A/N: Hello Everyone, I somehow had time to write a chapter for TLDE! I don't know if I can keep this up but I'll do my best. The next I'll say two chapters are I guess "filler" to make the story flow better. Kind of like mini adventures within the time they have to wait. I've also gotten so many new followers again! You guys are so epic!
Glass Dragon's Rose: Thank you for being an avid reader! It brings my heart joy, It's one of my favorite past times. After months of Hiatus I'm happy to return. How are you?
I didn't put a disclaimer in the past chapter so for this and last chapter I don't own FT
Chapter 12- Heathen's Island
It didn't take long for all parties, except Natsu, to unpack and make a cozy home for the two months it would take for this "aid" to get to them. A couple days after unpacking everyone was bored and boiled over from the erratic temperature conditions that came with being in a desert. At night it can get as frigid as twenty degrees, but during the day the dry heat can go as high to one hundred nine and rising.
Lucy was in one of her bikini-tops and short shorts, while laying on her stomach against the cool tile, whining miserably. "Elsa….is there work we can do? You're resourceful…did you hear anything while talking to the owners in charge of this place?"
Said mage was in no better straits fanning herself, wearing nothing but her bathing-suit while lounging in a black leather loveseat that came with the house. "I'm afraid not, though I wish Master would have picked a better place than a desert…"
Gray walked in from his fith cold shower that afternoon, wrapped in a towel grimacing, "Erza didn't you, ya know…say this place had air-conditioning?"
"Oh yeah! I forgot we turned the heater on because of how cold it gets."
Happy floated by Gray in the hallway like a wilted flower, "I'm on it…" He turned the AC on blast and it gave a break for about 5 seconds till it puttered out and quit working.
Everyone who was awake within the room sweat dropped their heads down in disappointment.
Gray scratched the back of his head, "Well….now what do we do….wait….WENDY!"
At hearing her name peaked around the corner from her and Erza's bedroom doorway. "You called?"
"Can you use some of your wind magic to cool us off?"
Charle was none too happy at overhearing the request from her spot at the end of sleeping Natsu's feet. "Wendy isn't a personal AC unit. Besides if she did as you asked, all it would do would make everything hotter by moving around already warm air…"
"I guess…it was an idea, I don't see you coming up with anything."
"Why don't you find a job and get the supplies to either fix or replace the unit."
Lucy bemoaned the idea. "But Charleee its sooo hoooooottttt."
Erza stopped for a brief pause to give her hand and wrist a break. "Yeah, I agree with her on this one…I have an idea!"
Everyone looked to the crimson haired woman with expectation. Anything was better than what they were suffering.
"We all know its cooler at night, why don't we make night owls of ourselves and find work at night. We sleep during the hottest part of the day and work during the cooler hours. This saves money on electricity and won't be as taxing on our unit."
Gray applauded her verbally. "This is why we let you lead."
::***::
Lucy was dragging her feet and moving as sluggishly as possible. "Are we sure it was a good idea to leave Natsu alone?"
"Are we sure we shouldn't have left you behind? Come on, you're stronger than this Lucy, get a grip and keep pushing forward. Besides Wendy, Charle and Happy are there."
"I'm working on it Gray." In truth she really was, it's just she's not good with extremely hot weather, or extremely cold weather, however on top of cramps she was also feeling nauseated. Just like her first mission with Natsu when she used…."I'm dumb." In the same instant she summoned Horologium.
"I'm in here till we get there- she says."
Gray knocked on the clock man's glass door. "So, you summoned him… there's room for two isn't there?"
"It's too much of a tight fit-she says."
"Erza, Lucy's cheating!"
"I'm not cheating, just using good sense-she says."
Gray looked directly at the odd summon. "Isn't it as hot in there as it is out here?"
"My carrying case is regulated temperature, its neither hot nor cold."
"Tch-Lucky… wish I had a summon like that."
Erza turned around finally unable to ignore the bickering. "Relax, we're here."
The building was titled as oddly as everything else in the town. "JOBS FOR HIRE N'ERE BE A WANTIN'."
"Uuuuuuh Erza…this sounds like a really poorly placed add."
"I agree with Gray-she says."
"Nonsense, it'll be fine."
::**::
Gray looked down at his directions. "So we came out with four jobs. The commission isn't bad between all four of us, Wendy can stay at home and relax, the pay is good here for the simple task they're asking for. As for you Lucy, why did you stay in Horologium the entire time?"
"Felt like it-she says."
"Good thing for you it only took five minutes huh?"
