I know, I have a lot of explaining to do about the super late update, but I'll save that for the end.
Chapter 12: A Way Around It
Lucy lay awake as the sun rose, Sting sleeping beside her. She chose to ignore his snoring and tried to focus on the conflicting emotions raging inside her. What would Natsu think? She tried to ask herself as she pulled the blanket over her bare skin. Fear seemed to dominate her mind and heart as she thought of the rapidly growing connection between her and Sting and the distance growing between her and her family.
So she lay awake, trying to come to terms with what she was feeling, but she still did not know. A part of her has grown rather soft towards the white dragon slayer, but another part of her continued to argue that it was just the effects of the mating process. She should be running away.
Sting stirred beside her, the heat radiating from his naked skin. Lucy quickly repositioned herself to face the wall, a small blush rising to her cheeks as images of what happened the night before flashed through her mind. It was all so instinctive. What happened, that is.
She could vividly remember the painful pleasure that coursed through her body as he, for the second time, bit her rather sensitive mark. There was no doubt in her mind that she found a feeling of ecstasy as his sharp canines ripped through her skin, the pleasure dominating the pain. She felt like her energy doubled and what followed afterwards was more than just right. It was perfect. The kisses, the soft touches that became rough, but heated against her own skin, felt surreal. Her eyes widened at the realization that she might have fallen in love with the White dragon slayer.
A small smile curled on her lips at the memory, a tint of pink present on her cheeks. But just as quickly as the feeling came, she was overwhelmed by the sudden fear of what Fairy Tail would think of her. She slept, not once, but twice with a rival guild member. A silent tear fell from her eye.
A movement beside her had her quickly wiping away the teardrop, a strong arm wrapped possessively around her tiny waist. She felt his face bury at the crook of her neck, his lips trailing soft kisses down to her shoulders. "It's too early to be crying, Lucy."
The comfort brought by his touch was enough to send her worries away temporarily. The sun was higher up in the sky as it lit through her window, emanating a glowing warmth similar to Sting's touch. She turned to face him, blushing at the close proximity of his body to hers. "Could you, scoot a little bit further?"
A smirked played on Sting's lips at her request, his eyes narrowing. Rather than moving away, he pulled her closer to him, his chest against hers. He traced the slight bruises on her skin, and watched as she bit her lip and closed her eyes at his touch, the blush redding on her creamy skin. "I love the smell of you and me together. It's so...perfect."
His sudden comment made Lucy blush even more as he continued to nuzzle his nose against her throat. After a few minutes, finally able to control her reactions, she pulled Sting off her as best she could, making sure to pull the blanket with her as she sat up, "I'm going to go and get dressed."
Sting smirked at her flustered sight, "Go ahead," he then took hold of the blanket, "but this stays here." He licked his lips as he watched her frown but stand up to get dressed, her face a dark shade of red. After a few seconds just after she entered the bathroom, Sting lazily stretched and stood up, pulling on his pants and shirt. He could hear the shower running, but was happy that he could not smell any tears coming from the stellar mage.
He took a seat on the couch, somewhat relieved that Lucy did not push him away from her. Had she done so, he would have lost his temper, and would have taken it out on her. He sighed, after thinking about all the confusion and mixed turmoil of emotions inside him, he had finally come to terms with what he felt for Lucy.
It was difficult to explain, but a part of him knew that he was always so envious of Natsu for having her around. Before that he would have told himself how jealous he was when she suddenly showed up in Natsu's life. He idolized the fire dragon slayer and more than anything he wanted to work with him. So when a weak, blonde, busty, mage suddenly joined Natsu's team, he became frustrated, angry. He wanted to challenge them and show Natsu he was the deserving member in his team, but they disappeared for seven years. However, now that he thought about it, the reaction he had back then was irrational. He was not upset, or angry, his being was reacting to her, even as a child, a part of him knew who she was. Maybe that was the reason why they were lost for all those years. Destiny was trying to catch up to them, or rather, he was.
He was pulled out of his thoughts when the bathroom door opened, revealing Lucy in a blue fitted shirt, and a miniskirt. "Took you long enough, Blondie." He stood up, grabbed the towel from her hand and proceeded to enter the bathroom. "Don't go anywhere."
"Is he gone?" Gray quickly stepped into Lucy's apartment, and closed the door behind him, but at a cautious pace. He looked at the stellar mage, who was seated on the kitchen counter, for assurance. And when she gave a small nod, he rushed up to her and engulfed her in a tight embrace. "Geez, Luce, you haven't been to the guild for a few weeks now. We all miss you so much!"
The ice Mage, quickly noticing the silent greeting of the stellar Mage, pulled away and gave her a questioning look, "Hey, he didn't do anything to you did he? What's wrong?"
