I don't guess he was working with anyone else. Or that-" her voice caught in her throat. "Or that he said what exactly they want with the baby."
"No," Natsu answered, shaking his head. By this point Wendy had scampered back upstairs to give the couple some space.
Lucy lowered her head, worry completely engulfing her chocolate brown eyes.
"Hey," Natsu cupped her chin in his hand and lifted her gaze towards him. "We got one of their lackeys. Whatever they were planing for tonight didn't pan out for them, and neither will anything else."
Lucy tried to smile, but she clearly was still worried. Natsu sighed, he hated seeing her like this. He drew her closer to him again, letting her nuzzle her face against his chest. He tried to think. There had to be something he could do to cheer her up, or atleast take her mind off their situation for a few minutes. He lifted his head and saw the door to the lockdown room was still open. His eyes narrowed mischivously as he scooped her into his arms bridal style.
"Enough about all that, though," he said, carrying her back into the room and closing the bookshelf behind them, engulfing them in darkness.
"Natsu, what are you-"
"I can't seem to recall the last time you and I spent any quality time together," Natsu answered in a low, husky, voice as he pinned her against the wall, one hand on either side of her head, his chest pressed up against hers. He made sure to be a bit more gentle than usual, but still wasted no time in snaring her lips with his.
"Mm," Lucy gasped, eyes wide as he gently coerced her into letting him deepen the kiss. A bit unusual for him. Normally if he really wanted to initiate a more passionate kiss he'd just do it. He knew she wouldn't protest. Or, on the off chance she did, she'd make sure he knew it. Turn away, make an unapproving noise. Something like that. He wasn't being quite that bold tonight, though. He was taking his time. Letting her keep up with him. For now. Knowing Natsu it was probably just a tease. A way to lull her into a false sense of control before he caught her off guard and ravaged her. Still, she was game.
"Hm," she hummed as she closed her eyes and gave in, letting her fingers get tangled in his hair. A growl rumbled in his throat as she scraped her nails along his scalp. He broke away from her lips the trace a line of soft kisses starting from under her ear, down her jawline, to her neck.
"I know what you're trying to do," Lucy said as his hands lefts their posts on the wall, and instead opted to keep her in place by gripping her hips.
"Hm?" he asked in feign innocence, never letting his lips stop working along her neck.
"I know you're trying to distract me from everything that's happened."
"Is it working?" he asked, finally stopping in their journey right where her neck met her shoulder, only to have his warm breath tickle her skin. A small shiver snaked along her spine, but she still shook her head.
"No, not yet," she answered.
"Guess I gotta take it up a few notches," he said before taking a nibble of her ear lobe. She hissed, her nails digging deeper into his scalp.
"Better?" he whispered into her ear, his breath sending more shivers down her spine.
"Getting there," she replied in a bit of a strained voice.
Natsu chuckled seductively, trailing more kisses down her throat, these more passionate and, if it were even possible, even slower than the ones before. After an eternity he'd snaked his way to the other side of her neck and began nibbling on her other ear.
"Working now?" he asked, his nose still brushing against the side of her face.
"Hm...wha-" Lucy gasped, casuing him to chuckle again.
"I'll take that as a yes," he whispered in a husky voice.
"That doesn't mean you can stop," she snapped, gripping her hands behind his neck to hold him in place and keep him from leaving her hanging.
"Oh, I'm just warming up," he assured her, taking her hands in his and pinning them above her head against the wall, leaning in to kiss her lips once more.
A small sliver of light broke through the darkness, causing both of them to break the kiss and snap their heads to the door where Evergreen stood, her fan still in her hand.
"Oh, my," she gasped, hiding her smirk behind the peacock feathers. "Well, I was coming down here to see if you two were alright, but seems you're doing even better than I thought!"
"Evergreen!" Lucy shrieked, horrified.
"You gotta be friggin' kidding me," Natsu grumbled.
"Oh, please, don't let me stop you!" Evergreen chuckled as she began to close the door back. "Enjoy your fun! Just don't go and accidently make twins."
Don't be afraid to leave reviews! Even negative feedback is feedback (Just don't be a troll, 'kay?)
God Bless!