"Shut it-she says, it's a girl thing-she says."
"If you pout harder, your face will end up looking like that."
"Gray stop teasing Lucy, we're almost home."
"Times up!" With that Horologium popped out as easily as he was summoned.
Once inside they gave everyone who was left behind the report. They all started at eight in the evening and came home five in the morning, fortunately they also worked at the same bar called "Heathens Paradise." As they got more familiar with the city it became clear to them it was closer to a nicer version of a slum where a lot of riffraff tend to cumulate.
"I'm ba dounser? Kol…" Natsu was still stuffed up from hay fever, much like what Wendy predicted.
Lucy sat herself on the armrest close to Natsu's head. "Yeah, Erza and I will work as bartenders and waitresses depending on how busy or slow it gets, Gray will be working next to you as a bouncer." Deciding it was an uncomfortable position, asked Natsu to sit up so he could lay his head in her lap instead.
"Ven do dee stard?" Natsu was falling back asleep under the lull of Lucy's scent, it also helped that she was playing with his pink hair.
"We start tonight, I'm afraid. Will you be up for it?
"Gonda hafta be." He grabbed her wrist eliciting slight surprise from her, "no don't stop…id feelds nide…"
Lucy smiled warmly at his request, she couldn't help but to comply as she shifted from playing with his hair to massaging his temples till he fell asleep; following along beside him not long after.
::***::
First night on the job was as smooth as it could go, Natsu received another treatment from Wendy before heading out with Erza, Gray and Lucy. The four oldest members felt it was better for Wendy, Charle and Happy to stay behind and guard the house during the remainder of their stay. Natsu finally got over his hay fever on the fourth day between doing the job and sleeping.
As for the bar, not many shady characters came in, though none too pleasant either. Natsu and Gray had no reason to use their magic or their brute strength. It wasn't until their third week when it seemed a lot of ex-convicts who didn't want to better themselves or had no love for regular society, started to come through. It was apparent to the A-team that this city was a regular dumping ground, and reports for crime had gotten a little bit high since when they first arrived, according to the towns paper.
"Heathen's Island" was slow for the night and the bar being the length of the restaurant's wall, made it feel even more empty. There were some obvious biker gang members sitting at a round table, discussing who knows what. One of the men kept shifting in his chair anxiously against the wooden floor. Grunts could be heard throughout the entire room; the smell of Marlboro Reds filled the air mixing with whiskey. Lucy could hear the occasional ting from one of their gold rings every time he flicked the end of his cigarette; as it clinked against the glass in place of an ash tray. The sound reverberated out since they were the last to leave.
Natsu and Gray kept a real good eye on this crew. You wouldn't know they were mages, since the requirements were to dress in all black. Natsu and Gray fidgeted uncomfortably in long sleeved jackets, shirts, ties and dress shoes. Lucy and Erza were required to wear all black short skirts, a low top and an apron in the front. The two women gave each other a look, before Lucy approached them once more as it was her table. Fortunately, none of them dared to make a pass, so far.
"Anything else for you gentleman?"
The man who she pegged as their leader looked her square in the eye. "If we need anything from ya blondie, we'll call you over. My men and I have worked hard today." He wore black leather vest, with a crest of two rifles pointing East and West with a skull in the center, above the symbol read "Stone Crossers". White hair revealed his age, even though he was very bulky. A wired beard hung braided, as cold grey eyes told stories of life within streets.
A really fat guy with half his beard missing from a scar that ran across his ear to underneath his jaw spoke up. "Ey boss, can we have three more rounds?"
He sniffed and smiled while putting his hand to his chin approvingly. He drawled out contentedly, "Ya heard that blondie? Three more rounds for me and my men, we aren't drunk enough yet."
"Right away."
It was muffled but Natsu while standing next to Gray was going livid, he could hear EVERYTHING they were saying about their waitress. They were the last guys in the joint and the manager already left telling them to close-up, stay safe and don't be afraid to ruffle some feathers in regard to the safety of his workers. Natsu was more than ready to ruffle some feathers. Fortunately, they were typical gang members, no magic at all so if there was a struggle there wouldn't be much blood.
Gray noticed too, he had been hearing things every now and then also. He was with Natsu, but they also didn't want to get fired. Unless one of them did something physical, they stayed put.
Natsu watched with keen eyes as Lucy brought three shots of Whisky, to each guest at the round table. There being ten of them it was quite a bit of work. He stiffened when Lucy went to grab the leader's makeshift ash tray.
"Blondie, din'd I say that I would tell you if I was done?"