Lucy sighed, her eyes never leaving the kitchen floor. She was contemplating on whether or not she should tell someone about her conflicting emotions. She had already told herself that she might have developed feelings for the white dragon slayer, but she was not sure if what she felt were real, or if they were just the results of the mating process.
"No, he didn't. I'm just thinking. Gray, I think I like him, but I don't know if my feelings for him are...real?"
The ice mage could see the conflict the celestial mage was having with herself. Her brows were furrowed, creating rather unpleasant wrinkled lines in the space between. He disliked having to see one of his nakama suffer like this, but he obviously just could not walk away from her when she was personally asking for help.
"Hey, don't think too much about it. You think that because he marked you, it's starting to affect your feelings right?" She gave him a small nod, "Well, I really doubt it wouldn't, but I also doubt that it would reach that extent. If you say you love him, because your heart beats fast when he's around, then you probably do. I don't think the mating thing affects how fast your heart will beat around him, Luce.
Though, I can't say I'm particularly happy that you're falling for him. Of all people. But, apparently this was all meant to be, so, there's really no way out, and I'm not saying this to get you down, Luce. What I'm trying to say is, it would be best for you to talk to him about it." Oh spirits, he sounded so cheesy giving advice to her.
Lucy wanted to hug the ice mage and at the same time give him a taste of her Lucy-kick. The last sentence was nowhere near as close to all that maneuvering he was doing. Honestly, he should have just made his point clear instead of beating around the bush, but then again, she really did appreciate how much Gray was willing to help her out with her emotions. It's not everyday you meet a guy who can listen to a girl's drama.
"Where is he, Luce?" Gray could not help but wonder where the man responsible for Lucy's disappearance in the guild could be. Had Natsu not made it clear he needed to be by her side?
"I don't know. All he said was that he would be back in a few hours or so..."
There was comfortable silence between them; Lucy content that one of her teammates came to visit, and Gray more than happy to be of help to his friend. "Natsu wants to see you. He's been so upset that he can't do anything to help you. He really misses his partner."
Lucy took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling, "You know, and he knows that I miss him too. Sting is being his stubborn self and won't allow him to come near me." She really did miss the fire dragon slayer, but Sting had some crazy idea that Natsu and her were romantically involved–which she denied with a flustered face–and that he was scheming something to take her away from him. He also reasoned that it was not because he cared for her or anything, but because she was his property and nothing more.
"What are you going to do now?" Gray broke her from her reverie, pushing himself up to sit beside her on the counter.
"I guess, like you said, talk to him about it. But Sting is not really one to sit down and get emotional with. He's too full of pride to actually even tell me how he feels, if he even feels the same way." This was killing her, and Gray could see it in her movements and her eyes. Falling for a rival guild member, especially for someone who threatened to kill and abuse you was probably the hardest thing to accept. Even more so when your best friend considers him his enemy and rival.
"If it makes you feel better, Lisanna tells me all about her visits here and says she believes Sting actually cares for you. Like you said, he's too arrogant to admit it out loud." He rolled his eyes, a small giggle escaping her lips.
"How are the others? Tell master I apologize for causing so much trouble...again."
Gray waved his hand, "Hey, don't say that." He knew she was referring to the time when Phantom Lord had attacked them because her father had hired them to search for her. "You're one of us, and we will do anything and everything it takes to protect you. Even if it means getting rid of Sti—"
Gray nearly fell off the counter when he felt Lucy elbow him below his rib cage. He jumped off and looked at Lucy, her eyes narrowed and red with anger, "I'm just kidding Luce. Man, Wendy and Natsu weren't kidding when they were talking about these 'instincts'."
Now, the ice mage knew that the mating process was indeed complex and in his opinion, completely ridiculous, but to think that dragon instincts would be passed on to mates was taking it to a whole new level. He frowned at the thought that later, a purple bruise would form right where the stellar mage jabbed him with her elbow.
After Lucy apologized, he instead took a chair and sat across from her, a little more cautious. "Well, the others are doing fine. I have a feeling something's going to happen between Levy and Gajeel. How do I know? Mirajane's been passing the 'info' to everyone and having us push their 'relationship' forward. Onto the more obvious ones, Natsu and Lis are bound to get there too. Ugh, it gives me a headache just thinking about what Lissana was saying earlier."
Lucy gave him a questioning look as Gray rubbed his temples with his thumb and forefinger, "And what's that?"
"Lucy, little baby flame brains! I mean, can't they at least wait until I retire?!"
Lucy laughed, "Oh come on Gray. You're overreacting!" But a part of her was thinking of what it could be like. A family with Sting. A small smile curled on her lips. "Well, what about you and Juvia? Going to make any ice princesses to compete with them?"
"Okay, this conversation is not about me, and if I did have daughters, there's no way in hell I would allow Natsu's kids near them!"
"Ah, so you admit you do like Juvia?"
"What?! I never said that!"
"You didn't deny it."
Their conversation strayed off from Lucy's original question as she continued to tease the now, furiously blushing ice mage. She forgot how great it felt to actually talk to her teammate and the way it felt to laugh without restrictions.
They talked for a few hours about the guild, the members, and about Mirajane's matchmaking schemes, with her new targets: Wendy and Romeo. All Lucy could think about is how sorry she felt for them. They were still too young to think about such a serious matter, but then again, Wendy was bound to figure things out on her own. She was bound to mate and mark someone one day. Then there was still the Daddy issue with Cana and Gildarts, who was still shamelessly embarrassing his daughter whenever they would see each other. It made Lucy a little bit sad thinking about her own father and how much she really did miss him.
Master Makarov was still being a lecherous old coot, and Gajeel still continues to break everyone's eardrums, always hogging the microphone when given the chance. Happy was still trying to woo Charle, attempting to give him his fishes just to impress her. And of course, Lucy missed personally being around to see all of that happening.
"I have to go, I have a job to do. Take care of yourself okay?" Gray stood up from the chair, and pulled her in for a hug, only to have himself be thrown across the room and into the wall, his back cracking from the impact.
"Gray!" He could hear Lucy shout, but his head was pounding and he could feel himself be pulled up by the collar of his shirt.
"Don't you ever touch Lucy!" Sting threw him once more into the ground, his anger rising.
Lucy's attempt at trying to stop him only had her pushed away, her back colliding with the edge of the marble counter. "Sting, stop!" It pained Lucy even more to watch Gray stand up and attack Sting with the same amount of force. A part of her wanted to hurt him for hurting Sting, but she could barely move her legs as she watched the two go all out on over something so stupid. "Stop it!" But neither was listening.
When she finally managed to stand up, she ran towards the white dragon slayer and wrapped both her arms around his, pulling him back to keep him from hurting her teammate. When he turned to look at her, his eyes were a blood red color, and she felt herself be thrown from his arm, and slide across the wooden kitchen floor. The smell of iron and metal filled her nose, as well as the trickle of something liquid and thick on her forehead, down to her cheek.
Almost instantaneously, Sting was beside her, his eyes back to their aqua blue, filled with nothing but concern and worry. Really, even when she thought she was dying, she could not help but laugh at his rather bipolar personality. He hovered over her as she tried to sit up, "Is Gray alright? And don't you dare get mad because I will personally pummel you if you overreact again."
A small smirk curled on his lips, "I can't take that seriously when you're bleeding."
"Yes, thank you. I am perfectly fine," she looked over Sting's shoulder at the ice Mage, who stood up and began to do a series of stretches, his shirt already gone. "I'm heading out now. Man, this whole mating crap is too much. Oi! Sting, I trust you can take care of her from her on out?"
"Stupid Blondie, this is all your fault," Sting muttered as he wiped the blood from Lucy's face and wrapped it with gauze. He, in all honestly, was not even sure what happened earlier. It was almost like his instinctive, animal, wild self took over and just...attacked Gray. He did not like the close proximity between him and Lucy, and did not like the way he placed his arms around her and pulled her in a tight embrace.
All he saw was red, anger, and the urge to do everything it took to get the ice Mage off his woman. Away from his Lucy. To put it simply, he was jealous, but he was not going to say that out loud. He felt guilty, too. He was at fault for what happened to her, though, he really did not mean to. So when his sensitive sense of smell caught a whiff of her blood, his anger subsided and he immediately rushed to her side.
Lucy just glared at him, but was too tired to argue. She was currently lying on her bed, Sting seated beside her. It was quiet as he finished wrapping the bandages on her forehead.
Say it.
She wanted to tell him. She was always the sensitive and emotional kind of person. Keeping all her feelings locked in, would only make it worse for her.
Say it.
She was looking up at him, a part of her hoping he would be the first to speak, but she knew better.
Why?
Why did she like him? She was never even supposed to in the first place. He threatened to kill her so many times. He physically abused her and even used her to get back at her best friend. So what was it about him that had her falling head over heels? Okay, maybe that was a bit of an overstatement, but really, she was still trying to figure the answer out for herself.
1. His blue eyes
2. The arrogant part of his personality can be pretty cute.
Wait...what? Cute?
3. Even though he has a tendency to be sadistic, he still cares.
4. He's great in be—
And moving on.
6. He makes up for his mistakes.
7. He's an awesome cook.
"Blondie, what the hell are—" before Sting could finish his sentence, Lucy wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled him down to press her lips against his.
8. Amazing kisser
9. Heart beats at an alarming speed when he's around.
It was different. The way his lips gently moved against hers, but with the same amount of heat and passion she placed into the kiss. Her hands were playing with his soft, golden locks, while his hands were on her back, supporting her and keeping her from falling on the mattress.