Lucy being as quick a thinker as she is retorted pleasingly. "Quite right, it's to give you more room for your alcohol, and there's no space for your sixth round."
He chortled and patted her on the back, "I like yew blondie! Go ahead do your job."
Natsu didn't know he was holding his breath, till he removed his hand from his heart with a breathy sigh.
Gray shot Natsu a passing comment of, "If Juvia was in that position I'd be a nervous wreck too. Lucy is nakama to me, so I still feel what your feeling. Just not in that way."
Natsu silently raised a strong eyebrow as a response.
A little more time passed, and it was well past two in the morning, these members were clearly drunk at this point and showed no sign of leaving.
"Bllllooooonnnddddiiiieeeee c'mere."
Lucy looked at Erza with her brow twitching, she wanted to murder them.
"Yes, coming."
"So, blondie, ye gots a man in yo life?"
Answers rounded in her head, knowing yes would be her best bet and closest to the truth as well as save her from very possible harassment. She felt Loki pushing against her magic, sensing the trouble. "Yes, I do."
"Awww, no matta I can always show you a good time." To show he meant it he unceremoniously grabbed her wrist and pulled her close.
In the background Gray held Natsu's elbow, "Calm down, let Lucy handle it…for now." They both eyed Erza who had a sword ready underneath the counter just in case.
With more strength than the leader expected, Lucy pulled away. "No thank you, my…." she had to think of what she would call him, boyfriend didn't feel right, then a light bulb went off as a confident grin slid across her face. "My soulmate, wouldn't be all too happy with that."
He didn't look happy, in fact it seemed to worsen this man's mood. "Oh yea? Who is he, I'll squash him for a night wit' you."
She grinned knowing who she was about to mention, and that he was in earshot. "Ever hear of the man named Salamander?" All three of her friends went bug-eyed.
The table looked star struck. "THE Salamander? You're HIS woman?"
"Yeah, and what of it. He won't take too kindly to someone touching me." She flipped out her portable Lacrima device. "I can get him on the phone right now, tell him that you wanna' borrow me for a bit."
They looked terrified, the leader stopped put his hands up in defeat, his gruff voice laced with the smell of cigarettes and whisky in attempt to "disarm" the blondie. "I mean no harm, wouldn't want to mess with Salamander's woman. Don't want that heat on my arse. We'll pay for the drinks and leave ya a real nice tip. How's that sound?"
Lucy put the Lacrima device away and put on her best waitress voice. "It was a pleasure to serve you this very fine evening."
It was a sight to behold. Ten gang members shuffling about to help pay; and put a two-hundred jewel tip in for good measure. After they left the group of four finally relaxed.
"Lucy that was ballsy." Gray was impressed. "Any more of that and I think Salamander over here would have jumped out of his skin."
Natsu was quiet though, he pondered on why being called her soulmate felt so right; more importantly did she believe it. To him the way she sounded, made it seem like there was a bit of truth behind it. That it wasn't all a bluff. About five minutes of time passed with his mind going in circles. Tensely, he put his back against the door way and stared at her.
The very woman that he was baffled by flicked him in the forehead. "Natsu, you're going to set the place on fire if you keep thinking that hard…Within the time you stood there, I called the owner told him what happened, and he said we can clean up early, especially since it's so slow. C'mon let's prep everything and head out."
"Um hey wait…Lucy…about what you said back there…."
Looking back at him playfully chittered. "Which part?"
"Yeah, forget it. Good bluff, I would have kicked they're sorry asses if it went any further."
"Oh, yeah thanks." She felt crestfallen and could feel the lump in her throat build while looking down at her feet, only to perk up like what she said meant nothing at all. "They'd never suspect that the real Salamander was one of our best bouncers, yeah?"
Again, it tore at his gut the way she sounded, and he knew that fake smile from a thousand miles away. What ate at him more was how close to home that hit him. For some reason "soulmate" fit just right. Deeper than any other stupid "love" he's ever seen. "Y-yeah."
::**::
Clean up didn't take up too much time and allowed them to head home a sold two hours earlier. Both Gray and Natsu gave the girls whatever extra layer they had since it was so cold. Erza seemed alright, but she appreciated the gesture anyway. Afterwards, Natsu hung back from the others still deep in thought.
While walking, he stopped and stood straight, suddenly figuring out the best plan of action regarding Lucy. The best plan of action he dreaded but felt was necessary. He figured distancing himself from the celestial mage, till he could figure out what was up with him and these bizarre feelings, would be best for now.