There was some authority in it. How his canines would graze her bottom lip and the way his grip would tighten around her. When they all but barely pulled away and he let out a soft growl of satisfaction. But still, it did not explain the different emotions she was feeling. Was it real?
10. Accept it. There's no running away. It was meant to be.
Say it.
"Sting, I...I—"
Natsu was seated alone on table inside the guild. His arms were folded on the glossy, wooden surface, and used them to cushion his head. He was always like this, at least, for the past few weeks. Ever since Lucy's absence, everything was just so different. No one to rescue and make fun of during their jobs. No one to feed them and give them a place to crash even when she continuously reminds them that they were uninvited.
Laxus was standing against one of the pillars holding the building up, his arms crossed and eyes closed. They have been like that for a few hours now, only shifting every now and then, while the rest of the world around them moved on.
A few more minutes of silence before Laxus finally opened his eyes, "Now that I think about it, the reason why I'm so protective of Lucy, is because she's so much like the younger sister I wish I had."
Natsu looked at him from where he was standing, "I think we all feel that way Laxus. You're just too slow to realize it. You're so stupid." For once, a small smile curled on his lips.
Irritated, the thunder dragon slayer walked up to the fire mage and grabbed him by his scarf, "What did you say?" There was a momentary pause before Laxus finally let go of him, and they burst into fits of laughter. "Sorry about that. I guess I'm not just used to being so protective over, well, people beyond just my team and Makarov."
The sound of small, light, running footsteps had both dragon slayers turning to the blue-haired script mage who was heading their way, a smile on her lips. "Hey. So, I ran into Gray this morning, and he told me that he went to visit Lucy before he left for his job with Juvia."
"Lucky bastard," the two said in unison, before they glared at each other.
"Well," Laxus was the first to look away, "I'll have to ask him how his job goes and how the life of a married man is like." They all laughed, in complete understanding that the job request was handed to Juvia by Mirajane as another one of the she-devil's attempt to meddle into their love lives. It was a request for couples, therefore, the two had to pretend like they were married to gather some intel.
"Anyways, apparently, he got into a fight with Sting, but they're both okay." Levy left off the part where he mentioned Lucy bleeding before continuing, "He told me, she's fine. That Sting seems to really care about her well-being, but any temper flares or sudden violent actions are all instinctive. They are beginning stages to getting accustomed to it. Furthermore, they need to learn to control it. Lucy seems to be doing just fine, but Sting is easily swayed by those instincts combined with his emotions."
Natsu stood up from where he sat, "Why is Sting having more difficulty with his control?"
Levy sighed, "He just is not as mature as Lucy is. Technically she is older you know. We did lose seven years of our lives. He's easily angered, gets jealous easily, and he's stubborn."
"Look, I just want to be able to go to Lucy, give her a hug, be able to hang out with her like we always did before."
"Natsu, I've figured out a way for you to actually be able to go near her without his permission, but you have to be ready for whatever it is you have to do." She handed him a small piece of paper.
"A invocant antiquissima spiritibus draconis
Et uniant ad paria dividi animarum
Quod voluit, sed non quaeritur
Quid sit futurum solus esse—"
Natsu looked up at Levy, his eyes wide, "Levy, this is...but I can't—"
-Well, to start off, thank you for all the reviews/faves/follows.
-Other than the fact that I have been incredibly busy, I have no other excuse as to why I have not updated this story. No, I did not forget all about it, and I know it was a really long wait and I do apologize for that xc I'm trying to figure out a way to develop what relationship Sting will have with Lucy in later chapters and seriously, it's sooo hard DX
-I do hope you enjoyed this chapter, because it took forever to write. No lie, I would come back to it every now and then and have a hard time just thinking about what to write, because I wanted to keep it interesting. Like always, I was probably thinking to hard. *you can blame calculus for that.
-Okay, on a side note, the piece of paper that Natsu was given had words in Latin. Do note that I used a translator for that because well, I don't know how to speak, read, or write in Latin. EHLOHEHL :)
So here's what it says (I just put a bunch of words together):
A call upon the ancient dragon spirits
To balance and unite divided souls
What is wanted but is not sought
What is meant to be alone by destiny
-Care to take a guess on what it's for? Aha JK don't ruin it if you know! Xc
-On another side note, No, I have not read the recent Fairy Tail Chapters and I will not read the most recent one until the next chapter comes out! Can you believe it, I was reading a fanfiction, and without any warning, had a spoiler about it! DXXXXXX Who does that? What kind of inconsiderate person would not give a spoiler alert! Well, either way, I won't read until the next one just to keep myself from bawling my eyes out xc I hope.
-I'm praying that everything gets better.
Well enough ranting,
REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! It helps me write more :3
Thankyou!
